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Tidings: From the Director
"Chronicling Governance at an Existential Moment"
Accomplishments
Theo Lim
Ben Grove
Heather Nolen
Nada Berrada
Shahed Alhadyan
Max Stephenson Jr.
Neda Moayerian
Brad Stephens
Carmen Boggs-Parker
Yugasha Bakshi
Kim Niewolny
Laura Zanotti
Anna Erwin
Jake Keyel
Kimberly Horn
Jon Catherwood-Ginn
Project Updates
- Calfee Institute
- Bilingual Staff Interpreter Training
- Project Management Training
- Adult Mental Health First Aid Training
- CivilianLEAD Cohort 3 Kick Off in September in Richmond
- Virginia Management Fellows Now Recruiting Cohort 8
- Social Science for Public Good Podcast
- Roanoke City and Alleghany Health District (RCAHD) All-Staff Day
Conferences & Events
- Brad Stephens Presents at University of Antwerp (Belgium) Workshop
- Recovery Ecosystems: The Journey from Crisis to Community Support
- 2024 Engagement Scholarship Consortium Conference
- Presentations by the Maré Research Group
- CCC Faculty Forum with Robert Perdue
- CCC Conversation with Judah Schept
- Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation celebrates Five-Year Anniversary
- 2024 Commonwealth of Virginia Children Services Act Conference
- 2024 Virginia Department of Social Services Permanency Conference
Announcements & Opportunities
- 2023-2024 Annual Report
- Bernice Owusu-Brown Joins IPG
- Ciara Collins Joins the Institute
- People of IPG: Hilal Yalcin
- Interstate Renewable Energy Council hiring Spring Interns
Commentaries, Essays & Publications
- Soundings and Tidings
- Five Pieces Worth Reading
- Recent Publications
- Books, Articles, Chapters and Reviews Under Review/Forthcoming
Faculty Spotlight
Elif Tural, Associate Professor, Virginia Tech School of Design
Graduate Student Spotlight
Armin Firouzi, student in the Alliance for Social, Political, Ethical, and Cultural Thought PhD program
Alumni Spotlight
Laura Nelson, Chief of Organizational Development, Northeast (Vermont) Kingdom Human Services
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TIDINGS: FROM THE DIRECTOR | | |
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"Chronicling Governance at an Existential Moment"
BY MAX O. STEPHENSON, JR.
Director, Virginia Tech Institute for Policy and Governance
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As I write, the nation is engulfed in what can only be labeled an existential crisis that finds its central institutions and aspirations under profound threat by leaders and allies of one of its major political parties, the GOP, who have shown themselves willing to lie about anything and everything in the present presidential campaign. As Trump and his Party call for throwing tens of thousands of civil servants out of their jobs and replacing them with partisan cronies, and mobilizing United States Armed Forces against citizens and groups they have targeted for hate based on often-violent rhetoric and vileness, it occurred to me it might be useful to profile briefly six projects here at the Institute that offer examples of activities that are actually occurring in government and civil society. These projects provide an alternate and factually informing view of the range and complexity of governance issues and initiatives in our polity. Taken together, these efforts suggest that U.S. governments and civil society organizations at all scales and across policy domains are striving to address complex social, economic and cultural concerns in accord with the law and are doing so as effectively and equitably as they can. Many of those concerns are not “fixable” in an abstract sense, since they inhere in citizen behavior and choices that, however lamentable they may be, it is the individuals’ right to make. All of these projects appear in our recently released 2023-2024 annual report, which, you may access here: | |
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Dr. Theo Lim, formerly an Assistant Professor in Urban Affairs and Planning at Virginia Tech, has accepted a new position as Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia's School of Community and Regional Planning in Vancouver, Canada. The Institute has been privileged to work with Dr. Lim on several projects, including a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration funded program aimed at understanding the health effects of extreme heat and developing mitigation strategies to build community resilience to climate change in the City of Roanoke.
Congratulations, Theo!
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Ben Grove has accepted a new position as Development Director of the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). He has worked in several roles in CALS and Virginia Cooperative Extension during the past 17 years.
Ben is a PhD student in Planning, Governance, and Globalization. IPG Director Max Stephenson Jr. serves as his advisory committee chair. His dissertation, which brings the higher education and Extension internationalization literatures together, is entitled: "Understanding Extension Directors' Conceptualizations of, and Perceived Roles in, Internationalization."
