PhD Student Nancy Franke, MSW, has been awarded the University of Maryland School of Social Work Grand Challenges Dissertation Award. Her proposed study of individuals who were formerly incarcerated is ambitious, thoughtful, and well aligned with the Grand Challenge of smart decarceration.
As one of the faculty reviewers noted, "Honestly, I have no negative feedback. She has a very impressive background/previous work in the area, including extensive efforts to member check the methods and purpose of the study. She has contributed to work with (SSW faculty members) Jaih Craddock, Corey Shdaimah, Charlotte Bright, and Alexandra Wimberly. She has good self-awareness of her positionality with respect to prospective research participants. Clear alignment with grand challenges. I recommend that she receive this award."