พรพรสำฦต

Professor Ellen Kraly earns WCNY award

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พรพรสำฦต has been named as one of the 2018 WCNY Makers: Women Who Make America, for her work with refugee populations in Utica, N.Y., and at the United Nations.

โ€œMy teaching at colgate has always been connected communities and introduce our students to community leaders.  I try to bring issues of health and demography and environmental studies alive by making them relevant in this region,โ€ Kraly said.

Watch the full awards broadcast now on WCNYโ€™s .

Kraly, who has taught at พรพรสำฦต for more than 30 years, assists locally as a board member of the Mohawk Valley Refugee Center in Utica, and on a national level at the United Nations, where she helps assist with research pertaining to refugees and forced migration with the International Union of Scientific Study of Population.

โ€œAny impact I have had, it certainly rests on the shoulders of พรพรสำฦต.  The Upstate Institute allows faculty like me to engage in research and service to the community,โ€ Kraly said of the award. โ€œItโ€™s also a great opportunity to channel the obligations of higher education in effecting positive change locally and globally.โ€

Debbie Stack, senior director of education and community engagement at WCNY said the Makers Award, which is given to 10 women in the 19-county region each year, was created to encourage others to work toward meaningful change in Central New York.

โ€œSometimes, I think efforts of everyday people donโ€™t get cataloged, and donโ€™t get noticed. This is a way to really call some attention to that, and to inspire each one of us in Central New York, to think about ways we can make a difference,โ€ Stack said.

Kraly said she also works closely with Shelly Callahan, of the Mohawk Valley Refugee Center, who also earned the Makers Award this year.

โ€œTo have Shelly, a good friend and colleague, also getting an award, I feel like Iโ€™m sharing this recognition with her, and celebrating her good work,โ€ Kraly said.