Congratulations, Ben!
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Heather Nolen, formerly the Business Manager for the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA), has begun a new position as Assistant Director of Finance & Administration in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences (CLAHS). Heather completed her Master of Political Science degree in May 2024. As the Assistant Director of Finance and Administration in CLAHS she will focus primarily on post-award research administration, ensuring compliance and providing strategic support to principal investigators and unit-level research administrators within the college. She will also be involved in overseeing project launches and closeouts, monitoring effort reporting, and liaising with the Office of Sponsored Programs. Additionally, Heather will be responsible for generating reports and analyses on external research activities and revenue, delivering faculty and staff training addressing research administration policies and systems, and providing administrative backup for critical financial and proposal processes.
Heather was extremely helpful during IPG's recent fiscal/personnel transition to the College. We thank her sincerely for that assistance and for her continuing support since. We look forward to continuing to work with her in her new role in the Dean's office.
Congratulations, Heather!
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Dr. Nada Berrada participated in the iDiaspora-Diaspora Engagement Summit at the invitation of the Government of Cabo Verde and IOM-UN Migration (International Organization for Migration-United Nations). She spoke during a panel discussion entitled, "Blue & Green Innovators and Investors: Diaspora Driving Sustainable Solutions," where she showcased the work of her organization, the Education Development Center (EDC), and its initiative, "Our World, Our Work."
Dr. Berrada is an International Project Coordinator with the EDC, located in Washington D.C. She is a 2020 alumna of the Alliance for Social, Political, Ethical, and Cultural Thought PhD program. IPG Director Dr. Max Stephenson Jr. chaired her doctoral advisory committee.
Congratulations, Nada!
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Shahed Alhadyan, Institute graduate assistant and PhD student in Planning, Governance and Globalization, has published her first article in the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs! Co-authored with Mohammed AlRahahleh and Mysaa Khwaileh, her effort is entitled, "A Tactical Urbanism and Economic Inclusivity: Evaluating the Impact of Spacena Project in a Marginalized Urban Area." You may find the article here.
Shahed joined the Institute in August and is working with Director Max Stephenson and Senior Non-Resident Research Associate Dr. Lyusyena Kirakosyan on a project focused on refugees with disabilities in Jordan. We are excited to welcome her to IPG.
Congratulations, Shahed!
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Drs. Max Stephenson Jr. and Neda Moayerian recently published an article entitled, "Plus Ça Change: The Politics of Alterity, and Italian and Maltese Responses to Recent Migration Challenges,” in the Athens Journal of Politics and International Affairs. You may find the article here. Notably, their piece is the inaugural article selected for publication in this newly founded international journal!
Dr. Moayerian is an Assistant Professor with the University of Tehran (Iran) School of Urban Planning in addition to serving as a Non-Resident Research Associate at IPG. She and Dr. Stephenson have collaborated on several research projects previously, including as members of the Maré Research Group.
Congratulations, Max and Neda!
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Brad Stephens, Institute graduate assistant and PhD student in Planning, Governance, and Globalization (PGG), was featured in the September 5th edition of the Roanoke Times. The article entitled "Grant sought to improve heat resilience" highlighted the Environmental Protection Agency grant proposal that Brad has developed with University of British Columbia Associate Professor Theo Lim, IPG Senior Fellow Andy Morikawa, Dr. David Moore at IPG and leaders in several civil society organizations and in the City of Roanoke government. You may find the article here.
Congratulations, Brad!
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Dr. Carmen Boggs-Parker, Planning, Governance and Globalization PhD alumna (2021), has accepted a new position as the Director of Education Abroad in the Office of International Programs at Appalachian State University. She oversees the semester, summer, and year-long education abroad programs as well as faculty-led education abroad programs. She has previous experience in this field, having served as the Director of Study Abroad programs at Roanoke College.
Prior to tackling this role, Dr. Boggs-Parker worked in Washington, D.C. as a manager of the State Department's Boren Fellowship program, overseen by the Institute of International Education (IIE). IPG Director Max Stephenson chaired Dr. Boggs-Parker's PhD advisory committee during her studies at Virginia Tech.
Congratulations, Carmen!
