About the Program
The Ohio State University Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) and W.K. Kellogg Foundation Postdoctoral Recruitment and Onboarding Supplement (OK-PROS) program supports postdoctoral scholars recruited by Ohio State faculty by providing up to $5,000 to aid them with jump-starting their research agenda at the university and relocating to Columbus (or other Ohio State location). Thanks to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s generosity and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, we will be able to provide onboarding funding for up to forty incoming postdoctoral scholars over the 2022-2023 academic year.
The OK-PROS program supports postdocs, who are committed to contributing to diversity, equity, and inclusion in their disciplines, across Ohio State, and in higher education more broadly.
If you are interested in applying to future cycles of this program, please check the OK-PROS informational page for details on required application materials and upcoming deadlines.
Please reach out to our office if you have any questions about this program or the application process!
2022 OK-PROS Cycle 1 Awardees
During this inaugural cycle of OK-PROS, we received fifty-four applications for review. Many of the applications we received were highly competitive and fundable, making this a challenging decision. All applications were reviewed and scored by at least two faculty and staff reviewers, using a standard evaluation rubric.
2022 Cycle 1 Awardees:
The OPA is pleased to announce the twenty-two awardees from the Cycle 1 competition, who have been selected to receive OK-PROS awards. Details for each finalist can be found below:
Stacey Armstrong
College of Social Work
Research Mentor: Alan Davis, Assistant Professor
Research Summary
Breakthrough therapies for adolescents struggling with treatment-resistant PTSD and major depressive disorder.
Research Description
Mental health issues among youth have been increasing, and many psychotherapies and medications designed to treat adolescents struggling with treatment-resistant PTSD and depression are insufficient. “Breakthrough therapy” status has been assigned to MDMA and psilocybin to treat treatment-resistant PTSD and major depressive disorder in adults. Given the promising outcomes, the benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapies (PATs) for other populations, such as adolescents, are being considered; however, barriers to the investigation and implementation of PAT must first be assessed. Because stigma surrounding psychedelic substances likely exists, it could negatively impact mental health providers’ attitudes about PAT for adolescents. Exploring the acceptability and feasibility of PAT for adolescents among social workers will provide data needed to design education and training materials, allow for protocol development to recruit youth into PAT clinical trials, and set a foundation for how this discipline can adopt this treatment once approved.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity
We will use inclusive participant recruitment approaches to investigate PAT’s benefits among diverse adolescents in a clinical trial setting. Additionally, at least one graduate student from an underrepresented group will be mentored and involved in the study’s primary recruitment and data collection phases.
John Paul Anders
Department of Human Sciences, College of Education and Human Ecology
Research Mentor: Brian Focht, Professor and Vice Chair
Research Summary
Body adaptations to acute and chronic exercise.
Research Description Dr. Anders’ is interested in understanding the influence of acute, fatiguing exercise on neuromuscular and cognitive function; how exercise training can enhance resiliency and mitigate the neuromuscular and cognitive detriments associated with fatigue; sex differences in exercise responses; and the influence of nutritional supplements in optimizing performance and facilitating exercise training adaptations.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Given gender biases in exercise research Dr. Anders’ actively recruits female participants to increase their representation in exercise science research. Further, his research engages with health-related initiatives aimed at improving the nutrition, exercise and physical activity in underserved and racial/ethnic minority populations.
Darwin Baluran
Glenn College of Public Affairs and Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity.
Research Mentor: Shahidul Hassan, Professor
Research Summary
How racialization and racism shape life and criminal legal outcomes in underserved communities, with a focus on people of Asian descent.
Research Description
During his tenure as an OSU postdoctoral scholar, Dr. Darwin will focus on how racialization and racism are understood and experienced across place and over time, particularly by communities that have been largely overlooked in research. Specifically, he will look at the social factors that shape that shape policing and criminal justice outcomes; and, building on his prior research, examine how race, racialization, and racism impact the life outcomes of people of Asian descent.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
These projects contribute to scholarly and popular discourses regarding the role of criminal legal institutions in the United States. The findings from these projects can help researchers, the public, and policymakers to develop solutions to the pressing issue of the role of criminal legal institutions in perpetuating racial inequality in U.S. society. Moreover, these projects will also unmask the heterogeneity among Asian-origin communities, such that we can address the barriers that they face, particularly with regard to health and criminal legal institutions.
