Heidi I. Fahning, PhD

My research interests dwell at the intersections of public policy, education, and anthropology. Prior to the doctoral program, my academic and professional experiences revolved around combatting inequities both in Minnesota and internationally, with a focus on immigrant and low-income communities. I draw on relationships and skills developed through my work as a nonprofit consultant and grant writer in my research approach.

My dissertation focuses on the conceptions and negotiations of national belonging (i.e. who “belongs” as an American) through an ethnographic narrative study of high school youth in a small rural Midwestern city. In an era of blatant xenophobic nationalism, it is imperative that we examine how divisive rhetoric and practices of exclusion occur—and are challenged—in classrooms and communities. The fieldwork for my dissertation solidified my belief that research should be co-created and tangibly benefit the participants. Going forward, I intend to continue working with youth in often-forgotten communities around their experiences of belonging.

From serving as a tutor for athletics to serving as a research assistant for a local government-University partnership, I have engaged in a variety of higher education experiences throughout my doctoral journey. Currently, I serve as the Coordinator for the UMN Office of Undergraduate Research, where I facilitate five undergraduate research opportunities, including an intensive summer research experience intended to propel students of color into graduate programs.

Teaching experience

• UMN: OLPD 5107: Gender, International Development, and Education
• Concordia University-Saint Paul: ED 7041: Leadership and Scholarship
• University of Dayton: EDU975: Dissertation in Practice