Dr. Jihae Cha, Assistant Professor in International Education and International Affairs, has been awarded the Joyce Cain Award for Distinguished Research on People of African Descent at the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) 2026 Conference. The award recognizes outstanding scholarship that advances understanding of the experiences of people of African descent through rigorous, comparative, and interdisciplinary research.
Dr. Cha earned the honor for her article, “What’s pushing them out of school? A mixed methods approach to examining primary school dropout in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya.” Her research explores the factors contributing to primary school dropout among children and youth in Kakuma Refugee Camp, highlighting how structural and institutional barriers can limit students’ opportunities to remain in school. The study also underscores the resilience of young people and the vital role of teachers, peers, and community networks in supporting education in contexts of displacement. Her work contributes to broader global efforts to address educational inequities affecting forcibly displaced populations.
In addition to Dr. Cha’s recognition, doctoral candidate InJung Cho (Ph.D. in Education, Comparative and International Education concentration) received the 2026 East Asia SIG Graduate Student Travel Award at the same conference. Her paper, “Exploring Public Perceptions and Media Representations of People with Displaced and Refugee Backgrounds and Their Education in South Korea,” was presented as part of the East Asia SIG highlighted session.
Co-authored with Dr. Cha, Cho’s research examines how public discourse and media narratives shape understanding of refugee education in the South Korean context, offering important insight into the social and cultural dimensions that influence educational access and inclusion.
Together, these recognitions highlight the strength of GSEHD’s research community and its commitment to advancing equity in education through impactful, globally focused scholarship.