By Sarah Speranza (GSB ‘18), FSIC Editorial Team.
Marciana Popescu: Senior Fulbright Scholar, Austria (2016-2017) | Masters in Social Policy, University of Bucharest | Masters in Social Work, Tulane University | PhD in Sociology, University of Bucharest
Dr. Marciana Popescu inspires her students to go beyond studying global issues in the classroom by facilitating real-world exposure. With a Masters in Social Work and a PhD in Sociology, Marciana Popescu tackles social issues at an international and macro level. She works across disciplines to engage students in the complex issues of migration, including policies regarding asylum, resettlement, and protection mechanisms for women refugees. In her work, Dr. Popescu hopes to participate in both current and new innovations that advocate inclusion and redefine “the other” as one of us. Following Fordham’s mission to educate men and women for others, Marciana promotes an agenda of social justice through her International Social Development and Community Building Course within Fordham’s Graduate School of Social Service and beyond. Dr. Popescu’s course highlights the theoretical frameworks for international development while also integrating a two-week study tour to various international settings (including the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Peru) where students work with local grassroots organizations to develop a practical understanding of what they learn in the classroom. She finds her work rewarding as her students move on to tackle the many complex global issues after graduating that she herself seeks to address. Dr. Popescu looks forward to pioneering classes on international development and migration, exploring and developing safe spaces at a policy and practice level, and inspiring the global changemakers and innovators of tomorrow.