Jasmine Bruno
Department of Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences.
Research Mentor: Mark Moritz, Professor
Research Summary
Causes and consequences of social and ecological change in livestock systems.
Research Description
Linked climatic and societal changes force the intersection of livestock production, rural communities, and rangelands towards undesired and unsustainable tipping points. In previous research, livestock keepers in Colorado, USA and Oromia, Ethiopia identified a need for deliberate transformations, the intentional change of a system to a new state when the previous is no longer feasible. Thus, at The Ohio State University, Jasmine, under the mentorship of Dr. Moritz, will collaborate with ranchers in the western United States and pastoralists in eastern Ethiopia to examine social-ecological change and support socially just and environmentally sustainable rangeland transformations. Jasmine’s research will use a transdisciplinary approach—research that engages scientists and other stakeholders to seek solutions to challenges jointly.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Global environmental change research is often conducted at tier-one universities, and as such, many communities report a disconnect between their needs and the research objectives. As a result, natural resource-dependent and especially underserved communities can lack a voice and representation in research and decision-making. In response, this research will bring together stakeholders, including scientists, to jointly frame problems and seek solutions to urgent social and environmental challenges.
Marjorie Dixon
Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, College of Arts and Sciences. Research Mentor: Gerald Carter, Assistant Professor
Research Summary
Social and sensory ecology of vampire bats
Research Description
Dr. Dixon’s research will investigate communicative function of social calls made by bats foraging around cattle. Their program will work closely with cattle ranchers and other stakeholders to 1) investigate possible novel vampire bat deterrents 2) disseminate research about the efficacy of existing methods, and 3) produce resources to help ranchers discriminate vampire bats from other beneficial bat species.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Dr. Dixon is a founding organizer of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute – Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (STRI-IDEA). Sexual harassment and misconduct have been rife in field research and Drs. Dixon and Carter are developing and providing training to field biologists in creating safe field work environments and safety plans, hosting workshops, and advocating for policy changes that increase equity and inclusivity at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
Ellen Feiss
Department of History of Art, College of Arts and Sciences.
Research Mentor: Jody Patterson, Associate Professor
Research Summary
A book project that tells the two entwined stories of art in the War on Poverty: how it was used as part of quelling civil unrest, but at the same time, the ways that artists maximized federal funds to seed grassroots art institutions in divested black and brown communities.
Research Description
While most histories of public art in the United States end with the Works Progress Administration (WPA) programs of the 1930s, the project is the first to uncover the art and artists patronaged by the federal anti-poverty project in the 1960s. Spanning community muralism, modernist painting, and experimental film practices, the project shows that a large spectrum of art sought to incite the “maximum feasible participation” of the poor—a central goal for the program.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Given the role of murals and elaborate protest visuals in the nationwide uprisings around the murder of George Floyd, and the place of dance on the empty platforms of former confederate monuments, the present moment attests to the centrality of art within movements for social justice. Feiss’s research demonstrates the unique power of art, in movements of mass mobilization but also as a key coordinate of formal public policy around racial redress and economic justice.
Martín Fuchs:
Department of Spanish and Portuguese, College of Arts and Sciences
Research Mentor: Scott Schwenter, Professor
Research Summary
Language change research
Research Description
One of the most interesting observations about language is that very different languages tend to change in very similar ways. Why does this systematicity arise? The goal of Martín’s research is to answer this question and explain how and why languages change. His work has focused on different Spanish dialects, and as a postdoctoral scholar at OSU, he will work with Dr. Schwenter to expand his research to the different dialects of Spanish spoken in the United States by Spanish-English bilinguals.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Within Linguistics as a field, expanding language change research to bilingualism will shed light on the nature of bilingual grammars, ultimately providing input for the development of new pedagogical strategies that can improve the educational experience of bilingual students from underrepresented groups. More importantly, doing research on US Spanish can have a broader social impact by countering the common misconception that the Spanish spoken in the US is not ‘proper Spanish’, because it is different from the Spanish taught in schools. Creating awareness and underscoring the value of US Spanish as a language, and as a research topic, can also make students coming from Hispanic and Latinx backgrounds be prouder of their identity, and of how it contributes to American diversity.
