Spotlight

Eric Waithaka - New CSDE Trainee

Eric Waithaka, who is a graduate student in the School of Social Work, has been awarded a CSDE Traineeship for 2009-10, funded by the Shanahan Endowment. Last year he was a CSDE Fellow.

Eric’s scholarly interest broadly stated revolves around young adults’ transition into adulthood both in the U.S. in and Sub-Saharan African. He is interested in the ways in which young adults (18-34 years) go about building a variety of assets (including wealth). Specifically, his research focuses on how structural factors and individual human agency shapes life transitions for many young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds. His current research projects include: an examination of the mechanisms through which young adults desist or persist in their substance use and crime involvement. He is also conducting exploratory research on how young adults’ housing and living situations influence their thoughts and actions about their future prospects for obtaining an education, working, operating a business and owing a home.