Jennifer Rutt Associate Director
Dr. Jennifer Rutt is the Associate Director at MERC and a Qualitative Specialist. She received her Ph.D. in Educational Studies - Leadership in Higher Education focusing on Social Justice, Social Identity, and International topics in 2020, her M.A. in Social Justice in Intercultural Relations from the SIT Graduate Institute in 2011, and her B.A. in International Relations and Politics from Cornell College in 2007. During her time with MERC she has worked on a range of topics, including substance abuse prevention funding from SAMHSA evaluating underage drinking perceptions, behaviors, and community prevention efforts across the state of Nebraska; analyzing public input data for revisions to statewide health education standards; NSF CAREER, REU, and IUSE grant evaluations; as well as projects focused on minority health disparities. Dr. Rutt works with her clients to coordinate and organize data collection, analyze data, write reports, provide training and technical assistance when needed, and provide feedback at various levels. Additionally, Dr. Rutt coordinates qualitative data collection and facilitates trainings on data collection and analysis using MAXQDA, NVivo, and Dedoose software. Dr. Rutt’s personal research interests and experiences include examining international students of Color’s first-year experiences at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs), ethnic identity development in heritage scholars (study abroad), working on eliminating minority health disparities, studying Composer Richard Wagner’s impact on German Nationalism (in Berlin, Germany), as well as time in Honolulu, HI focusing on cultural conflict by examining cultural identity with youth.
Contact Info:
Location: Prem S. Paul Research Center at Whittier School (WHIT) 370C
Lincoln NE 68583-0866
Phone: 402-472-3423 On campus, dial 2-3423
Email: jenn.rutt@unl.edu
