|
Downtown Victoria is undergoing a
transformation as new condominium
developments invite more people to
make downtown their home.
But what if “home” is a ragged
sleeping bag on the street or a vacant
bed in a shelter? And how do recent
immigrants to the city create a new
home for themselves in an unfamiliar
culture and surroundings?
Serena Kataoka, a UVic political
science PhD candidate, is examining
how the disadvantaged and newly-arrived
make a home for themselves.
Her research has earned her one
of this year’s Senior Women in
Academic Administration in Canada
(SWAAC) graduate student awards
of merit.
Only four of the $1,000 awards
are presented each year in Western
Canada to women graduate students
who have demonstrated outstanding
leadership in the university or general
community while maintaining
exemplary academic records.
In addition to her research,
Kataoka is a board member of the
Downtown Residents’ Association
and a member of the steering committee
for the review of the Downtown
Victoria Plan.
She’s also the political science
department graduate student representative
to various departmental
and university committees and
is involved in co-ordinating and
training graduate student teaching
assistants.
|
