| cv_zayda_sorrell_medina.pdf |
Zayda Sorrell-Medina
University of California, Irvine
Department of Urban and Environmental Planning and Policy
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Planning, Policy and Design, University of California, Irvine (UCI), Current
Master’s Social Work, Concentration Community Organizing, University of Pittsburgh, 2012
B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Missouri, Columbia, 2010
RESEARCH INTERESTS
measuring immigrant-serving nonprofit outcomes, inclusion and exclusion in the city, program evaluation, the effectiveness arts-based interventions to environmental justice and peace
FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS
2021 Center for Global Peace and Conflict Studies Research Award ($3,500)
2021 Urban Planning & Public Policy Summer Method Award ($1,000)
2021 AAUW Dissertation Fellowship ($20,000)
2020 Fellow with Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse Syracuse University
2020 Chancellor’s Club Fellowship Award ($3,000)
2020 Public Impact Fellow ($1,000)
2020 Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation (DTEI) Fellowship ($5,000)
2020 Blum Center for Poverty Alleviation Award ($2,900)
2020 Urban Planning & Public Policy Summer Research Funding ($700)
2018 Blum Center for Poverty Alleviation Small Change Better World Grant ($3,000)
2017 National Urban League Caring Adult Award
2016 United Way Be a Middle School Mentor Appreciation Award
2015 National Urban League Whitney M. Young Award
2014 University of Pittsburgh Rising Star Alumni Award
2010 University of Missouri Hesburgh Award for Outstanding Achievement
2010 Hispanic Scholarship Alliance of St. Louis ($3,000)
2011 The Edith G. Colantuono and Amelia and Henry De Angelis Scholarship ($1,000)
2008 Pre-Law Undergraduate Scholar
2006 National Scholar Horatio Alger ($10,000)
2006 Hacemos Scholarship ($2,500)
2006 Princeton University Prize in Race Relations
2006 National Horatio Association of Distinguished American Scholar Award ($10,000)
2005 The President’s Volunteer Service Award
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Sorrell-Medina, Z. A robustness check: An evaluation of nonprofit theories on immigrant-serving nonprofits. In preparation for submission to the Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly.
Sorrell-Medina, Z. A typology of US immigrant-serving nonprofit strategies. In preparation for submission to the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies.
Sorrell-Medina, Z. An empirical test: Evaluating the interrelations between local context, organizational behavior, and immigrant inclusion outcomes. Target submission: The Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies
Sorrell-Medina, Z., Madueke, K., Matthew, R. Measuring the effectiveness of art in peace building. Target submission: Journal of Peace Research.
BOOK CHAPTERS
Nicholls, W. & Sorrell-Medina, Z. Undocumented Immigrant Activism: The Struggle for Recognition and Rights in Hostile Nations. Invited chapter in Critical Handbook on Irregular Migration.
REPORTS
Sorrell-Medina, Z., Gonzales, L., Townley, H., Caballero, M., Quijano, M., Collins, S. (2021). A report on the state of Immigrant inclusion in Florida. Welcoming Gainesville & Alachua Co.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
“Measuring Immigrant Inclusion in Florida.” The State of Immigrant Inclusion Expo. Online. May 2021.
“An evaluation of immigrant inclusion in US cities.” Center for Global and Conflict Studies (GPACS).
January 2020.
“US and Dutch Sample: The goals and strategies of immigrant-serving third sector” Network for European U.S. Regional and Urban Studies. September 2020
“Measuring the impact of the immigrant nonprofit sector.” Network for European U.S. Regional and Urban Studies. September 2019
INVITED PRESENTATIONS
“Immigrant Inclusion in US Cities.” UCI Urbanization and Social Change Class. Irvine, California.
February 2020
“Environmental Justice and City Planning.” UCI Sustainability II Class. Irvine, California. May 2019
“From Youth Homelessness to Academia.” UCI Second Annual Foster Youth Leadership Summit. Irvine, California. May 2019
“The Role of Nonprofits in Contributing to Immigrant Inclusion Outcomes.” UCI Contentious Cities Workshop. Irvine, California. May 2019
“Achieving Sustainability Through Art.” UCI Sustainability I Class. Irvine, California. April 2018
“Compassionate Communication for Youth.” National Urban League Youth Conference. Fort Lauderdale, FL. July 2015
“Social Work and Social Policy.” University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. Pittsburgh, PA. April 2015
“The Future of US Cuban Relations.” 45th Annual World Affairs Council Institute. Pittsburgh, PA.