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Yugasha Bakshi, PhD student in the Planning, Governance, and Globalization (PGG) program has had an abstract accepted for a paper presentation at the 2025 International Studies Association annual conference in Chicago, March 2-5, entitled, "Do Frameworks Travel? Limitations in Application of Water Governance Frameworks in the Global South."
Yugasha is affiliated with IPG as a co-host of the Institute's Social Science for Public Good podcast with fellow PGG PhD students Brad Stephens and Amin Farzaneh. IPG Director Max Stephenson serves on her doctoral advisory committee.
Congratulations, Yugasha!
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Drs. Max Stephenson, Kim Niewolny, Laura Zanotti, and Anna Erwin had their editorial/integrative article published, "Critical Praxis and the Social Imaginary for Sustainable Food Systems," in the Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems Journal. You may find the article here.
This piece is the cover/introductory essay for a 13-article special issue in the journal that they developed and edited under the same title, which you may find here.
The special issue has also been published as an e-book, which you may find here.
Congratulations, all!
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Dr. Jake Keyel, Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Rowan University, had his article "Immigrants, Asylum-Seekers, and Refugees: Navigating Conceptual Challenges through Multidimensional Migration Space-Time" published in the International Journal of Population Studies. You may find the article here.
Dr. Keyel is also an editorial board member of The Sociological Review Journal, serving a five-year term. IPG Director Dr. Max Stephenson served as the chair of his doctoral advisory committee (2019). During his PhD program, Dr. Keyel was also engaged with Community Voices, now the Community Change Collaborative, and he co-founded the graduate student journal, Community Change.
Congratulations, Jake!
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Dr. Kimberly Horn, IPG Research Scientist, recently had her first official book signing for her new book, Friends Matter, For Life: Harnessing the 8 Tenets of Dynamic Friendship. The event took place on September 25th at the Vinton War Memorial located in Vinton, Virginia, just outside Roanoke. Dr. Horn's book discusses the importance of creating and maintaining long-term friendships, especially in an age during which authentic human bonds are often in flux. You may find additional details here.
Dr. Horn has been with the Institute since July 2023 and has worked with IPG Deputy Director Mary Beth Dunkenberger and the Roanoke Valley Collective Response in shaping regional efforts to combat the ongoing opioid and addiction crisis confronting Southwest Virginia. She has also served as a lead investigator of the NIH funded STARS project.
Congratulations, Kim!
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Dr. Anna Erwin, Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) and several colleagues, have been awarded a National Science Foundation grant to study how living in a border region shapes how people experience and adapt to environmental change. Work on the inquiry, which will commence in August 2025, also involves the UTRGV Center for Community Resilience Research, Innovation, and Advocacy. Dr. Erwin will be working with Drs. Milena Melo (Assistant Professor, Anthropology, UTRGV), Rebecca Nixon (Assistant Professor, Geography and Spatial Sciences, University of Delaware), and Pinki Mondal (Associate Professor, Geography and Spatial Sciences, University of Delaware).
Dr. Erwin is an alumna of the Planning, Governance, and Globalization Program at Virginia Tech. IPG Director Dr. Max Stephenson Jr. served as the chair of her doctoral advisory committee (2017).
Congratulations, Anna!
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Jon Catherwood-Ginn, Planning, Governance, and Globalization PhD student successfully defended his preliminary examination on October 14th. The next milestone toward his degree is his dissertation proposal defense. Special thanks to Jon's advisory committee members Drs. Kwame Harrison, Sociology, Tim Luke, School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) and Political Science, Kim Niewolny, Agriculrue, Leadership, and Community Education, and Max Stephenson, Jr., SPIA and IPG, who chairs the group.
Jon is also an Assistant Professor and Co-Director of Research in the Center for Communicating Science at Virginia Tech. He has been involved with the Institute by participating in the Community Change Collaborative and has served as the longtime Executive Editor of the Community Change Journal and as a member of its editorial board.
Congratulations, Jon!
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IPG is pleased to continue growing our relationship with the Calfee Community & Cultural Center (CCCC) in Pulaski, Va. Director Dr. Max Stephenson, Jr., Non-Resident Research Associate Dr. Neda Moayerian, and Graduate Assistant Brad Stephens conducted interviews with governing board members of the new organization and alumni of the historic Calfee Training School during the summer. The first product of that effort, which focuses on how the historically Black school fostered the imaginations of its students, is now under review at Race, Ethnicity, and Education. The research team's focus has now shifted to a second article focused on how the reimagining of the school has built upon democratic norms and practices. We also wish to congratulate the CCCC for its facility grand opening on September 28th!
