Three new faculty fellows have joined WRI to examine human trafficking in South Jersey
Drs. Jeannann Coppola and Renee Cantwell from the School of Nursing, and Dr. Debashis Kushary from Mathematical Sciences are joining forces to examine human trafficking in communities throughout southern New Jersey. By combining their skills and areas of expertise, their work will provide critical data and unique insights about general awareness and understanding of trafficking, and its intersection and relation to health care. This study will also provide valuable practice and policy recommendations for providers and stakeholders throughout the region.
Dr. Coppola is a Clinical Associate Professor in the School of Nursing. Her research interests span women’s healthcare, peer mentoring, global health nursing, and human trafficking. Each year, Dr. Coppola leads allied health students on a three-week immersion and civic engagement trip to Bolivia, one of the most poverty-stricken countries in the Western Hemisphere. This seminar and course introduces students to this developing country with the aim of helping them to gain a deeper understanding of health and healing across multidisciplinary sectors.
Dr. Cantwell is a Clinical Associate Professor in the School of Nursing, and Director of the Accelerated Baccalaureate in Nursing Program. Her research interests include nursing education and identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking. She has more than 25 years of teaching experience, as well as a strong clinical background in quality management, medical surgical and critical care nursing. Her research interest focuses on nursing education and in identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking.
Dr. Kushary is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, and he conducts research in the field of statistics.
The study is anticipated to be completed by May 2019.