Waity Selected as RTI University Scholar

Jill Waity, professor of sociology and chair of the UNCW Department of Sociology and Criminology, has been selected as one of four 2024-2025 RTI University Scholars, opening up new and collaborative research opportunities.

This is the first time a UNCW faculty member has been selected as part of the yearly cohort since the program started in 2014. In it, researchers from RTI, a large nonprofit institute, partner with senior academics to develop joint research opportunities.

The program “is designed to drive growth, foster collaboration, build scientific stature, and develop opportunities for externally funded joint projects” aimed at improving the human condition, according to a statement from the nonprofit. This year’s focus was on projects related to climate change, energy, data science, global health security and nutrition, among other issues.

Waity’s independent project researching disaster-related food security fit right in to that scope. She started off by building connections with RTI researchers, finding collaborators who specialize in public health communications and sustainable agriculture and food systems.

“I think there’s just so many great opportunities to expand all of my research, even in other areas around food,” she said. “I do a lot of community engaged work too, and a lot of people at RTI have expertise in community engagement. There are really great opportunities to expand my network and make these new connections.”

Alongside her RTI partners, Waity will be working with community organizations in rural areas on disaster preparedness and related communication strategies, navigating the different ways people communicate. She said they plan on conducting interviews and focus groups with people in those rural communities.

The program will be a chance to grow robust grant opportunities, include UNCW students in the research process and facilitate future cooperation and partnerships with the university, Waity added. She sees potential to grow UNCW’s reputation in studying hurricane disasters, not just from the perspective of natural science, but of social science as well.