Andrea Garcia:
Nationwide Children’s Hospital and College of Medicine
Research Mentor: Mary Fristad, Professor Emerita and Principal Investigator
Research Summary
Interdisciplinary, family-centered approaches to address gaps in the integrated care of children and their families from minority and low socioeconomic backgrounds.
Research Description
Children of minority and of low socioeconomic status continue to lag behind their more affluent peers in health care and status. As a Latina American, I have seen first-hand the current barriers in meeting the diversifying needs of minorities within the behavioral health system, such as barriers in culturally responsive treatment for diverse populations, addressing language barriers, and limited engagement with the child’s community.
My current research program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital-Behavioral Health (NCH-BH) is embarking on an ambitious roll-out of a measurement based clinical assessment tool (MBCAT) in acute and ambulatory settings. NCH-BH is the largest hospital-affiliated BH service in the country.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
With my success, I will develop interdisciplinary relationships that can help support family centered programs such as addressing gaps in the integrated care of children and their families, especially families and children struggling with mental and physical health problems and from minority and low socioeconomic status backgrounds. Additionally, through the resources provided by the OK-PROS program and other programs at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University, I will be able to also build strategies that allow me to forge stronger relationships to underserved communities in my research and scholarship.
Tuba Gezer:
Department of Educational Studies, College of Education and Human Ecology.
Research Mentor: Minjung Kim, Assistant Professor
Research Summary
Immigration, globalization and K-12 language acquisition
Research Description
With growing immigration and globalization, the K-12 student populations of the United States and western countries more broadly continue to diversify. As a result, there are many students who are not proficient in English within these school systems. English Learner (EL) is defined as someone who is between 3-21 years old, enrolled in elementary or secondary school, and who was not born in the United States or who has a native language other than English (ESSA, 2015). English learners’ education becomes critically important since English-speaking western countries need to accommodate diverse learner population as the number of immigrant students is increasing (Liasidou, 2013). Dr Gezer is interested in understanding the teacher and student related factors with English Learner (EL) academic achievement that will improve EL educational programs and identify EL student needs for academic success.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Considering these EL population increases, educational resources and programs are needed to ensure EL students can successfully meet the high expectations needed to transition into jobs and postsecondary education. Understanding the teacher and student related factors with EL academic achievement will allow improving EL educational programs and identify EL student needs for academic success which will positively impact equity and inclusivity in our research. The results of this study benefit teachers, parents, department of education staff, and EL students to expand fairness and equal educational access.
Ximena Oyarzún-González
Department of Outcomes and Translational Sciences, College of Pharmacy.
Research Mentor: Macarius Donneyong, Assistant Professor
Research Summary
The effects of medications, polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications in the cognitive status of the elderly population.
Research Description
Ximena is a pharmacist from Universidad de Chile, with a MSc in epidemiology from the University of Louisville and a PhD in epidemiology and biostatistics from the University of Kentucky. During her postdoctoral studies, she plans to continue her work on polypharmacy in the elderly and will begin to work on the effect of hormonal replacement therapy on the cognitive trajectory of elderly women.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The results of this research will provide information that could help improve the health of elderly populations, who are usually underrepresented in clinical trials in pharmaceutical research.
Laura Hildebrand
Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences.
Research Mentor: Kentaro Fujita, Professor
Research Summary
Confrontations, prejudice reduction and conflict resolution
Research Description
Confrontations are a powerful prejudice reduction strategy: Confronting, or calling out bias, reduces future expressions of prejudice. Yet, people who are confronted (i.e., confrontees) direct social costs, or negative interpersonal evaluations, at the confronter. These social costs hurt the confronter and reduce the likelihood that would-be confronters will confront. Confrontations are thus difficult to make and receive. In her proposed research, Dr. Laura Hildebrand and Dr. Kentaro Fujita argue that confrontations represent a self-control conflict for both confronters and confrontees. The proposed research will examine the content of these conflicting goals and how people resolve such conflicts. By integrating the confrontation and goal conflict literatures, this research will advance both motivation and prejudice reduction theory.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
This research will offer evidence-based insight on strategies to increase the frequency of confrontations and make reactions to confrontations more positive. In doing so, this research ultimately aims to foster more inclusive and equitable environments for people with marginalized identities.
