About the Authors

Dr. Jacquelyn C.A. Meshelemiah is a three-time alum of The Ohio State University. She is  currently the Associate Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion at The Ohio State University. She is also an Associate Professor in the College of Social Work and the Director of Leadership Initiatives for Women of Color in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.  She earned her Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW), Master of Social Work (MSW) and Doctorate (PhD) from the College of Social Work. She taught at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo (1995-1998) before returning to OSU in 1998. She is the author and co-author of numerous publications, presentations, and trainings on human rights and anti-trafficking work at the university, local, national and international levels. Professional travels have taken her to over half of the United States as well as to Africa, Europe, Asia and Central America in the capacity of a visiting scholar, presenter and researcher. Dr. Meshelemiah is a former Graduate Studies Chair, President and Provost’s Leadership Institute graduate, BSSW Program Director, MSW Program Director, President and Provost’s Council on Women (PPCW) Chair/Past Chair/Member, and Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) Faculty Fellow.

Raven E. Lynch, MSW, is a two-time alum and current PhD student at The Ohio State University, earning her BA in Psychology in 2014 and MSW in 2017.  She also serves as a Graduate Research Associate to Dr. Meshelemiah in the College of Social Work, and a Graduate Administrative Associate for Leadership Initiatives for Women of Color (LIWOC) in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.  Her current research interests beyond human trafficking and human rights include racial identity and multiracial adolescents.