WomenNC Scholars [RTI GGC Mentees] Take Over New York United Nations

Congratulations to the 2018-2019 WomenNC CSW Scholars!!


The RTI Global Gender Center (GGC) is honored to have been a part of WomenNC's 10th anniversary and 2018-2019 cohort of passionate, powerful local college and university students, and recent graduates of the Juanita M. Bryant UN CSW Leadership Training Program. For the first time, five WomenNC scholars were paired with and mentored by social scientific researchers from the RTI GGC under the direction of Dr. Wendee Wechsberg, RTI GGC Director.

The WomenNC scholars presented their research this past March 9-15 at the United Nations 63rd Annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) conference in New York, along with advocates from San Francisco, spoke to the conference's theme:

"How, through its expression by young people, social protection systems, access to public services, and sustainable infrastructure can encourage gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls."



 Download the event flyer (pdf)




Over a five-month period, scholars engaged in research about the status of women in particular North Carolina communities. This year’s focus included significant work in Durham.

Scholars Jada Hester of North Carolina State University, and Amy Jiang and Amelia Steinbach of Duke produced actionable research about the:

  • racialized gender gap

  • lack of appropriate computer science curricula to attract and retain women in the Durham Public School System

  • intersectionality of the HIV diagnoses, intimate partner violence, and lack of affordable housing combine to disadvantage women in this area


Sara Darwish of North Carolina State University studied the:

  • issue of menstrual equity on public university campuses, paying particular attention to her own campus


Kaitlyn Galindo of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill:

  • explored the myriad barriers to full equality faced by immigrant women in the Raleigh area


2018-2019 WomenNC Scholars & RTI GGC Mentors


Amy Jiang




Duke University
Amy Jiang is a Duke junior studying public policy, and she is interested in using an interdisciplinary approach toward addressing the lack of women, especially women of color, in STEM jobs. In her free time, she goes on runs around her university and mentors middle school students.
Blog posts
Final Paper: DPS Professional Learning Communities: Fostering Equity and 21st Century Skills in CS Education


RTI GGC Mentor: Julia Brinton - Victimization and Resilience Program, RTI International 


 

Amelia Steinbach




Duke University
Amelia Steinbach is a sophomore at Duke University from Durham, NC, studying Political Science and Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies. She hopes to attend law school and pursue a career in the political realm, advocating for the rights of historically disadvantaged and marginalized groups.
Blog posts
Final Paper: The Intersection of Intimate Partner Violence, HIV, and Affordable Housing Options in Durham, North Carolina

RTI GGC Mentor: Dr. Felicia Browne, Substance Use, Gender and Applied Research Program, RTI International

 

Sara Darwish




NC State University
Sara Darwish is junior at North Carolina State University majoring in social work and Arabic. Having grown up in Cairo, Egypt, she is currently researching accessibility to feminine hygiene products in educational settings.
Blog posts
Final Paper: Menstrual Equity in Public Higher Education

 


RTI GGC Mentor: Brittni Howard, Substance Use, Gender and Applied Research Program, RTI International


 

Jada Hester


NC State University
Jada Hester is a junior Park Scholarship recipient and University Honors student at North Carolina State University; double majoring in Business Administration and International Studies (with concentrations in Marketing and Global Relations, respectively). When she is not conducting research, she enjoys giving tours as a University Ambassador, traveling abroad, reading and spending time with her friends and family.
Blog posts
Final Paper: Awareness and the Personal Challenges Associated with the Racialized Wage Gap Among Women in Durham, North Carolina

RTI GGC Mentor: Leslie Turner,  Substance Use, Gender and Applied Research Program, RTI International

 

Kaitlin Galindo


UNC Chapel Hill
Kaitlin is a junior Public Policy and Political Science double major at UNC-Chapel Hill who enjoys knitting, playing rugby, and deconstructing structural inequality. Kaitlin is studying the status of immigrant women in the Triangle.
Blog posts
Final Paper: Barriers to Immigrant Women in the Raleigh Metropolitan Area

 

RTI GGC Mentor: Venita Embry, Applied Justice Research Division, RTI International

Related Experts

Presenter

Wendee Wechsberg

Expertise

Substance abuse treatment

Gender issues and HIV risk

Community-based research

International HIV intervention adaptations

Presenter

Felicia Browne

Expertise

Stigma, discrimination, and gender

HIV and AIDS

Community-based research

Substance use and addiction