2026 Juneteenth Symposium Speakers

The MSU Juneteenth Symposium will be held Monday, June 15 to bring together local leaders and grassroots activists for a day of reflection and collective action. Learn more about this year's event speakers below. To see a full schedule and registration details, visit the main Juneteenth page.

Panel Discussion

Willye White Bryan
Willye White Bryan is a retired classical biological control entomologist. She began her entomological career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Stoneville, Mississippi. Willye moved to Michigan and worked at MSU in the Department of Entomology in the biological control of insects. She ended her working entomological career at MSU. Over the period of her career, Willye has over 35 scientific publications and presentations on entomology. One of her proudest publications is a book she co-edited: Memoirs of Black Entomologists: Reflections on Childhood, University, and Career Experiences. Riddick, Eric W., Samuel-Foo, Michelle, Bryan, Willye W., and Simmons, Alvin M. (Eds.). 2015. Thomas Say Publications in Entomology: Memoirs. Entomological Society of America.

Willye is the founder of the Justice League of Greater Lansing, MI (JLGLM). The inception of the JLGLM came in the summer of 2020. She became more concerned about what to do about the injustices and racial disparities we see in our nation, and more specifically, our community. She began to think of “repairing the breach” caused by centuries of slavery and its continued devastating aftermath, i.e., prison leasing, lynchings, legalized segregation, redlining, mass incarceration and the list goes on. How can ‘predominantly White churches’ (PWC) that have benefited and were complicit in slavery apply the doctrine of “do unto others as you would have them do unto you?” She contacted leadership at First Presbyterian Church of Lansing and her friend, Prince Solace, in June 2021, to discuss starting a faith-based Reparations Project in the Greater Lansing Area (GLA), they both supported the idea. The JLGLM was formed in 2021 and incorporated and became a 501(c)(3) in 2022. The JLGLM has accomplished great success in the area. See the website: justiceleagueglm.org.

For her work in this area, Willye has been awarded the 2023 Peacemaker of the Year Award by The Peace Education Center and a 2023 Global Goals Local Leaders Award by the Greater Lansing United Nations Association. Willye is married to Michael and has a young adult grandson, Quintyn Harrison, who also lives in Lansing.

 

Miah Gill
Miah Gill is a student at MSU’s James Madison College, where she studies Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy and is pursuing a second major in Public Relations. Her academic work centers on democratic institutions, civic participation, and the role of communication in public leadership.

On campus, Miah serves in multiple student leadership roles focused on advocacy, institutional engagement, and strengthening community among students, serving as President of the Freshman Class Council, Vice President of the Black Students' Alliance, Senator for James Madison College, Freshman Chair for the WEB Dubois Society, and Ambassador for MSU and James Madison College. She is passionate about empowering young people to see themselves as active participants in shaping policy and public life.

Miah aspires to pursue a career in public service, ultimately becoming Governor of the State of Michigan, where she hopes to combine political leadership and strategic communication to advance equity, civic engagement, and opportunity.

 

Lee N. June
Lee N. June, a native of Manning, SC, earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) and master’s degrees in rehabilitation counseling and clinical psychology, as well as a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, from the University of Illinois at Champaign–Urbana. He also holds a certificate in theological studies from the Interdenominational Theological Seminary, completed sabbatical study at Duke University Divinity School, earned a Master of Ministry Leadership from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary (Cornerstone University), and received an honorary Doctor of Education degree from Michigan State University. He is a licensed clinical psychologist in Michigan.

Dr. June is the author, co-author, editor, or co-editor of approximately 50 publications, including journal articles, book chapters, and seven books, among them The Black Family: Past, Present, and Future; Men to Men; Evangelism and Discipleship in African American Churches; Counseling for Seemingly Impossible Problems; Yet With a Steady Beat; African American Church Leadership; and Man to Man: African American Voices on Faith, Wisdom, and Perseverance. He retired in August 2025 as professor and vice president emeritus at Michigan State University, where he served for 52 years in leadership roles, including director of the Counseling Center, senior advisor to the provost, assistant/associate provost, vice president for student affairs and services, and core faculty member in African American and African Studies. His scholarly interests include student support services, multicultural psychology, and the psychology of religion and spirituality.

Dr. June has received numerous honors, including multiple Michigan State University awards for leadership and diversity, the Frederick Douglass Award (2016), and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Living Legend Award (2025). He is active at New Mount Calvary Baptist Church, serving on the ministerial staff and teaching Sunday school, and holds leadership roles in several community and nonprofit organizations. He is married to Shirley Ann Spencer June, and they have two sons, Brian and Stephen.

 

Shirley Ann Spencer June
Dr. Shirley Ann Spencer June, a native of Thomasville, GA, earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Knoxville College, a master’s degree in zoology from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, a master’s degree in counseling ministries from Cornerstone University/Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Education in organizational leadership and development from Cornerstone University. She also completed post-baccalaureate study in biology at Knox College and earned certificates in biblical and theological studies from Mount Hope Bible Institute and the Interdenominational Theological Seminary in Atlanta.

Dr. June has served as a research assistant in electron microscopy and as an academic advisor at Michigan State University. She is the author or co-author of several scholarly and devotional publications, including book chapters in The Black Family: Past, Present, and Future; Women to Women; and African American Church Leadership, as well as a co-authored article in the Journal of Pastoral Care and Counseling (2021). She has also written devotionals in Our Help (2018). Her doctoral dissertation examined the lived experiences of African American women leaders in non-faith-based higher education settings.

