Dr. Laura Wangsness Willemsen, an associate professor in doctoral studies at CSP, is preparing to present her Fulbright-supported research at the University of Oxford later this year. Her work, conducted over a year in northern Tanzania, focused on how changes in climate are disrupting education, particularly for girls and women.
Through close collaboration with community members in Tanzania, Laura uncovered widespread acknowledgment of shifting environmental patterns and their impact on daily life. From food insecurity to school dropout rates, the findings illuminated how climate volatility, particularly in Africa, threatens learning and disproportionately burdens female students. Her work also documented an encouraging countercurrent in the form of local innovation and community actions that help people adapt.
Crucially, Laura emphasized reciprocity in research. Alongside a Tanzanian research partner, she shared findings directly with affected communities. This collaboration contributed to specific actions that addressed some of the most urgent needs, such as safe school access and improved early childhood education.
This next phase involves bringing these insights to an international academic forum. As part of her Oxford presentation, Laura will illustrate how experiences abroad can deepen faculty work in the classroom and broaden students’ understanding of education’s challenges and possibilities.