Juris Doctor (in progress)
Cooley Law School
Cooley Law School
2027 to present
Curriculum Vitae
Rhonna-Rose Akama-Makia
Michigan • rhonna@rhonnarose.com • rhonnarose.com
Research interests
Occupational health and secondary traumatic stress among employees in mission driven and advocacy organizations; organizational justice and non punitive performance management; psychological safety and organizational climate; restorative practices and conflict management at work; trauma informed organizational development; the intersection of employment law and employee wellbeing.
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration
University of Michigan FlintUndergraduate Certificate in Essentials of Business Analytics
Undergraduate Certificate in International Business Development
University of Michigan FlintUndergraduate Certificate in Essentials of Business Analytics
Undergraduate Certificate in International Business Development
2026
Certifications and professional training
Professional in Human Resources, International (PHRi)
HR Certification Institute
HR Certification Institute
2026
Paralegal Certificate
Center for Legal Studies, with Washtenaw Community College
Center for Legal Studies, with Washtenaw Community College
2026
Removal Defense Training (40 hours)
National Immigration ProjectAsylum, withholding of removal, Convention Against Torture protections, and bond hearings.
National Immigration ProjectAsylum, withholding of removal, Convention Against Torture protections, and bond hearings.
2026
Associate Professional in Human Resources, International (aPHRi)
HR Certification Institute
HR Certification Institute
2025
OSHA 30 Hour Outreach Training, General Industry
OSHA Education Center
OSHA Education Center
Applied practice and evidence based interventions
Performance management redesignReplaced traditionally punitive performance improvement plans with an accountability model grounded in organizational justice and psychological safety, built on clear standards, consistent application, and documented expectations.
2024 to 2026
Job architecture and classificationDeveloped FLSA aligned career ladders for organizing roles and codified workplace norms into written standards, including exempt and non exempt classification across a multistate workforce.
2024 to 2026
Employee wellbeing and occupational healthDeveloped leave coverage and return protocols modeled on FMLA standards for employees exposed to secondary traumatic stress, before the organization reached the 50 employee coverage threshold.
2024 to 2026
Conflict management and restorative practiceIntegrated alternative dispute resolution and restorative practices into employee relations, resolving conflict early and without defaulting to discipline.
2024 to 2026
Workplace investigationsScoped and conducted workplace investigations across a multistate workforce of 250+ employees and volunteers in 12 states.
2024 to 2026
Learning needs assessment and training evaluationConducted a field based needs assessment through participant observation across distributed regional offices, then designed a quarterly convening model from staff feedback. Outcomes were observed across all four levels of Kirkpatrick's evaluation model, including participation, board engagement, fund development, and organizational climate.
2016 to 2020
Program design and evaluationDirected statewide leadership development and workforce readiness programs reaching 5,000+ participants annually, with budget oversight and evaluation systems that met funder reporting requirements.
2010 to 2016
Methods and tools
Needs assessment; participant observation; program evaluation (Kirkpatrick model); job architecture and classification; workplace investigation; business analytics; HRIS administration (Paychex Flex).
Independent scholarship
Original frameworks developed from practice. Full text available at rhonnarose.com.
The IMPACTS FrameworkA theoretical lens for the study of social movements, organized around seven fields of inquiry.
2023
The Emergence ModelA theory of change for systemic impact, comprising The Depth Model, The Breadth Model, and The Arc Framework.
The Rooted ApproachA human development methodology in four stages: Self, Witness, Collective, and Sustain.
The Tapestry FrameworkEight threads for building community rooted organizations. Published in The Builder's Notes.
The Civic Root and The Civic HoldCompanion frameworks for community centered electoral strategy.
Public writing
“Truths We Tell: Stories From The Yarn Stage”Contributor, The Yarn
2021
“You're Welcome: How Southern Democrats Can Continue to Save Our Nation's Democracy”San Diego Voice and Viewpoint
2021
Presentations and invited remarks
Presenting sponsorship remarksKing Kennedy Dinner, Little Rock, Arkansas
2022
Opening remarksChris Jones for Governor virtual rally
2022
“The Art of Failure”Storytelling performance, The Yarn, Little Rock, Arkansas
2019
“Compassion Fatigue, Burnout and Self Care”Guest presentation, Young Nonprofit Professionals Network, Little Rock, Arkansas
2018
Professional experience
People operations and human resources
Director of People Operations and CultureACLU of Michigan
2026 to present
People and Culture ManagerMothering Justice
2024 to 2026
Director of Affiliate HRArkansas Community Foundation
2017 to 2020
Director of Statewide OutreachArkansas Community Foundation
2016 to 2017
Legal and immigration
Legal AssistantBlumenau Law, PLLCUnder attorney supervision, supports family based and humanitarian immigration casework, legal research, and trauma informed client interviews.
2026 to present
Volunteer, File ManagementMichigan Immigrant Rights Center
2026
Volunteer Legal Services, Immigration ClinicNigerian Center
2026
Organizational leadership
PresidentGABA Foundation
2025 to present
Deputy Development DirectorOne Fair Wage
2024
Managing DirectorThink Rubix LLC
2023
Senior AdvisorThink Rubix LLC
2021
Program DirectorJust Communities of Arkansas
2010 to 2016
Public affairs
Campaign Manager, Senior Advisor, and Communications, Digital, and Finance DirectorFederal, gubernatorial, state legislative, judicial, municipal, and school board campaigns and one ballot measure across Michigan, Arkansas, Texas, and New York.
2018 to 2024
Change AgentArkansas United
2012 to 2020
Honors
Dean's List, University of Michigan Flint
2025
Service and civic leadership
Chair (2019), Create Little Rock Young Professionals, Little Rock Regional Chamber
2012 to 2020
VP of Marketing and Communications, Africans of Arkansas
2016 to 2020
Volunteer Coordinator, TEDx Markham Street
2016 to 2017
Secretary, Rotaract
2015
Secretary, Young Nonprofit Professionals Network
2013 to 2014
Junior League member: Detroit (2025 to present), Ann Arbor, Washington, and Little Rock
2014 to present
Professional memberships
Public Relations Society of America, Detroit
2024 to present
Detroit Economic Club, Young Leader
2024 to present
ABFE: A Philanthropic Partnership for Black Communities
2018 to 2019
Society for Human Resource Management, Central Arkansas Chapter
2016 to 2019
References
Available upon request.
Updated September 2026.
Rhonna-Rose Akama-Makia is not an attorney and does not provide legal advice or legal services. Legal work described here is performed under attorney supervision.