In an induction ceremony held Oct. 11, 2014, Assistant Professor Carmen Monico became a charter member of the District 7600 Rotary Alumni Association two years after having served as an Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Research Scholar in Guatemala.
On October 11, 2014, Rotary District 7600 hosted an Induction Ceremony for the D7600 Alumni Association at the District Conference in Richmond, Virginia. The event honored individuals who had participated in Rotary International Alumni programs sponsored by District 7600, including those awarded by the Rotary Foundation, such as Assistant Professor Carmen Monico.
The Rotary’s Foundation vision is advancing world understanding, goodwill and peace. The Alumni Association is a part of an extended network of people who share a common bond of improving lives in their communities and abroad and are valued members of the Rotary family around the globe.
During her Rotary Foundation scholarship from June 2011 through March 2012,Monico conducted her dissertation fieldwork in Guatemala. Her doctoral research was focused child protection and intercountry adoption in the context of the implementation of relevant international convention.
During her term as an Ambassadorial Research Scholarship, Monico undertook prior ethnography, completed design of her dissertation proposal, and collected data with the advise and support from academic experts and child/women welfare practitioners in Guatemala. With the Rotary Foundation scholarship she also got first-hand experience of Rotary’s work for and with the poor and most marginalized communities in that Central American nation.
The James River Rotary Club (District 7600) in Virginia was Monico’s sponsoring club, and the Vista Hermosa Rotary Club in Guatemala City (District 4250) hosted her.
While conducting her research in Guatemala, Monico partnered with the Women Institute at the University of San Carlos in the development of series of training workshops for faculty and students regarding the application of constructivist research and gender-based analysis, with the participation of over 100 scholars and practitioners from various academic institutions, government and non-governmental agencies and women’s groups from Guatemala and El Salvador.
She was able to understand better the importance of international social work and international research, as well as the need for cross-border collaboration between U.S. academics with scholars and practitioners in Guatemala to advance social justice around the world.
Upon her doctoral graduation and hiring at Elon University, Monico has used that overseas academic experience to create new international opportunties for Elon students, particuarly those undertaking human service and public health studies. An example is the practicum course in Guatemala she teaches in Winter Term, where students carry out their professional practice in Guatemalan community-based organizations. She has developed other courses with an international focus, such as International Human Services and Global Violence Against Women. She is promoting cross-border collaboration between U.S. academics with scholars and practitioners in Guatemala to advance social justice around the world through global advocacy and international research.
She is also using that experience to support Elon students in their quest for international academic opportunities, including scholarships and internships during their senior year or upon graduation.
Learn more about Rotary International and Rotary Grants, and the Guatemala Practicum.