Dr. Paul Draus, PhD
Faculty Director
Dr. Paul Draus, PhD
Paul Draus is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, where he has taught since 2005. He has held leadership roles within the university, including director of Graduate Studies in Criminology and Criminal Justice and director of the Master of Public Administration program and of the Master of Public Policy program. Draus was a UM-Dearborn’s Provost Faculty Fellow in 2019-2020, and a U.S. Fulbright Scholar to Lithuania in 2023. Long active in community-based teaching and research in metropolitan Detroit, he received the Michigan Campus Compact Community Service-Learning Award in 2014. Dr. Draus holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Loyola University in Chicago, as well as a Master’s in American Studies from the University of Wyoming. His doctoral research examined the social context of tuberculosis in urban environments during the 1990s.
Dr. Lynita Taylor, EdD
Associate Director
Dr. Lynita Taylor is the Associate Director at the Detroit Center, where she is excited to build partnerships within the community and connect UM faculty, staff and students with partners and opportunities
in Detroit. Lynita holds a Doctorate in Education Leadership and Policy Studies from Wayne State University as well as a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Detroit Mercy. Prior
to joining the Detroit Center, she was a Program Manager in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Samsara, a connected operations tech company based in California.
She has also served as the Diversity and Inclusion Program Manager at Wayne State University’s Mike Ilitch School of Business, where she worked to develop programming and scholarship opportunities for underrepresented minority students. In her free time, Lynita enjoys traveling, practicing yoga, and exploring the ever growing food scene in Detroit.
Ronotta Holliday
Administrative Assistant Senior
Ronotta Holliday
Ronotta Holliday, early in her career, accepted a position in the early 2000s as the director of the Pinelake Co-Opportunity Center which is focused on providing aid and serving young women in a low-income neighborhood. Next, she became a senior clerk and an administrative assistant with the University of Michigan in Dining. She led projects like rebranding the Java Blu café and earned several awards for leadership and innovation similar to this. Now, Ronotta is the senior administrative assistant for the UMDC and WISE (Women in Science and Engineering).
Ronotta earned her Associate’s degree from Washtenaw Community College and transferred to the University of Michigan–Dearborn to earn her B.A. in psychology with a minor in marketing. She recently graduated with her Master’s degree in marketing from the University of Michigan—Dearborn. Her ultimate goal for her career is to found and lead her own business and/or non-profit.
James Neely
Facilities Coordinator
James Neely
A native Detroiter with over 30 years of Management and Higher Education experience. Previously held positions as Director of Recruitment and Enrollment Manager (Ecumenical Theological Seminary), Academic Outreach Coordinator (Michigan State University), Director of Graduate and Undergraduate Recruitment (University of Detroit-Mercy), and Senior Admissions Counselor (University of Michigan, AA). He is a graduate of Sacred Heart Major Seminary (B.A./English) and Marygrove College (M.Ed./Educational Administration).
Mia Nimmons
Associate Project Manager
Mia Nimmons
Mia Nimmons is the Associate Project Manager at the Detroit Center. She is excited to make an impact by strengthening connections between the University of Michigan and the Detroit community, while also supporting collaboration with the broader U-M Ann Arbor community.
Mia holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Marketing from Wayne State University and brings two years of experience working in both university and nonprofit settings.
Kam Sykes
Conference and Events Program Manager
Kam Sykes is the Conference and Events Program Manager at the Detroit Center, where she brings extensive event experience to the University of Michigan. As a proud Detroit native, she is passionate about delivering high-quality, memorable experiences that make a positive and meaningful impact on the Detroit Community.
Kam holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and has over five years of experience in event management and coordination. Outside of work, Kam loves exploring new coffee shops, attending local events and discovering new books to add to her collection.
Kam Sykes