Dr. Stephenson, Dr. Moayerian, and Brad Stephens presented their initial article, “Revisiting the Social Role of Radical Imagination Amidst Widespread Democratic Erosion.” at the first session of the 2024-25 Research Colloquium of the Associates of the Virginia Tech Center for Humanities on October 8th.
Photo: The Calfee Institute. Photo credit: Wikipedia.
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Bilingual Staff Interpreter Training | |
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IPG faculty and staff in Richmond successfully offered a Bilingual Staff Interpreter Training program in collaboration with the state’s Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services (DBHDS), hosting two sessions in 2024—one in May and another in August. A total of 15 individuals earned their certificates, marking an important step in expanding language access across the organization. Both sessions received positive feedback, underscoring the importance of this capacity building initiative.
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Project Management Training | |
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IPG's Project Management Training initiative with the Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services (DBHDS) has wrapped up successfully, concluding with two comprehensive sessions. Participants gained essential skills and strategies to lead projects more effectively, enhancing project outcomes across DBHDS programs. You may find additional background on the initiative here.
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Adult Mental Health First Aid Training | |
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All IPG Richmond faculty and staff have completed the Adult Mental Health First Aid Training, thanks to Hokie Wellness and Mental Health Specialist Carlo Rivera. This certification equips our team to recognize and respond to mental health challenges, contributing to a more supportive workplace.
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CivilianLEAD Cohort 3 Kick Off in September in Richmond | |
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The third cohort of the CivilianLead Program, in partnership with the Virginia State Police, launched on September 30. This nine-month course began with the Virginia Public Sector Leader (VPSL) module, setting a foundation for leadership excellence in public service. You may find additional background on the project here.
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Virginia Management Fellows Now Recruiting Cohort 8 | |
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IPG Associate Director for Strategic Partnerships Dr. David Moore, Research Scientist Dr. Andrea Briceno Mosequera, and Virginia Management Fellow (VMF) Max Berckmueller represented the VMF program at the CONNECTION Job Fair at Virginia Tech's Squires Student Center on October 9th to recruit prospective applicants.
Recruitment for Cohort 8 of the Virginia Management Fellows (VMF) program is officially underway. This prestigious two-year fellowship offers aspiring public sector leaders with an interest in working for the Commonwealth the opportunity to develop advanced leadership and management capabilities while working directly with state agencies. Applications are now open, and we encourage passionate individuals committed to making a positive impact to Virginia's government to apply here.
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Social Science for Public Good Podcast | |
Roanoke City and Alleghany Health District (RCAHD) All-Staff Day | |
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The Roanoke City and Alleghany Health District (RCAHD) hosted its annual all-staff development day on September 13, 2024, at the Salem Civic Center. IPG facilitated a workshop as part of the event to solicit feedback from more than 100 staff members addressing RCAHD's Strategic Engagement Plan (SEP), which has been in development as a part of the Impactful Community Engagement and Planning (ICEP) project, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Staff rotated through four stations led by IPG faculty members Mary Beth Dunkenberger, Laura Taylor, Lara Nagle, and Liz Allen to review strategies focused on Creating an Empowered Workforce, Partnerships and Collaborations, Access to Public Health Services and Programs, and Data-driven Decision-making. RCAHD also featured additional speakers who focused on active listening, harm reduction, and inclusive healthcare approaches.
Photo Credit: Aida Hassani
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Brad Stephens Presents at University of Antwerp (Belgium) Workshop | |
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Brad Stephens, Institute graduate assistant and PhD student in Planning, Governance, and Globalization, participated in a workshop hosted by the University of Antwerp (Belgium) entitled, "A Multi-Level Perspective on Trust and Public Governance for Societal Transitions." The event, which featured a small group of PhD students selected from universities around the world, occurred August 19-23, 2024. Brad presented and received feedback on his paper entitled, "Multidirectional Trust Mapping: How Trust Flows Within Networks."
