Summary

As CHEER welcomes its second cohort of summer scholars, the Hub is thrilled to feature the Bill Anderson Fund in its inaugural issue of Partner Perspectives, a quarterly column that will highlight the strategic, collaborative work done alongside one of CHEER’s 17 diverse partners.

Partner Type: Education

Year of Establishment: 2014

Mission: Empowering Diverse Next Generation of Disaster Scholars

Investing in the next generation of disaster scholars is an integral part of the Hub’s education goals: broadening participation in this field and enriching disaster education in the natural and engineering sciences by bringing diversity, equity, and engagement to the forefront. Read on to learn about how the Bill Anderson Fund‘s (BAF) mission and role in CHEER reflects the Hub’s commitment to fostering inclusive and engaged inquiry. 

 

The Mission and Vision

The BAF seeks to reduce the disproportionate suffering faced by minority and marginalized communities due to extreme natural hazard events through fellowship, mentorship, and research for minority communities. The non-profit organization focuses on creating more opportunities for underrepresented groups, allowing them to become leaders within the hazards and disaster field. The BAF strives to prepare emerging professionals to offer critical perspectives, introduce innovative approaches, and center equity in ways that foster progress in disaster risk reduction.

Each year, the BAF works with 10 to 12 doctoral students nationwide to not only facilitate a successful graduate school experience, but to provide hands-on research experiences, mentorship, and professional development training. Each of these program facets helps fellows go beyond the kinds of opportunities that students receive through their PhD programs. The BAF fosters engagement and collaboration across disciplinary boundaries to prepare students to engage in the kinds of collaborations that are necessary to tackle the complex environmental challenges that will continue to evolve in the decades ahead.

Since its establishment in 2014, the BAF has enrolled over 100 students representing more than 20 disciplines, ranging from the social sciences to engineering to emergency management. Several members of the Hub have been involved with the BAF in various capacities. Two Fellows participated in CHEER’s summer scholars program last year, and two more will be involved in the program in 2024. Additionally, one BAF Fellow, Nelson Adeniji, is a graduate student on the CHEER team at East Carolina University, and one BAF Alumnus, Kay Atoba of Texas A&M University, is a researcher on the Hub’s households and government thrusts. Additionally, Rachel Davidson currently serves as a mentor to a BAF Fellow separate from the CHEER Hub.

Working with the Hub 

The BAF has long-standing relationships with the Disaster Research Center, where Bill Anderson was a member of the inaugural cohort of doctoral students, and the University of Delaware. From the early stages when CHEER was being conceptualized, the BAF was included as a partner to create training opportunities for the diverse next generation of disaster researchers. This is partially done through the Hub’s summer scholars program, for which three BAF Fellows are selected annually. Participating Fellows have gained experience with fieldwork involving community partners, provided near-peer mentorship to undergraduate students, and developed valuable insights into the real-world implications of interdisciplinary disaster research beyond their home institutions.

Looking Forward

As the Hub continues to evolve, there will be even more opportunities for Fellows to deepen their relationships with other students and faculty and engage in longer-term collaborations. These research experiences have the potential to serve as gateways to their longer-term research agendas.

A Word From the Director

Nnenia Campbell, Ph.D. (she/her)

BAF Executive Director Nnenia Campbell, who is also a research associate with the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado—Boulder, is also a member of the organization’s first cohort. She works closely with the Hub and its summer scholars program.

“As a BAF Founding Fellow, I always wanted to do meaningful research that had a real-world impact. However, I am most proud of the work I’ve done to help open doors for the brilliant emerging scholars within the Bill Anderson Fund. It is a true privilege to be able to contribute to a broader legacy by supporting underrepresented students on their professional journeys and helping them realize their potential. Every day I am motivated by the knowledge that as our numbers grow, so does our ability to realize our collective vision for the future of the hazards and disaster field.”

Getting Involved: Fellows and Mentors

Those interested in getting involved with the BAF can apply as Fellows or Mentors.

The Fellowship application deadline for 2024 is Sunday, July 28. Applicants are selected based on the alignment of their research and professional interests with the BAF vision and mission, their capacity to actively participate in student committees and activities, and their career stage (the organization targets students in the early-mid stages of their doctoral programs).

BAF mentorship applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. The primary goal of the BAF Mentor Program is to match Fellows as mentees with well-established professionals who can provide advice based on the experience that has led to their own success, help them grow their networks, and connect them with opportunities.

To learn more, visit the BAF’s Applications and Programs pages.