The ETC Team consists of trained professionals who navigate justice-impacted students toward their educational goals. The team members address the challenges these students confront post-release by connecting students to community and educational resources.

Toycia Collins, Program Director

Toycia Collins is a doctoral candidate in the College of Liberal Arts and Science. Her work focuses on the intersection of criminal justice issues and public policy making. Collins has been a part of a number of federal and state-level grants that focus on correctional officer stress, the implementation of body-worn cameras in police agencies and crime and service deserts in the city of Detroit.

Terrell Topps, Program Coordinator

Terrell Topps is Wayne State University alumni with an M.S.W. He lectures for first-year students and works with adult learners navigating their way back into college. Terrell has personally navigated higher education pathways from community college to graduate school for 13 years. He is expertly positioned to identify and assess community and collegiate challenges that confront justice-impacted individuals post-incarceration. “Higher education was my means for never returning to prison, yet ironically it’s the reason I’ve returned.”

Olivia Furlow, Student Navigator

Olivia Furlow is a third-year graduate student in the MSW/MPH dual enrollment program with a macro focus at Wayne State University. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Emergency Management from Madonna University in May 2021.

Olivia’s interest in the criminal justice system began when she was an undergraduate student working in the law enforcement field. Her past experience in the law enforcement field has driven her to work toward criminal justice reform and policy work within the community. Olivia is passionate about restorative justice and the reduction of recidivism rates across the metro-Detroit area.

LaMia Cotton, Student Navigator

LaMia Cotton is a first-year graduate student in the MSW program under the macro scope of Innovation in Community, Policy and Leadership and Holistic Defense at Wayne State University. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Peace and Justice studies from Michigan State University in 2018. 

Transforming mindsets across responsive resolution focused strategies, LaMia strives to bring solutions to everyday problems. Innovating a pathway of access and opportunity for others, over the past 10 years LaMia has provided a strong foundation of influence through student advocacy and enrichment. With her provision to eradicate the school to prison pipeline, she is compelled to expand the restorative paradigm within the educational, juvenile and criminal legal systems. 

Madeleine LeBlanc, Research Assistant

Madeleine LeBlanc is a fourth-year sociology student at Wayne State. She is a REBULDetroit scholar and peer mentor and enjoys helping her WSU community. After finishing her bachelor’s degree, she plans on going to graduate school to pursue a research career with a focus on social issues.

In her free time, Madeleine enjoys reading, watching movies, and practicing tai chi.