Photo courtesy of Brad Stephens
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Recovery Ecosystems: The Journey from Crisis to Community Support | |
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Institute Associate Director for Strategic Partnerships Dr. David Moore facilitated a panel discussion addressing regional recovery housing ecosystems at the inaugural Recovery Ecosystems Conference in Roanoke on September 12-13, 2024. The panelists were from Four Truths Recovery (FTR) and the Virginia Association of Recovery Residences (VARR). They discussed Four Truths’ opening of a VARR recovery residence in Roanoke and how the VARR and the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) systems provide a range of recovery housing options, but that most communities do not yet have a fully functional ecosystem to support those healing from addiction.
Institute Deputy Director Mary Beth Dunkenberger and Research Associate Laura Taylor also attended the conference with several representatives from Piedmont Community Services. The gathering offered an opportunity for those across the region working in trauma and crisis response, prevention, treatment and recovery support, recovery housing, workforce innovation and integration of peer services, from crisis to career assistance to share their experiences and to chart paths forward. You may find additional information here.
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2024 Engagement Scholarship Consortium Conference | |
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Amin Farzaneh, Institute graduate assistant and PhD student in Planning, Governance, and Globalization (PGG) presented a poster entitled, "Selecting appropriate methods for creative community engagement" at the 2024 Engagement Scholarship Consortium Conference, hosted by Oregon State University on October 9-10, 2024. You may find additional information here.
Amin was featured in an article by the Virginia Tech Office of Engagement on his presentation, which you may find here. He is also working with Lara Nagle, Dr. Max Stephenson Jr., and Mary Beth Dunkenberger to develop this effort into an academic journal article.
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Presentations by the Maré Research Group | |
CCC Faculty Forum with Robert Perdue | |
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The Community Change Collaborative (CCC) is an interdisciplinary group of graduate students and faculty affiliated with IPG exploring the dynamics of social change. Members meet weekly on Fridays during academic sessions at 10:30 a.m.
The CCC welcomed Associate Professor Dr. Robert Perdue from the Virginia Tech Department of Sociology for a faculty forum on October 4th entitled, "Trashing Appalachia: Environmental Degradation and Prisons." His work focuses on environmental crimes and injustices, with special emphasis on mass incarceration and natural resource extraction.
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CCC Conversation with Judah Schept | |
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The CCC will soon welcome Dr. Judah Schept, Professor in the School of Justice Studies at Eastern Kentucky University for a presentation entitled, "The Carceral State in Appalachia: FCI Letter" on November 8, 2024. He is the author of Coal, Cages, Crisis: The Rise of the Prison Economy in Central Appalachia (New York University Press, 2022) and Progressive Punishment: Job Loss, Jail Growth, and the Neoliberal Logic of Carceral Expansion (NYU Press, 2015). He is co-editor of The Jail is Everywhere: Fighting the New Geography of Mass Incarceration (Verso Books, 2024). He has been active for more than the two decades with organizations and campaigns fighting for decarceration and abolition. He holds a PhD from Indiana University and a BA from Vassar College. You may register for the event here.
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Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation Celebrates Five-Year Anniversary | |
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Congratulations to our colleagues and frequent research collaborators at the Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation (CFSCT) who celebrated the 5-year anniversary of the Center on September 26! Center leaders and staff took time to highlight their many projects and partners while looking ahead too. IPG Director Dr. Max Stephenson, Jr. serves on the Center's advisory board. We look forward to continuing our great work together in the years ahead!
Photo courtesy of the CFSCT.
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2024 Commonwealth of Virginia Children Services Act Conference | |
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The Institute's Assistant Project Director for its Family Reimbursement Unit, Brian Salazar Zamora, participated in the Commonwealth of Virginia Children Services Act (CSA) Conference October 16-17th at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center in Roanoke, Virginia. The conference will feature topics related to service innovations, self-care, and family-driven practices. You may find additional information here.
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2024 Virginia Department of Social Services Permanency Conference | |
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The Institute's Family Reimbursement Unit Program Director, Dr. Ciara Collins, will participate in the upcoming Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) Permanency Conference October 28-29th at the Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia. The conference will offer an array of workshops and resources to support both public and private community partners in the areas of family engagement, kinship, recruitment, foster care, pre-and post-adoption, and with the Interstate Compact of the Placement of Children. You may find additional information here.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS & OPPORTUNITIES | |
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VTIPG is pleased to share its 2023-2024 Annual Report, featuring Institute project highlights, publications, and partnerships during the past year. We thank Community-Based Research Manager Lara Nagle and Communications Coordinator Billy Parvatam for preparing this report with the help of IPG faculty, staff, and graduate students.
