2026-2027 Working Groups

This year, the Ford Institute is excited to announce two new working groups and the continuation of three of our most successful working groups.

New Working Groups

Education in Conflict Settings: A Case Study of Myanmar (led by Dr. Carey Durkin Treado)

The “Education in Conflict Settings: Case of Myanmar” working group investigates international higher education partnership models that expand education access in conflict-affected contexts, like Myanmar.

Reproductive Health Data Governance (co-led by Dr. Sanghamitra Das and Dr. Zoé Mistrale Hendrickson)

The “Reproductive Health Data Governance” working group explores data governance in the context of reproductive health, examining the ethical, legal, and social implications of data production, privacy, security, and confidentiality, with particular attention to how shifting laws and policies shape reproductive practices in South Asia.

Continuing Working Groups

Closing the Water Gap (led by Dr. Marcela González Rivas)

The “Closing the Water Gap” working group examines the environmental justice dimensions of lead service line removal and hazardous waste flows, connecting local water infrastructure challenges in Pittsburgh to broader global debates on waste colonialism, just transition, and the human right to water.

Gender Equality in Public Administration (GEPA) (co-led by Dr. Müge Kökten Finkel and Dr. Melanie Hughes)

The “Gender Equality in Public Administration” (GEPA) working group, in partnership with UNDP, produced the 2021 Global GEPA Report and the first globally comparable public administration dataset, Gen-PaCS, and is now preparing a second global update focused on representation at decision-making levels.

Online Violence against Women in Politics (OVAW-P) (co-led by Dr. Müge Kökten Finkel and Dr. Keila Grinberg)

The “Online Violence against Women in Politics” (OVAW-P) working group is investigating the growing threat against women in politics across Latin America and the Caribbean. As women’s participation and representation in politics increases, so does their risk of becoming victims of political violence.