Colin Hisey
Biomedical Engineering
LEGACY Postdoctoral Scholar
Mentorship Team: Drs. Eduardo Reátegui, Zachary Schultz, Derek Hansford, Tanya Nocera, and Andre Palmer.
Research Summary
His research involves the use of micro- and nanotechnology to develop tools for extracellular vesicle (EV) research. His primary interests are related to cancer engineering, but he also explores applications related to infectious diseases and reproduction to ultimately improve human health.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
He aims to transition to a tenure-track faculty position in Biomedical Engineering, where he can help create a lasting culture of inclusive excellence in his research, teaching, and service roles.
Megan Jordan
Department of Arts Administration, Education, and Policy, College of Arts and Sciences.
Research Mentor: Rachel Skaggs, Lawrence and Isabel Barnett Assistant Professor of Arts Management
Research Summary
Social movement scholarship
Research Description
Megan’s research investigates activists’ burnout experiences and coping strategies via in-depth, semi-structured interviews and participant observation. Social movement scholarship has often oversampled White, privileged activists. Even further, when it does step outside of this norm to examine the experiences of activists of color, the research often takes a so-called “deficit approach,” highlighting issues the activists face but largely leaving solutions and assets of this community unexamined. To counter previous narratives and fill these gaps, Megan’s research sample is intentionally diverse across race, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and nationality axes. Second, her research examines solutions to the issue of activist burnout as told by the activists themselves.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
As a first-generation college student and Black womanist artist-activist-scholar, Megan brings an intersectional and asset-based perspective to her research on social movements. Working with her mentor Dr. Skaggs, an interdisciplinary scholar and fellow sociologist at the nexus of social science, policy, and the arts, Megan will continue to grow and diversify her research sample and publish solution-based findings across these multiple fields.
Paige Kelly
Division of City & Regional Planning in the College of Engineering and the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity in the Office of Academic Affairs.
Research Mentor: Jason Reece, Associate Professor and Interim Executive Director, City & Regional Planning, Knowlton School of Architecture, COE.
Research Summary
Public policy, economic justice and well-being
Research Description
Dr. Paige’s research is motivated by understanding why economic justice and well-being vary so distinctly across places. Her research seeks to account for differences in economic well-being across places by asking, how does public policy influence inequality and opportunity across communities? To address this question, her research examines whether the quality of state and local governments and their policies produce inequality among racialized populations as well as rural and urban places.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
During her postdoctoral, she will contribute to the Kirwan Institute’s mission to create a just and inclusive society where all persons and communities have the opportunity to flourish. Working with her faculty mentor, Dr. Jason Reece, she will examine the community contexts that produce or fail to produce economic opportunities for residents depending on their race/ethnicity. Through her work at The Ohio State University, she aims to illuminate possible community-based interventions by local governments to promote economic justice and well-being across racialized populations and communities.
Noemi Linares-Ramirez
Department of Educational Studies, College of Education and Human Ecology.
Research Mentor: Jay Plasman, Assistant Professor
Research Summary
Race and social change in educational institutions
Research Description
Dr. Linares-Ramirez examines how racially underrepresented groups (Black, Latinx, and Native American) demand and experience change in educational institutions. She is especially interested in how race shapes the role that students, school personnel, and external organizations play in the outcomes of diversity initiatives in education settings. With an emphasis on comprehensive school experiences, this work is part of a broader conversation on race, class, equality, and education.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
With funding from OK-PROS and mentorship by Jay Plasman, Noemi will have the opportunity to work with undergraduate research assistants on a project examining the experiences of racially diverse students participating in an industry sponsored computer science (CS) program in Ohio. These research assistants will be involved in the entire research process from recruitment of participants to data collection and analysis as well as writing and dissemination of findings through reports and presentations. This work will support the recruitment and retention of underrepresented students in STEM by highlighting the barriers these students face in computer science programs. This study also identifies factors at home and school that could improve the CS interest and knowledge of students.
