I address radical healing through my research: I aim to deconstruct systems of power and their effects on minoritized communities in higher education while simultaneously highlighting individuals’ strengths and resilience.
My research interests include intersectional approaches to campus sexual and relationship violence, the healing and wellness of students of color, and transformative qualitative methodologies. Within my research, I employ critical qualitative methodologies rooted in healing.
My work has been funded by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the UCLA Asian American Studies Center.
My research approach
Through my research, I work toward a future where student survivors of sexual and relationship violence receive necessary, culturally-relevant support from their institutions. This support allows them to access healing modalities, cultivate their mental and physical health, thrive academically, and ultimately persist in higher education. By uplifting students’ help-seeking, meaning-making, and healing processes, I offer practical implications for institutional leaders and policymakers to better address campus violence, ultimately supporting students’ retention in higher education.
Nadeeka Karunaratne 