November 2015
TEACHING ASSISTANT EXPERIENCE AT UCI
AFFILIATIONS
African American Achievement Trust Collective Focus Advisory Board 2015-2016 One Young World Pittsburgh Delegate 2016 Yemanja The Film Advisory Committee Board 2015 University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work Alumni Committee Board 2014-2015 Urban League Young Professionals of Pittsburgh, Member 2013 Latin American Cultural Union Organization, Board of Directors 2012 University of Missouri Apoyo a Lo Cubano Student Organization, Founder 2008-2009
EMPLOYMENT
Program Manager | Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, 2012-2017
Community Organizer | Oakland Planning Development Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA, 2010-2011
Program Coordinator | Hill House Association, Pittsburgh, PA, 2011-2012
SERVICE
Founder and Artistic Director | Yemaya Productions, LLC, 2012-Present
Project Lead From the Margins Peace Program, 2021
Unit Chair and Head Stewart, United Auto Workers Local 2865, 2018-2019
Social Work Field Instructor | University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, Pittsburgh, PA, 2013-2016
Refugee Resettlement Volunteer | Refugee and Immigration Resettlement Agency, Columbia, MO, 2008-2009
LANGUAGES
Trilingual (English, Spanish, French)
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Adobe Illustrator, Excel, Stata, Dedoose
University of California, Irvine
Department of Urban and Environmental Planning and Policy
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Planning, Policy and Design, University of California, Irvine (UCI), Current
Master’s Social Work, Concentration Community Organizing, University of Pittsburgh, 2012
B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Missouri, Columbia, 2010
RESEARCH INTERESTS
measuring immigrant-serving nonprofit outcomes, inclusion and exclusion in the city, program evaluation, the effectiveness arts-based interventions to environmental justice and peace
FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS
2021 Center for Global Peace and Conflict Studies Research Award ($3,500)
2021 Urban Planning & Public Policy Summer Method Award ($1,000)
2021 AAUW Dissertation Fellowship ($20,000)
2020 Fellow with Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse Syracuse University
2020 Chancellor’s Club Fellowship Award ($3,000)
2020 Public Impact Fellow ($1,000)
2020 Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation (DTEI) Fellowship ($5,000)
2020 Blum Center for Poverty Alleviation Award ($2,900)
2020 Urban Planning & Public Policy Summer Research Funding ($700)
2018 Blum Center for Poverty Alleviation Small Change Better World Grant ($3,000)
2017 National Urban League Caring Adult Award
2016 United Way Be a Middle School Mentor Appreciation Award
2015 National Urban League Whitney M. Young Award
2014 University of Pittsburgh Rising Star Alumni Award
2010 University of Missouri Hesburgh Award for Outstanding Achievement
2010 Hispanic Scholarship Alliance of St. Louis ($3,000)
2011 The Edith G. Colantuono and Amelia and Henry De Angelis Scholarship ($1,000)
2008 Pre-Law Undergraduate Scholar
2006 National Scholar Horatio Alger ($10,000)
2006 Hacemos Scholarship ($2,500)
2006 Princeton University Prize in Race Relations
2006 National Horatio Association of Distinguished American Scholar Award ($10,000)
2005 The President’s Volunteer Service Award
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Sorrell-Medina, Z. A robustness check: An evaluation of nonprofit theories on immigrant-serving nonprofits. In preparation for submission to the Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly.
Sorrell-Medina, Z. A typology of US immigrant-serving nonprofit strategies. In preparation for submission to the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies.
Sorrell-Medina, Z. An empirical test: Evaluating the interrelations between local context, organizational behavior, and immigrant inclusion outcomes. Target submission: The Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies
Sorrell-Medina, Z., Madueke, K., Matthew, R. Measuring the effectiveness of art in peace building. Target submission: Journal of Peace Research.
BOOK CHAPTERS
Nicholls, W. & Sorrell-Medina, Z. Undocumented Immigrant Activism: The Struggle for Recognition and Rights in Hostile Nations. Invited chapter in Critical Handbook on Irregular Migration.
