Tanisha Agrawal
My research interests center on the Middle East and peace processes. While I am still narrowing my focus, I was inspired by my mentor, Professor Brendan O’Leary, whose extensive work on the Irish and Kurdish peace processes shaped my interest. I hope to explore how lessons from the Good Friday Agreement can be applied to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, particularly in Gaza and Yemen.
Outside of the University Scholars Program, I am a research assistant at the Annenberg School for Communication and the Schweitzer Lab, and I previously worked with the PDRI-DevLab.
In addition to my academic work, I am involved with Wharton Undergraduate Public Policy, The Daily Pennsylvanian, and the Undergraduate Assembly. I also serve as a Residential Advisor at Kings Court English College House.
- SNF Paideia Fellow
- RealArts Scholarship Recipient
- Asian Pacific American Leadership Initiative
- Intercultural Leadership Fellow
Andrew Zhang
Global Philanthrophy
If you are interested the practice of philanthropy in different countries then read on:
My colleague Pamala Wiepking and I are editors for a book on global philanthropy titled “Philanthropy: Key debates and contending perspectives”. commissioned by Edgar Elgar Press.
We are looking for a student assistant who is interested in the topic and willing to help us with coordinating submissions from across the globe authors, editing and other tasks involved in seeing the book in print.
The volume will include a comprehensive exploration of contemporary philanthropy with focus on the following broad topics:
- Global Philanthropy: Concept, Meaning, and Practice
- Public Policy: Shaping the Philanthropic Sector
- Adoption of Digital Technology: Opportunities and Risks (including AI)
- Legitimacy in Philanthropy: Philanthropy as a Negative Force in Society
- Philanthropic Foundations: Family, Corporate, and Community-Based
- Trust-Based Philanthropy: Unrestricted Giving and Participatory Grantmaking
- The Practice of Philanthropy: Fundraising and Grantmaking
- Laws and Regulation: Governance in Philanthropic Institutions
- Collaboration: Within, Between, and Among Stakeholders
- Ethical Leadership: Donors and Fundraisers
- Advances in Data and Methodology
Suicide Prevention Implementation Research
The Penn Innovation in Suicide Prevention Implementation Research (INSPIRE) Center is looking for undergraduate research assistants for the 2024-25 academic year. Research assistants will assist with tasks on the Signature Project, which is studying the implementation of a Suicide Prevention Consultation Center (SPCC) in emergency departments.
Undergraduate Research Assistant for Young Adult Holistic Public Defense Project
Our team is conducting mixed methods research examining the impact of holistic public defense teams on young adults' (18-25 year olds) legal and psycho-social outcomes.
Project activities include analyzing participant observations, conducting interviews with public defense team stakeholders, completing literature reviews, participating in a scoping review, and conducting qualitative and quantitative analyses.
We would love for an undergraduate student to join our team for the 2024-2025 academic year! Please contact Dr. Noor Toraif at the School of Social Policy and Practice to express interest (ntoraif@upenn.edu).
Spatial and Climate Justice in Architecture and Design
We invite motivated undergraduate students from architecture, design, urban studies, visual studies, and other Arts and Sciences majors to join an exciting research initiative at the intersection of spatial and climate justice. Students will collaborate on projects that address pressing environmental and social issues. Opportunities include engaging with local community groups and activists, conducting archival research, contributing to writing projects, and assisting in the planning and execution of design workshops and events.