The Interdisciplinary Humanities PhD Candidate of the University of California, Merced, Genevieve Egbunno, has been awarded the McClatchy Dissertation Research and Writing Fellowship for the Fall 2025 semester.

The $26,000 McClatchy dissertation research and writing Fellowship is designed to help outstanding graduate students currently writing their dissertations take a break from their Teaching Assistantship position and concentrate on writing their dissertations.

Genevieve’s research addresses issues affecting Igbo Women of Nigeria. She draws a comparative analysis that examines how Igbo women’s economic empowerment intersects with marriage, culture, and masculinity. Her ethnographic research is situated in four southeastern states (Abia, Anambra, Enugu, and Imo States), one southwestern state (Lagos State, with a focus on the Igbo people dominant there). 

She also studies Igbo people in Dallas, Texas, Oakland, and Bakersfield, California, to understand the role geospatial dynamics play while comparing them to the different family situations between Nigerians at home and abroad. The expanded approach aims to situate Igbo women’s experiences within a broader global framework.

“I was worried about the possibility of finishing my dissertation to graduate on time while also working as a teaching assistant,” Genevieve said.

“When I received the fellowship, I was relieved, and it has helped me concentrate on my writing and stay on the path to graduate in record time.”

She earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Nigeria, a Master's in African Studies (Gender Studies) from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and another Master's degree in Interdisciplinary Humanities from the University of California, Merced. As she continues her PhD, she navigates her research with an interdisciplinary lens that connects fields like Anthropology, History, Ethnic Studies, African Women and Gender Studies.

Her research background includes Women’s entrepreneurship/Economic empowerment, marriage, culture and masculinity. Her current dissertation research seeks to examine marital conflicts arising from Igbo women’s quest for economic empowerment.

“This fellowship helped me draw a clear dissertation chapter outline, timeline, and first draft of my first two chapters,” Genevieve said.

Genevieve is passionate about women’s empowerment, and she does this through Sovieve Academy, a community organization she founded, which is involved in advocacy, training, and empowerment of women, girls, and youth. Hence, the connection to her interest in researching women’s economic empowerment.

“I am interested in helping women find strategies and sustainable solutions to end feminized poverty,” she shared.

Genevieve’s dissertation research is a community-engaged ethnographic research that examines how women’s economic empowerment intersects with cultural norms, marital conflict, and systemic patriarchy in Igboland. In other words, her research is an exploration of how Igbo women navigate these complexities to achieve financial autonomy within the broader discussion of the political economy of marriage.

“My research goes beyond the academic space, but also creating change, amplifying Igbo women’s voices and effecting policy changes that support women’s overall empowerment and position in society.”

The study also contributes to the broader discourse on marriage, gender equality, economic empowerment, Igbo studies, and conflict resolution, providing insights that can help shape interventions and policies globally in similar contexts.