Summer story: Juan Lorenzo Benavides
During the past few years, Juan Lorenzo Benavides has collaborated with two visiting scholars, Öznur Bayar and Seungjin Lee, both under the guidance of advisor Dr. Susan Yoon in the Thrive lab at the college. His partnerships have led to two unforgettable overseas trips to visit two remarkable doctoral candidates.
This summer, Benavides traveled to South Korea to visit Lee, former visiting scholar at the college. Lee, of Ewha Womans University, is researching child and adolescent well-being, dreams and careers, ACEs, and development. She and Benavides worked on research papers, while Benavides also visited the Korean Demilitarized Zone and enjoyed local cuisine.
“This has proven to be incredibly enriching while also highlighting the value of global connections in advancing and deepening my understanding of the impact of social work,” says Benavides.
During her visit to the college two years ago, Bayar, of Hacettepe University’s Department of Psychological Counseling and Guidance, conducted research on emergency room social workers and secondary stress. Continuing their partnership, Benavides visited her in Turkey, where he explored the country’s rich culture. Bayar’s research now focuses on resiliency after child maltreatment and protective factors for mental health following childhood adversity.
“Working with international scholars has broadened my perspective,” says Benavides. “It demonstrates that true progress is made when we unite across borders to share knowledge and experiences.”
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