You may read the annual report here.
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Bernice Owusu-Brown Joins IPG | |
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Dr. Bernice Owusu-Brown has joined IPG as a Research Scientist. She previously served as a Post-Doctoral Associate and Adjunct Instructor in the Department of Economics at Virginia Tech. She is continuing to teach this Fall and is now leading two large undergraduate courses, "Principles of Economics" and "Economics of Gender." Her research interests include health disparities and intersectionality, economic impacts on healthcare access, gender inequality and health outcomes, and healthcare utilization and gender. We are excited to welcome Dr. Owusu-Brown!
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Ciara Collins Joins the Institute | |
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Dr. Ciara Collins has joined IPG as Research Faculty and Program Director of the Institute’s Family Research Unit (FRU) in Fairfax County, Virginia. Prior to joining the Institute, she worked at Abt Global for four years as a consultant and analyst addressing child services. Her research interests include foster care and adoption, child well-being and maltreatment, behavioral health, and trauma. We are excited to welcome Dr. Collins!
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People of IPG: Hilal Yalcin | |
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We are pleased to share the latest installment of the People of IPG series featuring Research and Administrative Coordinator Hilal Yalcin, who officially joined the Institute in July 2024. Hilal discussed her work and more in a conversation with Communications Coordinator Billy Parvatam, here.
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Interstate Renewable Energy Council hiring Spring Interns | |
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The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) is hiring four interns for its Spring 2025 program. The IREC is a nonprofit working toward a 100% clean energy future that is reliable, resilient, and equitable. The team is passionate about expanding access to clean, affordable solar energy.
Prospective interns will work with several departments, including state regulatory management, local initiatives, workforce development, and communications. Additional information can be found here.
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COMMENTARIES, ESSAYS & PUBLICATIONS | |
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Five Pieces Worth Reading
A weekly news summary series curated by IPG Communications Coordinator Billy Parvatam can be accessed here.
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Recent Books
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Max Stephenson Jr., Kim Niewolny, Anna Erwin, and Laura Zanotti, Eds. Critical praxis and the social imaginary for sustainable food systems. Lausanne: Frontiers Media SA, 2024. doi: 10.3389/978-2-8325-5480-7
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Max Stephenson Jr. and Cathy Grimes, Eds. Conversations in Community Change: More Voices from the Field. Blacksburg, VA: Virginia Tech Publishing, 2023.
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Max Stephenson Jr. and Yannis Stivachtis, Eds., Policy and Politics of the Syrian Refugee Criss in Eastern Mediterranean States: National and Institutional Perspectives, E-International Relations, Bristol, U.K., 2023.
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Max Stephenson Jr. and Lyusyena Kirakosyan, Eds., Re: Reflections and Explorations: Volume 3. Blacksburg, VA: Virginia Tech Publishing, 2023.
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Recent Articles and Conference Papers
Journal Articles
Published
Alhadyan, S., AlRahahleh, M., & Khwaileh, M. (2024). A Tactical Urbanism and Economic Inclusivity: Evaluating the Impact of Spacena Project in a Marginalized Urban Area. Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.25034/ijcua.2024.v8n2-4
Gosink, E. (2024). Resurgence as a Method to Overcome the Abyssal Line: Challenging Notions of Epistemology and Ontology. Community Change, 6(1),1. https://doi.org/10.21061/cc.v6i1.a.64.
Guerra, V. (2024). Review: The Routledge Handbook of Urban Studies in Latin America and the Caribbean: Cities, Urban Processes, and Policies, by González-Pérez, Jesús M., Clara Irazábal, and Rubén C. Lois-González, eds. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X241252039
Guerra, V., Stephenson, M., Poets, D., & Todd, M. F. (2024). The contributions of community-led newspapers to the resilience of Rio’s Maré and Rocinha favelas during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Urban Affairs, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/07352166.2024.2357707
Horn, K., Mathis, S., Nagle, L., Dunkenberger, MB., Hagaman, A., and Pack, R. (2024). Is peer support a tipping point for the opioid use disorder crisis in Appalachia? Research holds the answer. Harm Reduction Journal, 21(122). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-01041-7
Nurani, S.H. (2024) ‘Decolonization in Goa: Past, Process, and Present’, Community Change, 6(1), p. 4. https://doi.org/10.21061/cc.v6i1.a.65
Poets, D., Stephenson, M. and Zanotti, L. (2024) ‘Decolonization/Decoloniality, Entangled Ontologies: Old Debates and New Directions’, Community Change, 6(1), p. 2. https://doi.org/10.21061/cc.v6i1.a.63.