A licensed counselor, Dr. June is deeply engaged in church and community life, serving in leadership roles in Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, women’s ministry, Grief Share ministry, and as a member of the ministerial staff at New Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Lansing, MI. She is married to Lee N. June, and is the mother of twin sons, Brian and Stephen.

 

Prince Solace
Prince Jerold Solace, president and co-founder of JLGLM, is a Lansing native. His professional work has included developing cross-cultural communication frameworks and guiding institutions in understanding how historical racial harm shapes present-day outcomes. This communications and systems-change expertise shaped JLGLM’s public media presence and regional partnerships. Solace’s leadership frames reparations as a relationship-centered practice, positioning JLGLM as a regional model for community-based repair and long-term wealth-equity initiatives. He has represented the League in state and regional media, coordinated multi-congregational partnerships, and led public forums. As president of the Justice League, Prince actively leverages his network within the Greater Lansing region to promote the mission of the Justice League.

 

WORKSHOP: Piecing the Past: Quilts, Stories, and the Legacy of Juneteenth

Liv Furman
Liv Furman, Ph.D. (they/them) is a Black non-binary ecowomanist artist, curator, educator, researcher, and memory keeper currently working on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary Lands of the Anishinaabeg, the Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi peoples at Michigan State University. Their work currently explores Black womxn’s everyday practices of quilt making, memory keeping, and storytelling as methodologies of resistance, sustainability, and flourishing. Their primary mediums include multimedia and digital collage, ceramics, quilt making, and the written and spoken word. Liv is also an avid urban gardener with interests in Black Ecologies Studies, food justice, food sovereignty, and community sustainability.

Liv is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of African American and African Studies and was the Assistant Project Director of the Quilt Index’s Black Diaspora Quilt History Project at MSU.

 

WORKSHOP: Recipes of Resistance: Food, Culture, and Community Memory

Oluwaseun “Sean” Sipeolu
Oluwaseun “Sean” Sipeolu is the owner of Jollof Afro-Caribbean Lounge in Downtown Lansing, a vibrant cultural dining destination known for bold flavors and an immersive Afro-Caribbean experience.

Originally from Nigeria, Sean blends African, Caribbean, and soul food traditions to create a space where food, culture, and community come together. Through his work, he uses food as a tool for storytelling, connection, and cultural preservation.

 

Nikki Thompson Frazier
With a whisk in one hand and purpose in the other, Nikki Thompson Frazier has never been content to follow someone else’s recipe for success. As the CEO and Founder of Sweet Encounter, she has transformed the simple act of sharing dessert into a catalyst for connection, inclusion, and joy.

What began in her home kitchen, born of a mother’s determination to create safe, delicious treats for her daughters with food allergies, has grown into a nationally recognized brand known for its gluten-free, nut-free Cupcakes in a Jar that never compromise on taste or texture.

Nikki’s story is a testament to resilience and reinvention. From participating in Food Network’s Bakers vs. Fakers to launching hands-on culinary experiences and corporate cooking programs, she has proven that a business can be both profitable and purposeful. Her commitment to excellence has earned her numerous accolades, but it’s her warmth, vision, and unstoppable spirit that truly set her apart.

A lifelong learner and communicator at heart, Nikki holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Indiana University and a Master of Science in Communications from Ball State University. Driven by a mission to help others live a life worth tasting, Nikki empowers women and changemakers to step into their gifts, embrace their stories, and build legacies of their own. Whether she’s scaling her e-commerce empire, mentoring future leaders, or speaking to audiences about leadership and grit, she shows up fully, heart first, always.

When she isn’t dreaming up new ways to sweeten someone’s day, Nikki can be found making memories with her two daughters, sister and dog, proving that life’s richest flavors are the ones we create together.

 

Jarrell McKinney
Jarrell McKinney is from the west side of Detroit, and he grew up a three-sport athlete. He played college football and then reached the National Football League, but, unfortunately, was cut. After his football career ended, Jarrell became a traveling private chef, cooking for celebrities like Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens. He also provides catering for the Michigan State University football program.

 

 

WORKSHOP: Tracing Our Roots: Genealogy, Archives, and Family Histories

Shay Sandoval-Flores
Shay Sandoval-Flores is a seasoned genealogist, historian, and researcher dedicated to connecting the present with the past. Since 1986, at the age of 10, using microfiche, microfilm, and visiting local gravesites and libraries in different cities and states, Shay has meticulously researched family histories, turning old documents and DNA matches into rich, compelling stories. Her work focuses on the intersection of local history, world history, and genealogy, utilizing extensive knowledge of state archives and specialized databases to confirm lineage. Shay also has had a vast love for history, cultures, archaeology, and research since childhood, which led her to study history, languages, and the like in undergrad and grad school. She has currently worked on over 200 family and friend ancestral trees and continues to add more “trees” as often as she can. Shay has been an advisor at Michigan State University since 2018 and was known as a social justice warrior at MSU in the 90s during her undergraduate years. Shay has traced her lineage back to many different countries, continents, and regions, such as Sub-Saharan Africa - Bantu, Berber, Madinka, and Gabon people.

 

WORKSHOP: Herbal Teas & Histories: An Empowering Tea Make-and-Take Event

Kelsi Briana Smith
Kelsi Briana Smith is a local farming, gardening, and youth educator operating out of Allen Neighborhood Center who centers community-based resources and food sovereignty in her work. Specialized in native edible plants, she has focused on tackling plant blindness in urban areas and loves showing people the various ways that their health and sense of community can be enhanced by what's growing around them.