{"id":15386,"date":"2023-10-13T14:08:22","date_gmt":"2023-10-13T21:08:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/eri\/?page_id=15386"},"modified":"2026-03-17T15:18:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T22:18:53","slug":"scholar-activists-in-residence","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/eri\/about\/scholar-activists-in-residence\/","title":{"rendered":"Scholar-Activist in Residence Program"},"content":{"rendered":"\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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\n Turpanjian Scholar-in-Residence Program\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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As part of the Turpanjiian Chair commitment to community-engaged research, the USC Equity Research Institute will collaborate with activists on their work, merging research, policy and organizing for social justice.<\/p>\n

The Scholar-Activist in Residence (SAR) program is an opportunity for ERI to host a movement activist\/leader for approximately one month, to work with faculty to create opportunities for social movement research. We hope the SARs will deepen the university\u2019s engagement with community-based organizations and leaders, and vice versa. See below for past scholars-activist in residence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n

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Scholar-Activist in Residence 2025<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Veronica Flores (Fall 2025)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Veronica Flores is an activist, scholar, and storyteller walking the space between reflection and action. After decades leading community movements and guiding <\/span>Rising Communities<\/span><\/i> in South Los Angeles, she has entered a new season devoted to writing, healing, and reimagining what meaningful change can look like. Her current work includes a book uncovering the forgotten history of women leaders and a project amplifying Latino voter voice ahead of the 2026 elections. Rooted in love for community and a lifelong commitment to justice, Veronica writes to remember, to nurture, and to keep hope alive.<\/span><\/p>\n

Project<\/strong>: Uncovering the Power of Women in the Search for Liberation (book)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cynthia T. Buiza (Spring 2025)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Cynthia T. Buiza is a nonprofit and philanthropic strategist with over two decades of experience, specializing in policy advocacy, narrative change, movement building, fundraising, and organizational development. Buiza was the former Executive Director of the California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC), where she led the organization\u2019s mission to advance immigrant rights statewide. She brings over two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership and human rights advocacy, including prior roles as Policy Director at the ACLU of San Diego and Policy and Advocacy Director at CHIRLA. Before her work in the U.S., Buiza focused on refugee and migration issues in Southeast Asia, including positions with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the Jesuit Refugee Service. She also co-authored\u00a0Anywhere But War<\/em> (2003), a book on conflict and displacement in Indonesia\u2019s Aceh province.<\/p>\n

Project<\/strong>: Reclaiming Our Narrative: A California Blueprint for a Bold Vision on Immigration<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Past Spencer Foundation Fellows<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Malkia Devich-Cyril (Fall 2024)<\/h3>\n

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Malkia Devich-Cyril (they\/them) is an activist, writer and public speaker on issues of digital rights, narrative power, Black liberation and collective grief. Devich-Cyril is also the founding and former Executive Director of MediaJustice \u2014 a national hub boldly advancing racial justice, rights and dignity in a digital age.<\/p>\n

As the Spencer Foundation Fellow, Malkia, also known to their beloved community as Mac, will be taking their learnings from working with movements, students, organizations, and leaders and capturing them in a multi-genre book. Their research questions include: How can Left and progressive social movements lead during an era of mass loss? What is the potential and power of Black grief to pave the way for the future? What are new ways of thinking about the science and sociology of grief?<\/p>\n

Project<\/strong>: A Conversation: the Impact of Grief on Students and Society<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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\"Headshot:<\/p>\n

Maisie Chin<\/h3>\n

Maisie Chin\u00a0is a consultant and co-founder & past executive director of\u00a0CADRE.<\/p>\n

Project<\/strong>: Articles on place-based (South LA) Black & POC parent organizing and movement building for racial justice in education<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Past Spencer Foundation Fellow Projects <\/h3>\n \n
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