Emily Moscato
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Center for Biobehavioral Health and the Ohio State Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine.
Research Mentor: Cynthia Gerhardt, Professor, Pediatrics, COM, and PI, NCH.
Research Summary
Inclusive practices and digital health interventions
Research Description
Dr. Moscato’s research focuses on developing digital health interventions to mitigate health disparities for underserved pediatric populations with neurodiverse abilities. Specifically, her current work focuses on adapting a positive parenting intervention to improve quality of life for young childhood cancer survivors who live in rural and Appalachian areas. Dr. Moscator will conduct a stakeholder analysis to better understand the needs of this underserved group and those who care for them (i.e., caregivers, early educators, medical providers). She will then transcreate a digital health intervention, while partnering with a community advisory board, to ensure the cultural responsivity of the intervention.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
In addition to her inclusivity-focused research, Dr. Moscato is committed to diversifying the pipeline of future psychologists and medical professionals. She engages in joint/tiered mentoring with Dr. Gerhardt for a diverse cohort of undergraduate and post-baccalaureate trainees at Ohio State and Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Madhura Phansikar
Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences.
Research Mentor: Ruchika Prakash, Professor
Research Summary
Efficacy of mind-body approaches in improving cognitive and psychosocial functioning among middle-aged and older adults.
Research Description
A key contribution of the planned research is that it focuses on representing the demographic characteristics of Columbus, Ohio. Generally, most research in the mindfulness field has focused on Caucasian and non-Latinx populations. This may lead to erroneous conclusions about the generalizability of the results as well as an underappreciation of sociodemographic and cultural factors that affect both mindfulness engagement and cognitive functioning. Given this, papers from this data will substantially contribute to the literature by showing the cognitive effects of engaging in a mindfulness intervention and factors that affect engagement in such interventions, in a representative population, with a relatively large sample size.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Apart from research activities, Madhura is on the Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Taskforce in the Department of Psychology and has actively contributed to discussions on climate and communication within the department, and graduate and faculty issues related to diversity. Additionally, she is a co-chair of the International Committee of the Ohio State Postdoctoral Association, organizing informational webinars to assist international scholars in smoothly transitioning to the US.
Liva Pires do Prado
Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, College of Arts and Sciences
Research Mentor: Rachelle Adams, Assistant Professor
Research Summary
Neotropical ant diversity
Research Description
The proposed research seeks to document and describe the diversity of ants in the Neotropical region, combining field, laboratory, and museum work. Since finishing her doctorate, she has focused her research on a very special group of ants (species of the genus Megalomyrmex). Now, as a postdoctoral scholar at the Adams Mega Ant Lab (https://megalomyrmex.osu.edu/) at The Ohio State University, under the supervision of Dr. Adams, she will use an integrative approach to elucidate broader evolutionary questions, related to topics such as morphological diversification, the study of the species complex, reproductive strategies, and venom evolution of Megalomyrmex species.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
In addition to investigating fascinating questions about the life histories of an extremely diverse group of ants, our project will devote efforts toward training of new scientists, within an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment. She will engage with the public through outreach activities such as elaboration of Ohio ant field guides, and sharing her experience and knowledge concerning biodiversity conservation.
Cydni Robertson
Department of Human Sciences and Fashion and Retail Studies program in the College of Education and Human Ecology.
Research Mentor: Tasha Lewis, Associate Professor
Research Summary
Participation of underrepresented groups in fashion studies in higher education
Research Description
Dr. Robertson, working with her faculty mentor, Dr. Lewis, proposes a research study that aims to enhance the participation of students from groups who are largely underserved in higher education through: 1) The evaluation of curricula, and teaching strategies for the Fashion and Retail Studies (2374), 20th Century Fashion History course; and, 2) By conducting research to develop and include new multicultural course content. This intentionally inclusive course augmentation will be implemented in the Autumn 2023 session. More specifically, Robertson and Lewis aim to include research that centers Black/African American, Latinx, Asian-American, and Indigenous populations contribution to the fashion, dress, and American culture.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Drs. Robertson and Lewis believe that the new content in this course will assist in the recruitment and retention of students of color for the Fashion and Retail Studies program, while also positively impacting diversity, equity, and inclusivity thought leadership at Ohio State.
