Student Research addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences
What NSU degree are you pursuing and how far along are you in your studies?
Jacqueline Ennis, Ph.D. is happy and proud to say that she just completed her doctorate in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from the Halmos College of Arts & Sciences.
Briefly talk me through your research journey from your 1st day at NSU to today.
Before entering the doctoral program in Conflict Analysis and Resolution, I had already had doctoral-level education in health services research. I have also spent my career working in mental health services research and outcomes research. I changed career paths 15 years ago but yearned to return to research. I knew I needed to re-engage with research methods, and I had new research interests to pursue. Enrolling in the Doctoral Program in Conflict Analysis and Resolution satisfied both of those needs.
I had a general interest in the effects of violence and conflict on young people, but it was not a well-developed research question until I started reading course materials. I narrowed my interest to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE), a subject that has been the focus of hundreds of scholarly research publications. My area of interest focuses on the intergenerational nature of ACE – how a household with adults who suffered adverse experiences in childhood raises a new generation of children who suffer adverse experiences. My dissertation sought to understand the relationship between community characteristics, households with intergenerational ACE, and community outcomes such as child abuse and disconnected youth.
I am currently writing a journal article based on my dissertation. I am also working on a sub-study that uses the dissertation research data file and addresses one of the questions identified for further study. The sub-study will refine the analysis of the influence of population density by selecting homogeneous geographic areas, thereby eliminating the impact of different density characteristics.
I hope that I find a post-doctoral fellowship by publishing my study, presenting the research at conferences, and continuing to run and publish sub-studies.
What made you interested in the type of research you are currently working on?
In the doctoral program, you know that your program culminates with an independent research study, so throughout the program, if you do not already have a topic of interest, you continuously search for potential dissertation research topics. I was interested in the impact of violence and conflict on young people. My interest was broadened and strengthened by coursework that introduced me to theories – specifically social theories. Becoming familiar with some of the social theories heightened my interest in the question “Why?” or my quest to understand causal relationships as it relates to young people, conflict, violence, and disadvantage.
What made you decide to work with your current research mentor?
Dr. Ismael Muvingi was my professor for three required courses in the doctoral program. I appreciated the way that he brought out ‘deep thinking’ beyond the obvious, and he cured my fear of qualitative methods. When I discussed my thoughts on a dissertation topic, he was supportive and offered ideas that proved unbelievably valuable. And finally, I felt as if he was genuinely interested in what I was proposing to study.
How does this work relate to your future career goals and what do you plan to do next?
I am a non-traditional student, as I am nearing the end of my career and plan to retire soon. However, I hope to continue finding opportunities to explore the impact of conflict and violence on young people. I am working on journal articles that build upon the research initiated in my dissertation. And, if possible, I would like to pursue a post-doctoral fellowship.
How has NSU helped you pursue and/or achieve personal and professional goals you have set for yourself? Any specific NSU resources used that you would like to mention?
I have a personal goal of always being open to learning – expanding my mind. What I find different about NSU compared to other universities that I attended is the genuine engagement of the faculty. To me, that is the most valuable resource I appreciate. Additionally, as an online distance student, I am grateful for the wealth of educational resources available, including libraries, their collections, and the expertise of librarians.
What advice do you have for other students interested in getting involved in research?
I have three suggestions. First, find your passion. Make a note of a topic that you would like to understand better. As you take coursework, think about how the course content informs your topic of interest and how it adds to questions about your topic of interest. Second, let your research interests be known to faculty. University faculty love to nurture and develop research interests, and they may identify opportunities.
to build your topic and your interest. Finally, whether you have a topic of interest or not, look for opportunities to assist in research projects that the faculty are engaged in.