Claire Willey-Sthapit to receive International Research Award, deliver talk

LAWRENCE — Claire Willey-Sthapit, assistant professor in the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, will receive this year’s KU International Affairs Advisory Board International Research Award in recognition of her international research at the University of Kansas.

The award recognizes faculty members who provide outstanding leadership in international education through their research and discovery efforts. Willey-Sthapit will accept the award and give a talk on her research from 3:30 to 5 p.m. April 29 in the Kansas Union’s Big 12 Room. The public is invited to attend the presentation and reception to follow.

Willey-Sthapit has both a master’s in social work from the University of Louisville and a doctorate in social welfare from the University of Washington. At KU, she teaches courses such as Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic and Environmental Justice; Introduction to Social Work Practice Interviewing Skills and a doctoral-level course on History and Philosophy of Social Work.

Willey-Sthapit’s research focuses on translating domestic violence policy and practice between the U.S and international contexts, specifically building from her family ties and professional experiences in Nepal.

Grounded in the perspectives of practitioners in Pokhara, Nepal, Willey-Sthapit’s research challenges prevailing international assumptions about domestic violence and works to help researchers, donors and policymakers think more broadly about definitions and potential interventions. Alongside co-authors and community partner Kopila Nepal — a Nepali NGO focused on empowering marginalized women and children through human rights advocacy, psychosocial care and violence prevention — she seeks to highlight the work that individuals, extended family members and communities are already doing to prevent and respond to gender-based violence as a foundation for future work.

“Claire’s international research takes neither a ‘savior’ or an extractive stance; she sees that there is knowledge to be found in Nepali responses to domestic violence and in U.S. advances that have improved women’s well-being,” Michelle Mohr Carney, dean of the School of Social Welfare, wrote in her nomination letter. “Her work urges actors anywhere in the world to consider and respond to gender-based violence in context and to build global connections to find those truths.”

Currently Willey-Sthapit is conducting research on self-help groups in Nepal and analyzing how they promote the empowerment of women and other marginalized groups.

Willey-Sthapit is also a co-director for the Toni Johnson Scholars Program, which aims to enhance belonging and success for program scholars within the KU School of Social Welfare through mentoring, leadership and professional development opportunities.

“Her commitment to me as a scholar alleviated many of my stressors as a student. Through the TJS Program, she continued to provide valuable guidance and support to me and my fellow scholars while committing to show up for us and advocating for our needs,” said Olivia Sourivong, now a graduate of Washington University’s master’s program in social work, who Willey-Sthapit mentored through her undergraduate research project while a bachelor’s student in social work at KU.

Willey-Sthapit is currently mentoring two doctoral students, Carrie Smart and Rhitamvara Pokharel, from KU and Boston University, who are working with her on research publications. She is also mentoring master’s level researchers Tabitha Foster and Mariam Wadood.

“Her influence extends beyond academic guidance as she has played a crucial role in shaping my professional values and aspirations,” Sourivong wrote in her nomination letter.

Financially supported by the KUIA Advisory Board, the international research award comes with a $1,000 stipend for professional activities.