REPORTS
Sorrell-Medina, Z., Gonzales, L., Townley, H., Caballero, M., Quijano, M., Collins, S. (2021). A report on the state of Immigrant inclusion in Florida. Welcoming Gainesville & Alachua Co.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
“Measuring Immigrant Inclusion in Florida.” The State of Immigrant Inclusion Expo. Online. May 2021.
“An evaluation of immigrant inclusion in US cities.” Center for Global and Conflict Studies (GPACS).
January 2020.
“US and Dutch Sample: The goals and strategies of immigrant-serving third sector” Network for European U.S. Regional and Urban Studies. September 2020
“Measuring the impact of the immigrant nonprofit sector.” Network for European U.S. Regional and Urban Studies. September 2019
INVITED PRESENTATIONS
“Immigrant Inclusion in US Cities.” UCI Urbanization and Social Change Class. Irvine, California.
February 2020
“Environmental Justice and City Planning.” UCI Sustainability II Class. Irvine, California. May 2019
“From Youth Homelessness to Academia.” UCI Second Annual Foster Youth Leadership Summit. Irvine, California. May 2019
“The Role of Nonprofits in Contributing to Immigrant Inclusion Outcomes.” UCI Contentious Cities Workshop. Irvine, California. May 2019
“Achieving Sustainability Through Art.” UCI Sustainability I Class. Irvine, California. April 2018
“Compassionate Communication for Youth.” National Urban League Youth Conference. Fort Lauderdale, FL. July 2015
“Social Work and Social Policy.” University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. Pittsburgh, PA. April 2015
“The Future of US Cuban Relations.” 45th Annual World Affairs Council Institute. Pittsburgh, PA.
November 2015
TEACHING ASSISTANT EXPERIENCE AT UCI
- Urban Studies, Spring 2021
- Quantitative Analysis for Planners, Winter 2020
- Environmental Analysis and Design, Fall 2020
- Sustainability I, Spring 2020
- Cities and Social Change, Winter 2019
- Urban America, Fall 2019
- Research Design, Summer 2019
- Sustainability II, Spring 2018
- Sustainability I, Winter 2018
- Sustainability I, Fall 2018
- Introduction to Urban Studies, Fall 2017
AFFILIATIONS
African American Achievement Trust Collective Focus Advisory Board 2015-2016 One Young World Pittsburgh Delegate 2016 Yemanja The Film Advisory Committee Board 2015 University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work Alumni Committee Board 2014-2015 Urban League Young Professionals of Pittsburgh, Member 2013 Latin American Cultural Union Organization, Board of Directors 2012 University of Missouri Apoyo a Lo Cubano Student Organization, Founder 2008-2009
EMPLOYMENT
Program Manager | Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, 2012-2017
- Designed and oversaw a multi-year year mentoring program for middle and high school students in Pittsburgh public schools to foster academic inequity among African American students
Community Organizer | Oakland Planning Development Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA, 2010-2011
- Engage Latino residents to participate in city planning efforts to ensure inclusive representation in the 2025 community plan
Program Coordinator | Hill House Association, Pittsburgh, PA, 2011-2012
- Worked collaboratively with PhD students and local artists in the implementation of an art program targeted to children ages six to ten promoting positive emotional and behavioral development
SERVICE
Founder and Artistic Director | Yemaya Productions, LLC, 2012-Present
- Develop and implement community interventions and artistic productions in the US and abroad that integrates art and research in effort to promote social and environmental awareness and peace
Project Lead From the Margins Peace Program, 2021
- Co-develop reconciliation activities that addresses violence in Jos, Nigeria among Christian and Muslim youth
Unit Chair and Head Stewart, United Auto Workers Local 2865, 2018-2019
- Spearheaded University-wide policy advocacy effort that aimed to ensure inclusion and equitable treatment of international students in University policy
Social Work Field Instructor | University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, Pittsburgh, PA, 2013-2016
- Supervise and provide mentorship to 6 master’s level social work students as a part of their field training
Refugee Resettlement Volunteer | Refugee and Immigration Resettlement Agency, Columbia, MO, 2008-2009
- Assist with the resettlement and coordination of services of recent Cuban refugee arrivals in the community by
providing translation services and English lessons.
LANGUAGES
Trilingual (English, Spanish, French)
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Adobe Illustrator, Excel, Stata, Dedoose