Stephens, B., Stephenson Jr., M., and Stephenson, C. (2024). The Black Radical Imagination in a Rural Forgotten Space, MetroPolitics. https://metropolitics.org/The-Black-Radical-Imagination-in-a-Rural-Forgotten-Space.html
Stephenson Jr., M. and Moayerian, N. (2024). "Plus Ça Change: The Politics of Alterity, and Italian and Maltese Responses to Recent Migration Challenges." Athens Journal of Politics & International Affairs, 1, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.30958/ajpia.X-Y-Z
Stephenson, Jr., M. and Moayerian, N. (2024). "Storytelling, Performing Arts, and Collective Capacity in One Rio Favela." The International Journal of Social, Political and Community Agendas in the Arts 19 (1): 75-95. doi:10.18848/2326-9960/CGP/v19i01/75-95.
Stephenson Jr., M., Niewolny, K., Zanotti, L., and Erwin, A. (2024) Editorial: Critical praxis and the social imaginary for sustainable food systems. Front. Sustain. Food Syst. 8:1487397. DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2024.1487397
Thorne, C. (2024) ‘The Role of Culture in Decolonization: Close Readings of Fanon, Cabral, and Nandy’, Community Change, 6(1), p. 3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21061/cc.v6i1.a.66
Conference Papers
Bendfeldt, E., Niewolny, K., Stephenson, M.O., Archibald, T., & Stewart, A. (2024, June 5-8). The Ecotonal Nature of Community Food Work: A Case Study of Trauma-Informed Care and Mutual Aid for Social and Health Equity [conference presentation]. Agriculture, Food, and Human Values Society Conference, Syracuse, New York.
Guerra, V., Grimes, C., & Stephenson, M.O. (2024, April 24-27). From Crisis to Empowerment: The Role of Community-led Solutions Journalism in Maré and Rocinha Favelas Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic [conference presentation]. International Conference on Urban Affairs, New York, New York.
Stephens, B. & Bakshi, Y. (2024, April 24-27). Trust: Exploring Why Urban Researchers and Institutions Should Care [conference presentation]. International Conference on Urban Affairs, New York, New York.
Stephenson, Jr., M., Moayerian, N., and Stephens, B. (2024, July 16-19). Revisiting the Social Role of Radical Imagination Amidst Widespread Democratic Erosion [conference presentation]. International Conference of the International Society for Third Sector Research, Antwerp, Belgium.
Stephens, B. (2024, August 19–23). Trust, Control, and Vulnerability: A Heuristic Model for Understanding These Connected Concepts [Paper presentation]. GOVTRUST Summer School, Antwerp, Belgium.
Book Reviews
Meselhy, A., & Malkawi, A. T. (2024). Review of Bloomer, Kent C., et al. Body, Memory, and Architecture. Yale University Press, 1979. Community Change, 5(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.21061/cc.v5i1.a.49
Books, Articles, Chapters and Reviews Under Review/Forthcoming
*Corresponding author
Articles and Book Chapters
Kirakosyan, L. and Stephenson, Jr. M., “Embodied Agency and Resilience: A Framework for Examining Disabled Refugees’ Experiences in the Post-Migration Context,” At Disabilities, [Under review].
Stephenson, Jr., M., Moayerian, N., Stephens, B. “Revisiting the Social Role of Radical Imagination Amidst Widespread Democratic Erosion,” At Race, Ethnicity and Education, [Under review].
Stephenson, Jr., M., Poets, D., Guerra, V., and Gomes, H. (2025). [Under review} “Countering Persistent Alterity: Fostering Advocacy and Agency. Journal of Urban Affairs.
