O’Neill Assistant Professor Vernise Estorcien wants to make community services better by promoting fairness, efficiency, and responsiveness in programs and organizations. Her research looks at how public and nonprofit organizations work, with a focus on racial issues, social equity, and programs designed to connect everyday people with government services that feel accessible and relevant.
That work caught the attention of ARNOVA, a national organization focused on supporting and advancing nonprofit and philanthropic research.
Estorcien has been selected as one of the organization’s Emerging Scholar Fund recipients for 2024. Each year, the award recognizes 10 promising nonprofit scholars and practitioners and supports their research efforts.
“Receiving the ARNOVA Emerging Scholar Award is a tremendous honor that validates my commitment to studying public and nonprofit management, particularly in the realm of minority youth development,” Estorcien says. “This recognition will establish my reputation as a rising academic in the field, support the advancement of my research on minority youth, and enable me to advocate for community initiatives that are crucial for underserved populations.”