Professor lauded for social justice work in Kenya

Beth Swadener, professor of culture, society and education in the School of Social Transformation, an academic unit of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, was featured in a “Hero Central" segment on KPNX-TV 12 News on April 19. The story showcased the profound influence Swadener is having on her students – and on vulnerable children in Kenya through the Jirani Project, which she co-founded. 

Involved in many outreach projects for which she is an "unsung hero,” Swadener was praised in the segment by her students as "an inspiration," bringing tremendous compassion and humanity to her teaching and her commitment to social justice.

The segment aired the evening before the Jirani Project’s annual fundraiser and silent auction, held Wednesday, April 20 at Bliss in Phoenix.

Jirani (which means “neighbors” in Swahili) provides support to children in Kenya who are orphaned, homeless or living in intolerable conditions, moving them into boarding schools or guardian homes where they receive food, clothing, schooling, medical care, counseling, and are guided into adulthood and the launch of their careers.