Directory

Abha Rai, Ph.D., MSW

Title/s: Associate Director, Center for Immigrant and Refugee Accompaniment

Office #: 532

Phone: 312-915-7289

Email: arai4@luc.edu

CV Link: Abha Rai CV

External Webpage: https://www.luc.edu/cira/

Mission in Action

I aim to further the School of Social Work and the University’s Jesuit mission rooted in social justice. Drawing from my practice and research experience, my goal is to drive student-centered learning using a transformative educational pedagogy. As an educator, I strive to support my students by offering an inclusive and respectful environment in the classroom. Guided by the core values of our social work profession, I aspire to empower students to do greater good in the classroom and beyond, with individuals, clients and communities they serve. My research, which is focused on gender-based violence issues with marginalized communities, allows me to create awareness, deliver interventions and support services to those in need.

My affinity to the voiceless groups I support, motivates me to continue engaging in community-centered research. Through my work over the past few years, I have realized the importance of using a person-centered approach. I rely on this approach in my everyday undertakings, through my research and practice, as well as in the classroom. The crux of all my research, teaching, practice and service, intersects at seeking social justice and doing greater good. As an agent of social change, I am committed to lending a hand to those in need, creating structural changes and being devoted to always standing by the Jesuit values. I pledge to start with myself and endeavor to become the change I wish to see.

About

Dr. Rai comes with over a decade of international community work experience. She has worked closely with community-based organizations while designing programs, engaging in program evaluation and providing direct support to individuals, families and groups. Dr. Rai has been a grassroots community worker in both rural and urban India. She has led national campaigns across India in partnership with multinationals and agencies like Johnson & Johnson, ANZ Bank as well as the US Consulate. She has also worked with community organizations in the Chicago area for about two years now. Through her community experience, Dr. Rai has engaged both in micro and macro social work practice.

Dr. Rai earned her Bachelor in Academic Law and Master of Social Work degrees from India. She received her Doctorate in Philosophy from the School of Social Work, University of Georgia. Her research interest is informed by her passion for engaging in community-centered research. Her primary areas of interest include gender-based violence across communities, with a specific focus on immigrants and immigration issues. Dr. Rai is invested in mentoring and aims to create “significant learning experiences” for her students. She has previously taught both undergraduate and graduate-level courses. Her research and practice expertise directly inform her classroom approach and discussions. As a scholar, educator and practitioner, Dr. Rai strives to further social justice every step of the way.

Degrees

PhD, Social Work, The University of Georgia, 2020

MSW, Indira Gandhi National Open University, 2013

BA, Academic Law, Bangalore University, 2010

Research Interests

· Immigrant and refugee well-being

· Exclusionary immigration policies

· Gender-based violence (dating, domestic and intimate partner violence, intimate partner stalking in diverse populations

· Culturally responsive research

· International/global social work

· Survey development and instrument design

Teaching Interests

· Research methods

· Family Violence

· Diversity and cross cultural issues

· Social work with groups

· International social work

Courses Taught

Undergraduate:

SOWK 303: Social work practice with groups
SOWK 390: Research and evaluation in social work practice

Graduate:

SOWK 505: Social work practice with groups
SOWK 506: Research and evaluation in social work practice

