Eden Kuri

“There are a lot of different avenues where I can receive support, but also find opportunities,” said Eden Kuri ’23 of her experience at Russell Sage College.

She names the Collegiate Science & Technology Entry Program — known as CSTEP — and The Women’s Institute at Russell Sage College as specific sources of support and opportunity during her education.  

CSTEP is a grant-funded program sponsored by the New York State Department of Education. It provides mentoring, paid internships and research experiences to eligible students in STEM-related majors or professional programs. 

During summer 2021, Eden participated in CSTEP-supported research with Assistant Professor and Director of Service Learning Ali Schaeffing, Ph.D. They investigated the obstacles that children and young adults who are refugees face in their pursuit of education.

“My project not only focused on college access but also on childhood trauma, which is a research interest of mine,” said Eden, a Psychology major and Women’s Studies minor.

“I’ve been involved in social justice before, but not this specific topic,” she continued. “It really invigorated a passion in me for working on behalf of newcomers.”

Her project also appealed to her interest in intersectional aspects of Psychology and Women’s Studies.

In the course of her research, Eden learned about projects Sage’s women’s institute is embarking on, to support female refugees in New York’s Capital District. 

She’s now a student-ambassador for The Women’s Institute and a project assistant for its collaborations with the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants and the Every Campus a Refuge movement. 

“I’ve made leaps and bounds in my abilities in CSTEP, and I know that The Women’s Institute will offer the same growth,” said Eden, who plans to study childhood trauma in graduate school.

“Community psychologists say that you learn best from direct sources, the people who are being affected,” she said. “Sage gives a unique opportunity to study an issue from multiple perspectives, not just the academic side but also the human connection that comes with working one-on-one with people.”