Sefa Secen
Mershon Center for International Security Studies, College of Arts and Sciences.
Research Mentor: Teri Murphy, Associate Director, Mershon Center
Research Summary
Refugees, international security, Middle East, Europe, and mixed-methods research
Research Description
Dr. Sefa studies the social construction of threats and security policies, known as securitization, by focusing on the performative, strategic, and symbolic power of security. Their project “Whose Security? Humans, Communities, Humanitarian NGOs, and States A Case Study from Turkey” is designed with the objective of producing grounded and contextualized knowledge by working with NGO leaders, government officials, and host/refugee communities in real-time, ambiguous, and politically complex settings. The research agenda, design, analysis, and policy-to-practice translation will be co-created and co-led with Doctors of the World-Turkey and their partners. In addition to understanding the multiplicity and complexity of, and the interplay between different security conceptions, this project aims to learn from as well as support the practitioners in their efforts to identify and meet the needs of their beneficiaries based on survey and interview data.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The beneficiaries of the proposed work, irregularly documented and undocumented migrants, are the most vulnerable in this context and this project will promote their inclusion and peaceful co-existence with other refugees and host communities.
Ye Shen
Department of Educational Studies and Department of Teaching and Learning, College of Education and Human Ecology.
Research Mentor: Emily Rodgers and Jerome D’Agostino, Professors
Research Summary
Multilingual language development and literacy acquisition among culturally and linguistically diverse children
Research Description
Dr. Shen examines cognitive and neurobiological mechanisms underlying multilingualism and multiliteracy, as well as external factors (e.g., literacy practices, bilingual programming, socioeconomic status) that impact child development. With the support from the OPA OK-PROS, Dr. Shen will gain more experiences in mentoring students from historically underrepresented backgrounds. She will work with a Spanish-speaking undergraduate students to better understand the literacy development of Spanish-English bilingual children, in order to serve the needs of this historically underrepresented and underserved group.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
As a bilingual educator and researcher, Ye aims to contribute to an educational landscape that enables students from diverse backgrounds to have positive experiences in formal schooling, and empowering them to value their many identities, cultures, histories, and communities. Dr. Shen, along with her mentors, will continue this research agenda grounded in improving equity and access to quality education for culturally and linguistically diverse children.
Van My Truong
School of Music, College of Arts and Sciences.
Research Mentor: Danielle Fosler-Lussier, Professor
Research Summary
As we witness an unprecedented global rise in forced migration, the unauthorized migrant boat crossing has gained increased attention from media outlets that flatten narratives, leaving little room for engaging with the deeper experiences of those who embark on such desperate and uncertain crossings. At the same time, there is a proliferation of literature, art, music, and film depicting the emotional and embodied registers of the migrant boat crossing as foundational to understanding our current historical moment.
Research Description
Van’s research is situated within several cultural historical convergences and underscores the critical role of culture in helping us make sense of the more complex, unquantifiable aspects of the human experience. To that end, her first book project, The Utopics of Migrant Melancholia, explores representations of unauthorized migrant boat crossings out of Vietnam, Haiti, and North Africa and theorizes the utopic imagination in contemporary migrant life. Her second project, These Oceans Among Us, continues to focus on contemporary migrant life and culture through the collection and archive of migrant family photos that have been damaged in boat crossings, leaving material traces of the trauma—from saltwater, gasoline, blood, sweat, tears—upon the image. Through the curation of a photographic exhibition, online digital archive, and accompanying written component Van will explore the impacts of this collection on how we think about the image as a sedimented archive in and of itself, as a materially and metaphorically layered document of migrant memory and history.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Van’s projects seek to reveal the deeper experiences of people representing many cultural backgrounds who are forced to migrate. The public-facing exhibition, online archive, and book project will be accessible by general audiences and scholars interested in migrant life and culture, with the ultimate goal of engaging a broader public by expanding the reach and depth of the public humanities.
Acknowledgements
The OK-PROS program is made possible through the generous support of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Grant #: P-60076160-2022 Ohio State University.