VCU faculty awarded Oxford's Harris Manchester Summer Research Institute grant
Contact: Nicol Tinsley
VCU Global Education Office
(804) 828-6463
nctinsley@vcu.edu
Richmond, VA (June 7, 2023) — VCU’s Global Education Office, in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President for Research, has awarded two VCU faculty the opportunity to participate in Oxford’s Harris Manchester College Summer Research Institute (SRI), occurring June 25 - July 2, 2023, in London, England. Hyojin Im, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Social Work, and Brad Lehmann, Ph.D., instructor in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, have each been awarded a grant for their proposed research projects to be undertaken this summer.
The Summer Research Institute fellowship is awarded to faculty whose research or scholarly projects will benefit from the unique resources available at Oxford University, enabling them to enhance a research project through a week of focused study. In addition, the projects are intended to support the internationalization of VCU. Once designated, the chosen faculty members are considered Visiting Fellows of Harris Manchester College. The SRI draws scholars with diverse interests from many U.S. universities. It assembles faculty from around the world and from different disciplines to engage in an intense and stimulating research week.
Jill Blondin, Ph.D., associate vice provost for global initiatives, feels participation in the SRI gives VCU faculty a unique opportunity to conduct their research while contributing to the internationalization of the university.
“The Harris Manchester College Summer Research Institute is an incredible opportunity for faculty to enhance a project through focused work at Oxford University,” she said. “This is the type of global engagement that benefits faculty members’ individual research and also expands their international network. And as a result, this increases the internationalization of VCU.”
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Concentrating on the current global focus on racial justice and challenges posed by the refugee crisis, Im’s research will entail collaborating with Oxford scholars at the Refugee Studies Centre (RSC), where she will conduct a comparative study on structural racism and social integration of refugees/migrants through a “social capital lens.”
“It is crucial to closely examine the prevailing practices and policies that influence the resettlement process and the social adjustment of newcomers,” she said. “Through an in-depth analysis of how structural racism affects specific migration communities, I seek to raise awareness about the adverse social determinants of health that these individuals face. Ultimately, my research strives to inform the development of equitable and inclusive policies that promote refugee integration and combat racial discrimination against minority newcomers,” she said.
Lehmann’s research will involve exploring the history of the criminal justice system intending to provide teaching methods that assist with improving ethical decision-making training in criminal justice education, addressing specific needs for current and future professionals.
Lehmann anticipates that “the Oxford library and facilities will provide a unique access and insight for criminal justice and the law to include the materials, documents that are not readily available to scholarship in the U.S. and knowledgeable librarians/scholars at the University,” he said.
Lehmann views it as an incredible opportunity as he will be able to utilize the exceptional legal resources of Oxford.
“Thank you to the VCU Global Education Office for this sponsorship and incredible opportunity to study abroad at the world-renowned Universitas Oxoniensis,” he said. “I cannot wait to access the research facilities such as the Law & Justice resources at The Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford and the Tate Library reading room.”
The two research projects are both unique and will contribute greatly to the strategic internationalization efforts at VCU. Each scholar will have the opportunity to use resources from Harris Manchester and bring to VCU knowledge they may not have otherwise received.
“Through collaborative partnerships with esteemed scholars at the RSC, my goal is to bring their invaluable expertise and fresh perspectives back to VCU, thereby enriching the intellectual discourse surrounding my research,” said Im.
While collaborating with other scholars, Im expects to enhance the curriculum of her course, “Social Work Practice,” which she teaches in VCU's School of Social Work. “By equipping students with a comprehensive understanding of pressing global issues related to transnational migration policies and refugee integration, I strive to expand their horizons and nurture their sense of global citizenship,” she said.
“Moreover, the successful implementation of this project has the potential to open doors to exciting opportunities for international collaboration and research, thus amplifying VCU's influence and impact in the field of refugee studies and social work.”
The Harris Manchester College Summer Research Institute award has funded 24 research projects of VCU faculty since 2009. The application process for submitting research for possible funding will re-open in spring 2024.