Congratulations to our 2021 Graduates!

May 27, 2021

Join us in congratulating six student graduates who helped advance SIG's mission.

Congrats to Xinrui Lyu, John David Perra, Esther Park, Jessica Krieger Johnson, Jessica Nicole Nance, and Marie Lamont-Smith!

It has been a particularly challenging and tragic time in our world, making graduation an all the more remarkable  achievement.

As part of celebrating the students who make SIG's work possible, we asked the graduates to share their reflections on their time working at SIG.

Of her experience, graduate Xinrui Lyu says, "It's a wonderful journey for me to work as an intern in SIG. Thanks to this internship, I began to focus on fields I didn't know much about before, like intimate partner violence and HIV self-test stigma in different countries. I can not do everything, but I still can do something. The experience in SIG encourages me to be the change I wish to see in the world."

Xinrui Lyu

Thanks to this internship, I began to focus on fields I didn't know much about before, like intimate partner violence and HIV self-test stigma in different countries.

Xinrui Yyu, Student graduate

Graduate John David Perra says, "I truly appreciated and learned from collaborating with all of my colleagues at SIG. That experience was valuable for fostering my understanding as well as my intellectual humility, and is something I will continue to draw on."

John David Perra

I truly appreciated and learned from collaborating with all of my colleagues at SIG.

John David Perra

Dr. Dawn Goddard-Eckrich, Associate Director of SIG and an Associate Research Scientist at the School of Social Work, Columbia University, supervised the students and also celebrates their graduation. "Our students persevered during a very difficult time in the world. Our team is so grateful for their dedication through their time at SIG. I am looking forward to seeing their wonderful accomplishments continue."

The students worked on projects including the HEALing Communities Study and for the Global Research Center of Central Asia.

Our team is so grateful for their dedication through their time at SIG. I am looking forward to seeing their wonderful accomplishments continue.

Dr. Dawn Goddard-Eckrich, Associate Director, SIG