Consultants
Jim Sugarman
Jim Sugarman with a master’s degree in social work from the University of Chicago’s Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice, has worked for over five decades in the nonprofit arena. His career has encompassed the roles of CEO, Executive Director and Development Director as well as consultant and trainer in community outreach, organizational development and volunteer management. He held executive leadership positions with nonprofits including RSVP of NYC, American Lung Association and West Palm Beach Library Foundation. In NYC he ran the largest senior citizen volunteer program in the country with over 10,000 volunteers and helped develop senior volunteer programs in over 40 countries. He has received numerous awards for leadership, including the Leadership Excellence Award from Leadership Palm Beach County and Mentor of the Year from Path to College. Today, besides his community service which includes being actively involved with Rotary for the over 28 years, mentoring high school students, he works as a Certified Professional Life Coach, as well as a consultant and trainer with nonprofits and a mentor to EDs/CEOs and retirees.
Paul W. Colson
Paul W. Colson holds Masters and doctoral degrees in social work from the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, University of Chicago. Following his doctoral work, he relocated to New York City where he worked for over 25 years for Columbia University, serving as the Program Director for the Charles P. Felton National Tuberculosis Center at Harlem Hospital and then as an Associate Research Scientist at ICAP, Mailman School of Public Health.
Dr. Colson has an overarching interest in the delivery of health and mental health services for disadvantaged populations, including behavioral and systemic issues which impact service use. With NIH funding, he has conducted studies of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and of Community Health Worker interventions to increase adherence among patients with HIV and with latent tuberculosis infection. Dr. Colson relocated to Chicago in 2018 where he continues to train Community Health Workers and work on local political issues.
Sue Ji
Dr. JI is a researcher, educator, and mental health advocate specializing in gender studies and the psychological well-being of Asian LGBTQ+ communities. As a PhD candidate in Psychology at the University of Sydney under the supervision of Dr. Ilan Dar-Nimrod, her groundbreaking research explores the unique challenges faced by transgender and gender-diverse individuals across cultural contexts, with particular expertise in Chinese communities.
With a Master's degree in Psychology from the University of Birmingham (UK) and extensive training in LGBTQ+-affirming counseling practices, Dr. JI brings both academic rigor and practical clinical experience to her work. Her published research on gender congruence and mental health among Chinese transgender and gender non-conforming individuals has contributed valuable insights to understanding psychological processes affecting these communities.
Dr. JI's multicultural background includes academic experiences in China, the United States, Japan, France, and Australia, giving her a uniquely global perspective on culturally-sensitive mental health approaches. As an assistant counselor and researcher, she has developed specialized knowledge in supporting individuals navigating complex intersectional identities.
Beyond her research, Dr. JI remains actively engaged in community service, working with organizations like Antra (a Chinese-speaking queer NGO) and Trans Voice to provide peer counseling and educational resources. Her commitment to creating affirming spaces for Asian women and LGBTQ+ individuals is evident throughout her professional journey.
Dr. JI's expertise in qualitative research methods, including interpretative phenomenological analysis and reflective thematic analysis, enables her to amplify marginalized voices and translate lived experiences into effective, culturally-informed mental health interventions.
Liying Huang
Liying Huang is a PhD student in Social Work at the University of Chicago. She holds an MSW from the Columbia School of Social Work and has worked with survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) in both the U.S. and mainland China.
Her research interests include feminism and the use of historical and ethnographic methods to examine GBV in mainland China.