Dr. Raven Jones (she/hers)

Director
rljones@central.uh.edu

As Director of the Center for Student Empowerment, Dr. Raven Jones enhances the quality of education for UH students within the CSE program. As an avid researcher, program developer, and trainer, Dr. Jones’s research concentrates on the cultural resources within urban communities that can be utilized to improve the resiliency and psychological development of underrepresented students. Through the program, Dr. Jones prevents minor obstacles from becoming major setbacks to degree achievement.

Gabriel Grady (he/his)

Assistant Director
ggrady@central.uh.edu

Grady brings over a decade of social service experiences working with underrepresented population. Most recently Grady served as an Area Coordinator with Campus Living and Housing at Grambling State University. In this role Grady developed programs to enhance student retention for foster care students and underrepresented students. Most creditably “The Quad Living Learning Community,” in which this community was aimed at addressing student’s mental health needs as it relates to: social support, belongingness, and self-efficacy.

Grady served as the Program Director with Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. providing advocacy services for families involved with Child Protection Services and youth in involved in Juvenile justice system. Grady is currently enrolled at Grambling State University pursuing an online degree in Master of Social Work. Grady earned his Bachelor of Arts in International Studies at University of Southern Indiana.

Laura Gonzalez (they/them)

Program Coordinator
lkgonza4@central.uh.edu

Laura Gonzalez was a recipient of the Rice Investment Grant, which covered all tuition during her time at Rice University. She graduated from Rice in 2021 with a Bachelor's in Kinesiology. During her undergraduate career, Gonzalez served as Treasurer for the Latinx cultural organization at Rice and created visual installations to increase Latinx visibility on campus.

Gonzalez performed health research amongst Latinx communities with labs at the University of Houston and the BioSciences Research Collaborative. She also served as the nutrition educator and graphic designer for the Child Nutrition Department, serving 25 YES Prep campuses. Currently, Gonzalez serves as an academic advisor on the Board of Directors for Harmony Public Schools.

Inspired by her personal journey through college, Gonzalez is excited to join the CSE program to help first-generation, low-income, Latinx, and DACA students attain the resources they need and guide them towards success.