Books
Otruba, A., Stephenson, Jr., M., Stivachtis, Y., and Dzotsenidze, N. (Forthcoming, 2025). Violent Infrastructures: Protracted Displacement and Housing (In)Justice in the South Caucasus and Beyond, Eds. VT Publishing.
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Dr. Elif Tural is an Associate Professor of Interior Design in the School of Design at Virginia Tech. Dr. Tural holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Turkey; a Master of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture and Environmental Design from Bilkent University; and a PhD in Environmental Design and Planning from Arizona State University. Prior to joining Virginia Tech, she was a post-doctoral scholar at Oregon State University, where she also taught in the interior design program. She has also served as a research associate at Arizona State University's Stardust Center for Affordable Homes and the Family.
Leveraging her multidisciplinary design background and experience in environment-behavior studies, her research addresses how the built environment and indoor environmental comfort factors can foster the health and wellbeing of residents/occupants. She has led and been part of several externally-funded interdisciplinary research projects, addressing active aging, institutional senior residential settings, design for neurodiversity, project-based learning environments, and acoustics in hybrid workplaces. She is currently involved in an NSF-funded Building Ecology project focusing on space/place dynamics in a living learning community. Dr. Tural is collaborating with IPG as a faculty partner in the Mount Rogers Community Services (MRCS) Smyth County Expansion project, where she is leading the trauma-informed design (TID) assessment of the facilities.
In addition to lighting and acoustics, and health and interiors courses, Dr. Tural teaches design studios on workplace, cultural, and educational environments, in collaboration with community and industry partners where possible.
Dr. Tural is an ex officio board member and past-chair of the Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA), and a member of the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC). She formerly served as the chair of IDEC’s Grants and Awards Committee. Dr. Tural sits on the editorial board of the Journal of Architectural and Planning Research and is a member of the Virginia Tech Whole Health Consortium Leadership Council. She was also the recipient of the 2017 Edison Price Fellowship by the Nuckolls Fund for Lighting Education.
While she needs her urban fix every now and then, Dr. Tural enjoys the calm Blacksburg life with her husband, who also teaches in the School of Design, their two kids, the neighborhood rodent population controller cat, Lily, and their big, crazy Bernedoodle pup, Albert.
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GRADUATE STUDENT SPOTLIGHT | |
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Armin Firouzi is a second-year PhD student in the Alliance for Social Political Ethical and Cultural Thought (ASPECT) program. His principal interest is cultural heritage preservation politics. His research foci are religious minorities and the politics of cultural identity in the Middle East, and the capacity for the use of cultural heritage as a mediator in resettlement processes of immigrants and refugees in the United States. He is also interested in queer anthropology and the cultural history of LGBTQ+ individuals in the Middle Eastern context. He received his BSc in Architecture from the Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran in 2018, and his MSc in Cultural Heritage Studies from the Eastern Mediterranean University of Cyprus in 2021. At IPG, Armin has been involved in the Community Change Collaborative (CCC) since the Fall of 2023 as a member, and since Fall of 2024 has served as president of the initiative. Dr. Max Stephenson Jr.is serving as his PhD advisory committee chair.
Fun fact: Armin is a HUGE fan of dogs!
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Laura Nelson is the Chief of Organizational Development at Northeast Kingdom Human Services (NKHS) in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. She graduated from Virginia Tech with a Master of Science in Animal Sciences in 2014 and a Master of Public Health in 2016. She has completed her PhD coursework in Virginia Tech's Human Development program and is working on finishing her dissertation. Laura worked as a Graduate Research Assistant at IPG from 2015 to 2019 and contributed to several research projects supporting substance use disorder-focused community-based participatory research, community health needs assessments, and evidence-based program fidelity evaluations.
After completing her PhD coursework, Laura accepted a position as the Quality Director at Northeast Kingdom Human Services, and has since been promoted to her current role. She has shared that a significant share of the research capabilities that she uses daily in her position were developed while working at IPG. Laura recently secured a SAMSHA-funded grant for her agency to prepare that entity to become a Certified Community Behavioral Health Center (CCHBC), which will position NKHS to offer high-quality clinical care in several rural communities of Vermont. She looks forward to completing her research on maternal identity at the intersection of substance use disorder treatment and returning to Virginia Tech to defend her dissertation in the near future.
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Institute for Policy and Governance
201 W. Roanoke Street
Blacksburg, VA 24061
ipg.vt.edu
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