Initiative Faculty and Collaborative Scholarship
GML Initiative faculty share their international research and expertise through their support and mentorship of GML students and participate in exchanges with GML alumni that include research collaboration, resource-sharing and other opportunities for continual mutual learning and innovative thinking. Please read through the following examples of how our the GML Initiative faculty have collaborated and mentored our students and alumni.
Dr. Stephanie Boddie, Associate Professor of Church and Community Ministries
- Facilitated opportunities for participation in:
- The Transatlantic Roundtable on Religion and Race meeting in Kenya where Belinda Onyango (MSW ‘19) and Rosemary Wasike (MSW ‘15) successfully presented papers and were encouraged to publish their work.
- The Society for Social Work Research where Shade Atanda (MSW ’21)was inspired by her interaction with scholars and other students. She gained a better appreciation for evidence-based scholarship and has started exploring doctoral work.
- Introduced Shade Atanda (MSW ’21) to a network of Nigerian scholars based in the United States with whom Shade co-authored “COVID-19, Cultural Competency, and Church Responsiveness in Nigeria." This research was featured as a chapter in Racialized Health, COVID-19, and Religious Responses: Black Atlantic Contexts and Perspectives, a journal edited by Dr. Boddie, along with R. Drew Smith, and Bertis D. English. The volume was published March 11, 2022 and is available via open access content here.
- For more about Dr. Boddie’s work with GML students and alumni, read this piece from the Spring 2021 GML Newsletter.
Dr. Juan Carlos Esparza Ochoa, Director, Program on Religion/Latin American Studies
- Serves on GML Latin America Recruitment team, helping to build networks in many countries and communities in the Latin American region as well as create context for the Latin American experience in the GML Program.
- Attended and Presented at GML International Conference in Nairobi, Kenya.
Dr. Brianna Lemmons, Assistant Professor
- Attended and Presented at GML International Conference in Nairobi, Kenya.
Dr. Elissa Madden, Associate Professor
- Co-created research project with Dr. Jennifer Dickey, GML Initiative Director, to develop GML alumni as researchers, Belinda Onyango (MSW ‘19) and MaryRose Oximas, (MSW ‘13). This research project aims to:
- Center research from international setting in an international voice to contribute to international child welfare
- Provide opportunities to disseminate GML Alumni innovative models/policy development
Dr. Jocelyn McGee, Assistant Professor
- Teaches International Social Work Research course, when offered
- Invited alumni Shade Atanda (MSW ’21), Joy El Kazzi (MSW ’21), Bruce Mukaba (MSW ’21), and Joan Wanyama (MSW ’21) to contribute to a book chapter centered on resiliency, aging, and the African context.
- With Dr. Dickey, received a 2019 Trust for Meditation Grant for their project, “Christian Contemplative Practice Retreats: Supporting GML Students’ Spiritual Practices.”