Willow Sipling – About Me
Willow Sipling (she/her) is an organizational sociologist focusing her research and writing on organizational ethics, authoritarianism and fundamentalism, and conversion therapy.
Willow is a doctoral student and instructor of record in the Department of Sociology at Western Michigan University.
She spends her time working towards the material good and collective liberation of her community, by engaging in public-oriented capacity building and program management.
Her current work and volunteer roles include:
- OutCenter Southwest Michigan, Director of Engagement and Operations
- American Sociological Association, Student Forum Advisory Board Member
- AFT-TAU (Teaching Assistants Union) Local 1729, Vice President of Contract Enforcement
- City of Kalamazoo – Board of Civil Rights, Vice Chair
- Planned Parenthood of Michigan, Gender Affirming Care Community Advisory Board, Member
- Citizens Mediation Service, General Civil Mediator
Her previous roles included service on a research project with the Kalamazoo Public Defender, as a researcher with the WMU Center for the Study of Ethics in Society, as a Senior HR Business Partner at the University of Notre Dame, and as Director of Workforce Transformation at Hubstaff.
Selected certifications and trainings Willow has accomplished include:
- SHEA (Sexual Health Expert Accreditation), The Buehler Institute, 2026
- ICF-ACC (Associate Certified Coach), International Coaching Federation, 2025
- Community Dispute Resolution Program Training, Southeastern Dispute Resolution Services, 2025
- CTP (Certified Trauma Professional), Evergreen Certifications, 2024
- SHRM-CP (Certified Professional), Society for Human Resources Professionals, 2024
- CSSGB (Certified Six Sigma Green Belt), Management and Training Institute, 2023
- DASM (Disciplined Agile Scrum Master), Project Management Institute, 2022
- CA (Credentialed Advocate), National Advocate Credentialing Program, 2022
- DEI in the Workplace Certificate, University of South Florida, 2022
- SHRM-PMQ (People Management Qualification), Society for Human Resource Professionals, 2022
A selection of Willow’s recent work includes:
- Sipling, Willow. 2026. “The Rebirth of Venus: On Re-Membering the Archive.” Paper accepted for the 31st Annual James A. Barnes Graduate Student History Conference. Philadelphia, PA. March 13-15.
- Interviewee. Anderson, Laura & Andrew Kerbs. 2025. “Purity Culture in the Catholic Church.” Sunday School Dropouts podcast. Virtual. November 1.
- Sipling, Willow. 2025. “Mythology and Ecology in Chambers’ Solarpunk Vision.” In Mythological Motifs in Narratives, edited by Irem Atasoy & Habib Tekin. Frankfurt, Germany: Maurer Press.
- Sipling, Willow. 2025. “Predicting Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Change Efforts and
- Workplace Exclusion through Fundamentalist Institutional Policies.” Paper presented at the 120th American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, August 8-12.
- Interviewee. Messman-Rucker, Ariel. 2025. “What is a ‘lesbian bottom?’ LGBTQ+ sex experts explain & give tips for how to do it right.” Yahoo, cross-published on Pride and OUT. Virtual. July 23.
Willow is a lover of indoor climbing, dystopian and solarpunk literature, K-dramas, local cuisine, and spending time with friends.
For speaking on sexual violence prevention at workplaces and universities, contact me through the team at Campus Outreach Services.
To have me join a care team providing specialized recovery coaching for survivors of religious trauma, conversion therapy, and clergy misconduct, contact me through the team at the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery.
Media Kit
Social media: Follow on Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky.
Short, quirky bio: Willow Sipling is a sociologist and professional manic pixie dream girl. She strives to stave off dystopia through side quests, hyperfixations, and the power of social science and friendship.
More boring bio: Willow Sipling harnesses over fifteen years of communications and management, focusing her practice on HR/organizational consulting, one-on-one coaching, and applied sociological research. She works as an organizational sociologist, nonprofit director, and previously served as a researcher at the Center for the Study of Ethics at Western Michigan University, as Senior HR Business Partner at the University of Notre Dame, as Director of Workforce Transformation and Chief Brand Storyteller at Hubstaff, and as a consultant in tech, higher education, and nonprofits.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, two master’s degrees in humanities, and has credentials and certifications in ethics, DEI, conflict resolution, mediation, productivity, and workplace investigations, and is also a ICF Associate Certified Coach, SHRM Certified Professional, and Six Sigma Green Belt. Further, Willow is a sociology PhD student at Western Michigan University, researching SOGICE (sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts, such as conversion therapy), ethics, and organizational development.
Willow’s work on social science and media studies has been featured in international peer-reviewed and popular publications, including Fast Company, HR.com, US News, SHRM, and at conferences at Cambridge, Durham, Notre Dame, and other centers of learning.