The Poverty Research Initiative has met since the 2021-2022 academic year, engaging faculty on campus and community leaders in dialogue and mutual exchange of ideas to inform both practice and research outcomes.

Vision

All people deserve the opportunity to live in healthy and thriving communities.

Mission

To create a network of scholars and community partners to develop actionable research that significantly reduces structural inequities of poverty.

Goals

• Cultivate a multidisciplinary community of Marquette scholars, students and staff who share an interest in poverty research.
• Foster social connections among Poverty Research Initiative team members, faculty at Marquette and across the city, community leaders and organizations, stakeholders and residents.
• Connect community organizations, stakeholders and residents with available Marquette resources.
• Explore new ways to advance research/scholarship in alignment with community needs.

Repository of Research

As part of our work, we have created a repository of research related to poverty. It began with contributions from members of our steering committee and has expanded to include the broader Marquette community.

The repository can be found here, through Marquette's e-Publications website. Special thanks to Danelle Orange for her support in building it.

Snapshot of Repository

Selected Events and Activities

• Held monthly meetings to build community among Marquette faculty, community organizations and stakeholders and to develop the foundational constructs of the initiative. 
• Supported a dialogue and event series, including hosting Social Development Commission (SDC) leadership and presenting at the SDC’s Summit on Poverty.
• Arranged networking socials to engage internal faculty, external partner researchers from University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, and community members passionate about the impact of poverty in our community.
• Fostered relationships with the SDC; Benedict Center; UWM’s Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Missionary Currie for Women and Children.
• Developed mission and vision.
• Built a repository of Marquette University research related to poverty and its effects 

Steering Committee

1. Gabriel Velez, Assistant Professor, Educational Policy and Foundations Program Coordinator, College of Education
2. Marilyn Frenn, Professor, College of Nursing
3. Aleksandra Snowden, Associate Professor, Social and Cultural Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences
4. Jeanne Hossenlopp, Vice President, Research and Innovation
5. Kent Belasco, Assistant Professor of Practice, Finance and Banking, College of Business
6. Manoj Babu, Instructor of Practice, Supply Chain, College of Business
7. Ashley Deutsch, Assistant Professor of Marketing, College of Business
8. Jessica Zemlak, Assistant Professor, College of Nursing
9. Dinesh Sabu, Assistant Professor, Digital Media and Performing Arts, College of Communications
10. Lora Reinholz, Instructor of Practice, Finance, College of Business
11. Alexandre Martins, Assistant Professor, Theology, College of Arts and Sciences and College of Nursing
12. Lucas Torres, Professor, Psychology, Colleges of Arts and Sciences

Contact Us 

Are you a faculty or student interested in getting connected with the Poverty Research Initiative? Email gabriel.velez@marquette.edu

Are you a community member interest in getting connected with the Poverty Research Initiative? Email kelsey.otero@marquette.edu