Staff

Samantha Maranell is committed to making a difference. As the Education Director, she brings GMDC's longstanding Promoting Respect Workshops to the local schools so that students learn and experience the value in diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Samantha has spent most of her life in southern Minnesota, growing up in Waseca and earning a Bachelors' degree in English at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. She lived in Samoa for two years as a primary school teacher with the Peace Corps, wrote for the Waseca County News as a local reporter, and has spent the last decade focusing her work in local non-profits: Mankato's Committee Against Domestic Abuse (CADA), where she was a shelter advocate, and Planned Parenthood, where she worked both in the clinic and as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist. Samantha is also certified as an Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI®) Qualified Administrator. 

Josephine is a new addition to the team with a strong passion for diversity and inclusion and dedicated to furthering the mission of our organization. As an administrator she serves as the first point of contact in the office and helps run our social media, newsletter, and more.

Josephine is an Omaha native currently attending Minnesota State University, Mankato in pursuit of a degree in Communications and Media with a minor in Business Administration. She is set to graduate in May of 2026.

Klara is a passionate emerging advocate committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within her community. As an intern, she supports a variety of DEI-focused projects while learning from experienced team members Mohamed and Samantha.

A proud Mankato native, Klara is pursuing a degree in Sociology at Minnesota State University, Mankato, where she is also working toward a Nonprofit Leadership Certificate. She brings curiosity, dedication, and a strong desire to make meaningful change through inclusive community engagement.