Pamela Feldman-Savelsberg, Broom Professor of Social Demography and Anthropology

Pamela Feldman-Savelsberg, Broom Professor of Social Demography and Anthropology
Pamela Feldman-Savelsberg, Broom Professor of Social Demography and Anthropology

Professor Pamela Feldman-Savelsberg worked with Student Research Partner Jill Yanai ’22 throughout the winter and spring terms in 2021 to prepare for a larger research project. Professor Feldman-Savelsberg is embarking on a collaborative research project with the Center for Victims of Torture (CVT), a non-profit headquartered in Minnesota that provides support for survivors of torture to advance healing and advocates for the protection of asylum seekers and refugees and against the use of torture.

The collaborative project will examine social connectedness and strategies for fostering mental well-being for refugees and victims of torture. Eventually, they hope to expand the project by conducting fieldwork with refugees and victims of torture.

Professor Feldman-Savelsberg’s collaborators at CVT are Research Director Craig Higson-Smith and Jennifer Esala, Research and Evaluation Lead for US Services. With psychology and medical sociology as their respective specialties, collaboration with Professor Feldman-Savelsberg’s expertise in medical anthropology creates a productive interdisciplinary team.

Working during winter and spring 2021 terms with Professor Feldman Savelsberg, Yanai did bibliographic work, abstract writing, and participated in discussions of the project themes. This work moved the project towards a final research design and applications for grants in partnership with the CVT.