by Chris Hilburn-Trenkle
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work made history when it established its doctoral program in the fall of 1993, becoming the first doctoral social work program in the state. Since that time, the program’s impact has grown immeasurably to position itself and its students at the forefront of cutting-edge research.
To celebrate our students, we are spotlighting each of our doctoral students set to graduate in 2025, highlighting their areas of research, providing a link to their resume and more.
Anderson Al Wazni
Research Interests: Climate change, state fragility, conflict resolution, Islamophobia
Anderson Al Wazni, MSW, is a Ph.D. Candidate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work. Her research examines the concept of state fragility in the U.S. context, through examining natural disaster responses, violent conflict, and forced migration. Her dissertation project received the 2024-2025 American Association of University Women Fellowship, recognizing her novel contribution to climate change research and state fragility. In addition to her research, Anderson also started Armistice Zines; an art-based conflict resolution community project inspired by her experience in the inaugural Robert Wood Johnson Social Work Futures Lab. This project received funding through the Jandon Center at Smith College; Project on Women and Social Change. She is also a graduate instructor in the Smith College MSW program, where she designed and conducts courses on climate justice and nonviolent civil resistance. Additionally, Anderson is a frequent advocate for Muslim and Islamic feminist thought in pedagogy and practice.
