We are proud to announce that for the 2023-24 year, Dr. Tamara Taggart will be serving as the Nashman Center Faculty Fellow. During the coming year, Dr. Taggart will conduct community-engaged formative research (surveys, interviews, focus groups, and environmental scans) to develop an Activist in Residence (AiR) program.
Activists in Residence is a practice model that provides opportunities for activists to engage with an academic community to develop and strengthen their capacity, network, resources, and work.
AiR programs have grown in popularity in the last decade as universities recognize the need to support community leaders in affecting systems level change. Often conceptualized as a sabbatical year, the goal of an AiR program is to foster a vibrant exchange of ideas, protected time to envision new projects and opportunities, nurture social responsibility among students and faculty, and empower community members to actively engage with pressing societal issues with the support of an academic institution.
In partnership with the Nashman Center, D. Taggart will engage community members (inclusive of the broader GW community, activists, and other key stakeholders) in program development, identify AiR program partners from within GW, and identify potential funding resources to implement the program. Taggart believes GW is well-positioned to establish an AiR program and emerge as a leader among existing AiR initiatives. GW has a number of strengths including its location, network, robust and diverse student body and faculty, and institutional dedication to tackling the multifaceted sources of inequity. GW provides unique advantages compared to other AiR programs due to its capacity for activists to engage directly with policymakers, government agencies, international organizations, and other influential stakeholders. The school’s strategic location will also augment the visibility and effectiveness of AiR-led projects, provide access to premier cultural events and institutions, and promote more networking opportunities with other activists and thought leaders.
An assistant professor in Prevention and Community Health (GWSPH), Dr. Taggart conducts socioepidemiologic studies to examine the social-structural (e.g., neighborhoods and social networks) and cultural determinants of health, and then uses Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approaches to develop and implement interventions to reduce HIV risk and substance use among racial/ethnic minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged adolescents and emerging adults.
