Jessica Donohue-Dioh, PhD, MSW

Affiliation: University of Houston

Jessica Donohue-Dioh is a social worker. She currently works in academia as a professor and researcher. Much of her practice career focused on human rights exploitation, specifically human trafficking, as well as work with refugees, asylum seekers, and children who have lost their parents. Upon entering academia, Jessica shifted her focus of human rights issues to race relations and gender issues – developing and teaching signature courses, including experiential learning opportunities in Cameroon, Africa. Dr. D completed her PhD focusing on the prevention of human trafficking, with a critical evolution of her perspective and philosophy to centralize the experience and voice of survivors, or those most closely impacted by a social issue. She carries this philosophy into her teaching and ongoing research, decentralizing a dominant narrative white western culture or that of a single narrative. Jessica has experience in direct service provision, including mental health, program development and management, community engagement, and training and awareness building. Dr. D continues to expand her reach through collaboration and exploration of interrelated areas of practice. Jessica identifies as a white cis-gendered heterosexual female living a multi-cultural life with a multi-racial and ethnic family.

Research Interests:

• Centering survivor experiences and knowledge

• Prevention of human trafficking