Team Members

Dr. Jodi Benenson (she/her) serves as the Principal Investigator on the Civic Mobility in the Heartland project. She is an Associate Professor in the School of Public Administration at the University of Nebraska Omaha, where her primary teaching and research interests include civic engagement, nonprofit organizations, social policy, and social equity. Dr. Benenson founded the Women and Public Policy initiative at the University of Nebraska Omaha in 2017 to amplify policy issues that affect women and girls in Nebraska. Her research has been published in a variety of academic and practice-based outlets, and she is engaged with several local, national, and international organizations that center civic engagement and equity. From 2023-24, Dr. Benenson is serving as the Fulbright Canada Research Chair in Governance and Public Administration at the University of Ottawa.

My name is Paw Thlay Wah and I am a student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, majoring in Public Health. My involvement with the research project began during the planning and organization stages. As part of the team, I will be conducting interviews, transcribing data, and analyzing the results. I am excited to contribute to this important study and help drive positive change in our community.

I am in my final year at UNO as a public health major and public administration minor. At UNO, I am involved in Chi Omega, Honors Student Association, and Public Health Student Association. Outside of school, I am a Community Engagement Intern for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, spending time with my pets, and listening to Taylor Swift!

I'm Eva, a research assistant on this project. I'm a political science and communications student at UNO. In my free time I love walking my dog, cooking, watching TV, reading, and chatting with my friends.

I am a second-year international student at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Through my job as a student research assistant for the College of Public Affairs and Community Services. I hope to contribute my efforts to the development of of youth  civic engagement in the Midwest region.

I am a third-year student at UNO studying political science. I work as a research assistant, helping to conduct interviews and analyze data from the interviews. Outside of schoolwork and other work, I like to read, hang out at coffee shops, and spend time with family and friends.