Lauren Whitmer, Ph.D. Candidate in Social Work and Anthropology, is the 2021-2022 recipient of the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies Alfredo D. & Luz Maria P. Gutierrez Dissertation Award for her dissertation titled, Finding a Way Through the Violence: How Mujeres Abusadas in Lambayeque, Peru Navigate Formal and Informal Help-Seeking.
LACS offers one Ph.D. candidate the Alfredo D. & Luz Maria P. Gutierrez Dissertation Award each year to support dissertation write-up. We particularly encourage dissertation projects that have interdisciplinary appeal. After a thorough review of many wonderful proposals this year, the LACS selection committee is pleased to recognize the high quality of Lauren Whitmer's scholarly work.
It's a huge honor to receive the Alfredo D. & Luz María P. Gutiérrez Dissertation Award. I am very thankful for this support, which will allow me to dedicate myself, fully, to writing my dissertation in the coming academic year. Additionally, it is so gratifying to have my work recognized as an important and valuable contribution to the field of LACS. Thank you to the Gutiérrez family for making this award available, to the LACS Fellowship Committee and program staff, and to my dissertation co-chairs who supported my application. My most sincere thanks to all of you for your support!
- Lauren Whitmer, Ph.D. Candidate in Social Work and Anthropology