Terry Koenig to receive KUIA Advisory Board International Research Award

LAWRENCE — In recognition of her exceptional contributions to the internationalization of research and education at the University of Kansas, Terry Koenig, professor of social welfare, will receive this year’s KU International Affairs Advisory Board International Research Award.

The award recognizes faculty members who provide outstanding leadership in international education through their research and discovery efforts. Koenig will accept the award and give a talk on her research from 1:30 to 3 p.m. March 11 in the Kansas Union’s Big 12 Room. The public is invited to attend the presentation and reception to follow.

Koenig, a licensed specialist clinical social worker and two-time Fulbright Award recipient to Kazakhstan (2011) and Italy (2024), has taught human behavior theory, practice, ethics and qualitative methods for nearly 25 years. Her scholarship examines ethical decision-making and cross-cultural aspects of social work practice. Koenig’s most recent work explores African refugees’ resilient and often violent journeys from home to northern Italy.

Koenig’s collaboration with international colleagues and students has led to significant research and publication opportunities. Most recently, she was selected as a KU Digital Humanities Fellow and was invited to collaborate with the Kansas African Studies Center to further develop her digital immigration storytelling project for a broader public audience.

With “a remarkable track record” of international scholarship and education across the world, Koenig has played a major role in developing international curricula at KU for over a decade, School of Social Welfare Dean Michelle Carney wrote in her nomination letter.

“Dr. Koenig’s efforts have been instrumental in developing international partnerships that have greatly enhanced both the School of Social Welfare’s and the university’s reputation as a thriving and enriching leader in international education,” Carney wrote.

As a Fulbright scholar in 2011, Koenig taught cross-cultural social policy for social work students at Eurasian National University in Astana, Kazakhstan, while also conducting a pilot project to assess the growth of social work in the nation. During this time abroad, Koenig assumed a lead role establishing collaborative relationships with colleagues in Italy who were expanding social work programs in the Kazakh region and beyond.

Koenig’s leadership in developing active partnerships with international colleagues goes beyond other academic and university partners. While engaged in academic work in Italy, she deepened relationships with partners at an Italian social service organization known as Cometa. The organization provides foster care services and vocational training to young people in Italy and African refugees. Koenig is leading a research project with Cometa staff to examine young African refugees’ journeys and experiences with Cometa’s services and vocational training.

“Dr. Koenig’s innovative programs and partnerships have enriched the scope of research at KU in areas beyond traditional cultural studies,” said Megan Greene, chair of the award selection committee and associate vice provost for international and global engagement. “Her commitment to developing high-impact research and field relevant learning experiences for students has given them the opportunity to engage directly with global social work practices.”

Koenig is deeply committed to actively engaging students in research projects and working with them to apply social work at an international level.

Among the students who have traveled to Italy with Koenig is Alex Scott, a graduate student in the social welfare school, who expressed appreciation in his nomination letter for Koenig’s support, mentorship and personal commitment to encouraging students’ research interests.

“My experiences abroad were truly some of the most impactful of my life,” Scott wrote. “One of the things I observed while abroad in Italy was how deeply connected Dr. Koenig was to both the Italian educators hosting us as well as to the locals such as the concierge staff at the hotels that accommodated us who she knew by name.”

Richard Spano, the late professor emeritus of social welfare, taught Koenig when she was a student in the MSW program and again when she returned to complete her doctoral program. He began writing articles with her shortly after graduation from the doctoral program in 2001 and has published approximately 20 articles and a textbook on human behavior with her since then. He described her at the time of her nomination as “an active researcher for her entire career.”

“Dr. Koenig’s current efforts related to the study of migration coincides with intersectional, national and local events reflecting complex elements increasingly forcing major changes in populations that are impacting human movement across the planet,” Spano wrote in his nomination letter. “The complex issues related to climate, economics, social policy and practice are becoming central to human experience beyond any arbitrary borders.”

Colleagues and students of Koenig’s alike said they appreciated not only her academic brilliance and strong research interests — but also her spirit of collaboration and inclusion, her commitment to building relationships and her passion for advancing human rights.

“Her contributions enrich student life, expand the university’s global presence and advance knowledge in social work,” Carney wrote. “But perhaps most importantly, her work contributes to improving the well-being of marginalized populations.”

Financially supported by the KUIA Advisory Board, the international research award comes with a $1,000 stipend for professional activities.