Contributors: iKnoW members:
Elizabeth Lathrop, University of Maryland, College Park
Meira Orentlicher, Touro University
Prapti Mody, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Yoanna Ferrara, Syracuse University
The NORDP affinity group – Immigrant Knowledge and Wisdom (iKnoW) – seeks to empower and engage research development (RD) professionals who identify as immigrants or allies of immigrants. From the initial 15 founding members in 2023, we have grown to >30 members thus far. Members of iKnoW come with diverse perspectives to share experiences, interests, and goals contributing to inclusive excellence, resource generation, recruitment and retention of RD professionals to further advance NORDP mission. Collectively, iKnoW is a place for members to share international knowledge and immigrant experiences in the context of RD professionals, with opportunities for advocacy, networking, mentoring, and leadership development on immigrant impact to foster a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion within NORDP.
The iKnoW launched our inaugural networking events at the 2023 NORDP in-person Conference in Arlington, VA. As an iKnoW Co-chair, Samarpita Sengupta organized the highly popular “Monuments by Moonlight” bus tour, which provided opportunities for networking and relationship-building within the growing iKnoW community. iKnoW also hosted a member meetup dinner as well as an interactive poster session to meet existing members in person and to recruit new members. We encourage everyone to be on the lookout for iKnoW activities at the upcoming 2024 NORDP Conference in Bellevue, WA.
Another notable accomplishment includes a NORD pilot project award: in collaboration with iKnoW members from four institutions (Touro University, University of Michigan, University of Arizona, and University of Vermont), Meira Orentlicher is spearheading a study to increase the understanding of immigrant faculty researchers’ experiences and needs, and to begin to identify strategies for addressing the needs and supporting their growth and development in the US academic institutions.
A few testimonials from current iKnoW members highlight the impact this tiny-but-mighty group has had on them!
Prapti Mody: As a South Asian who immigrated to the USA and has tons of diverse immigrant friends and colleagues, I identify strongly with iKnoW’s values and mission goals. I joined this affinity group after meeting with Gagan last year at the 15th NORDP annual conference, so I have been a member for just under a year now. Our meetings are equal parts fun time and resource generation brainstorming. It’s so interesting to connect with people from all across the world as part of this group, learn about their experiences and share ideas. For example, in one of our meetings, we designed a flyer highlighting points to be aware of while traveling internationally. iKnoW is a great resource group and a beautiful network of RD professionals.
Yoanna Ferrera: Initially, I joined iKnow out of curiosity. At the affinity group dinner in Arlington (NORDP 2023), I met remarkable people who, like me, had moved to the United States from worlds away or, as second-generation immigrants, have straddled continents and cultures. I value the sense of community and everyone’s willingness to support others. We have discussed care options for aging parents who are non-US citizens or non-English speakers. This topic may also be of interest to many faculty. We have bonded through book clubs. We plan approaches to recruit immigrants to the RD profession and support members looking to switch jobs, e.g., through mock interviews and career guidance. Samar’s and Gagan’s leadership is inspirational—they encourage the iKnow-ers to be involved in the various NORDP committees, pursue leadership roles, and contribute immigrant perspectives to the organization.
Faina Thompson: Absolutely thrilled to share my experience with the Immigrant Knowledge and Wisdom (iKnoW) group! Meeting the members at the 2023 NORDP conference was an absolute delight and sparked an immediate connection. It was a moment where I felt seen, understood, and welcomed into a vibrant community. iKnoW is an outstanding network of RD professionals, eager to share their expertise. The conversations are as diverse as they are informative, with topics spanning the globe. iKnoW welcomes you with a remarkable sense of community and professional camaraderie. It’s not just a group, it’s a global community that enriches you both professionally and personally. I wholeheartedly recommend it.
The iKnoW affinity group meets monthly, on every 3rd Tuesday of the month, at 4pm ET/3pm CT/2pm PT. We welcome you to join our community by contacting the current Co-Chairs: Samarpita Sengupta (SS141@alumni.utsw.edu) and Gagan Bajaj (gagan.bajaj@med.uvm.edu) for meeting information!
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