Selected Publications

Madhanagopal, D., Rai, A., Menon, G.M. (in press). Gaps in the Indian social work education on climate change content: risks and solutions. In Nikku, B. & Madhanagopal (Eds.) Climate Justice and Social Work. Routledge Press.
Rai, A., Murugan, V., & Rijhwani*. (in press). South Asian Women in the Workplace: Barriers, Challenges and Opportunities. In Bhandari, S. (Eds.) South Asians in the United States, the model minority? NASW Press.
Rai, A., Lee, S., Jang, J* & Eunhye, L.*, & Okech, D. (in press). Utility of structural equation modeling in social work research: a call to strengthen doctoral social work education. Journal of Teaching in Social Work.
Choi, Y. J., Rai, A., Yun, S. H., Lee, J. O., Hong, S. H., Cho, H., & An, S. (2022). Risk factors of intimate partner violence perpetration among college students. Journal of American College Health.
Held, M. L, Rai, A., Huslage, M.* & Demissie, Y.A.* (2022). Stress and resilience among immigrants in an exclusionary policy environment. Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work. 19 (3), 331-355.
Murugan, V., Mahapatra, N., & Rai, A. & Rijhwani, L.* (2022). South Asian Women’s Organizations: An exploratory study of service provider’s perceptions intimate partner violence-related help-seeking among South Asian survivors in the United States. Journal of Family Violence.
Rai, A., Ravi, K.E., Yates, T. & Bamwine, P. (2022). Tenure Track and COVID-19: Who bears the burden? Greenwich Social Work Review, 3(1), 232-235.
Ravi, K.E. & Rai, A., & Lindsey, S.* (2022). Systematic Review of the psychometric properties of culturally sensitive intimate partner violence measures. Trauma, Violence & Abuse.
Rai, A., Ravi, K.E., Syriac, I.E.* & Voth Schrag, R. (2022). Development and validation of a culturally responsive instrument to measure abuse through in-laws among South Asian immigrants. Greenwich Social Work Review, 3 (1), 219-231.
Rai, A., Choi, Y.J., Mowbray, O., & Elkins, J. (2022). Examining domestic violence perceptions and its correlates among South Asian immigrants in the United States. Partner Abuse. 3(2), 235-266.
Rai, A., Choi, Y. J., Yoshihama, M. & Dabby, C. (2022). Help-seeking among battered immigrant Filipina, Indian, and Pakistani women in the United States: Perceived Barriers and Effective Response. Violence and Victims, 36 (6).
Rai, A., Lee, S. Yates, T., & Brown, S.L. (2021). Acculturative Stress among International Students in the U.S. College Student Affairs Journal. 39(2), 165-179.
Rai, A., Choi, Y.J., Cho, S.*, Das, U., Tamayo, & Menon, G. (2021). Intimate partner violence conversations on Twitter during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Evidence-Informed Social Work. 19 (1), 108-128.
Choi, Y. J., Rai, A., An, S., Cho, H., Son, E., & Yun, S. H. (2021). Help-seeking behaviors for intimate partner violence among college students, 36(4), Violence & Victims.
Ravi, K.E. & Rai, A. & Voth Schrag, R. (2021). The effects of COVID-19 on intimate partner violence and transportation. Journal of Family Violence.
Huslage*, M., Rai, A. & Held, M.L. (2021) Building partnerships and trust: Research with vulnerable immigrant communities. Families in Society.
Saasa, S., & Rai, A., Malazarte, N.M.,* & Yirenya-Tawiah, A.* (2021). Correlates of mental health service utilization among African immigrants. Journal of Community Psychology, 49(6),2144-2161.
Rai, A., & Choi, Y. J. (2021). Domestic Violence Victimization among South Asian Immigrant Men and Women in the United States. Journal of Interpersonal Violence
Perkins, N., Rai, A. & Grossman, S. (2021). Physical and Emotional Sibling Violence in the Time of COVID -19. Journal of Family Violence, 1-8.
Rai, A. (2020). Indirect Experiences with Domestic Violence and Help-giving among South Asian Immigrants in the United States. Journal of Community Psychology, 1-20.
Rai, A., & Grossman, S. & Perkins, N. (2020). The effects of COVID-19 on domestic violence and immigrant families. Greenwich Social Work Review, 2(1), 84-96.
Rai, A. & Ravi, K.E. (2020). Navigating academia during the COVID-19 pandemic: Can you do it all? Greenwich Social Work Review, 2(1), 109-112.
Agha, E., & Rai, A. (2020). Notes from the field: Culturally adapted research methods for South Asian participants. Professional Development: The International Journal of Continuing Social Work Education, 23(1), 27-31.
Rai, A., Villarreal-Otalora, T., Blackburn, J., & Choi, Y. J. (2020). Correlates of stalking-related deaths among intimate partner violence victims in the United States. Journal of Family Violence Special issue on Intimate Partner Stalking, 35, 705-716.
Mahapatra, N. & Rai, A. (2019). Every cloud has a silver lining but… “pathways to seeking formal help and South-Asian immigrant women survivors of intimate partner violence.” Health Care for Women International, 40 (11), 1170-1196.
Rai, A., Choi, Y.J., & Khandare, L. (2019). State of domestic violence content in MSW curriculum in the U.S. Perspectives on Social Work, 15(1), 15-27. Retrieved from
Shultz, J.M., Rechkemmer, A., Rai, A. & McManus, K. T. (2019). Public health and mental health implications of environmentally induced forced migration. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 13 (2), 116-122.
Yates, H. T., & Rai, A. (2018). A scoping review of feminism in US Social work education: Strategies and implications for the contemporary classroom. Journal of Evidence-Informed Social Work, 16 (2), 117-129.
Rai, A., & Choi, Y. J. (2018). Socio-cultural risk factors impacting domestic violence among South Asian immigrant women: A scoping review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 38, 76-85.
Chatterjee A, Rai, A. (2017). Strategic philanthropy and its challenges in India: A multiple case study of grantmaking organizations. Nonprofit Management & Leadership, 3, 399-411.
Rechkemmer, A., O'Connor, A., Rai, A., Sparks, J.D. L., Mudliar, P., & Shultz, J. M. (2016). A complex social-ecological disaster: Environmentally induced forced migration. Disaster Health, 3 (4), 112-120.

Loyola University Chicago

School of Social Work