About Center for Research, Policy and Innovation
The Center for Research, Policy and Innovation (CRPI) promotes collaborative research and action projects with local researchers, Burmese scholars, international colleagues, and stakeholders engaged in work related to the Burmese American community, Asian Americans, Myanmar, Southeast Asia, and the diaspora communities. The goal of the CRPI is to further innovative research activities, policy, and development-oriented projects that align with BACI’s vision and mission for advocacy, education, and service.
Established in August 2020, the CRPI builds upon nine years of impactful research programming through BACI’s Upward College Summer Scholars program.
The CRPI is expanding its partner network of researchers, scholars, and academic and professional institutions. The Center’s vision is to advance community-driven research and strengthen community-university collaborations.
CRPI Partners and Collaborators
Researchers and Scholars from the Following Institutions among others have either affiliated, contributed to, or currently member of the CRPI:
- Ball State University
- Boston University
- Brandeis University
- Harvard University
- Indiana University Bloomington
- Indiana University School of Medicine
- Indiana University School of Social Work
- IUPUI
- National University of Singapore
- Purdue University
- Purdue University Fort Wayne
- Thomas P. Miller & Associates
- Tufts University – The Fletcher School at Tufts University
- University of Indianapolis
- University of Lynchburg
- University of Pennsylvania and more
The Center’s collaborative network of local and global scholars and leaders is growing. Mr. Elaisa Vahnie, MPA, Executive Director of BACI, leads the CRPI joined by Jessica Euna Lee, PhD, LSW, Assistant Professor at Indiana University School of Social Work, as co-director of the Center, Lian Hnin, MA, as the Associate Director and Lian Sang, MPH, Programs Director of BACI, as CRPI Research Support.
CRPI research affiliates come from different backgrounds, among others, they include Dr. Ye Mon, Harvard University, Mary Encobo, MSEd, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Ei Ei Hlaing, Ph.D, Associate Professor, the University of Lynchburg, Maureen Hoffmann, PhD, Thomas P. Miller & Associates, Minyoung Lim, MSW, Indiana University School of Social Work, Friar Pious Malliar Bellian, Indiana University School of Social Work, Megan S. McHenry, MD, MS, FAAP, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Mengxi Zhang, PhD, Assistant Professor of Health Science, Ball State University, and Xiang Zhou, PhD, Assistant Professor in Counseling Psychology, Purdue University, and others.
Anyone interested in a collaborative research project with the CRPI should contact us at: info@thebaci.org