By Rola Aamar, ’07

Kimberly Humphrey of Tobaccoville, N.C., is one of many students this semester conducting undergraduate research. Humphrey, however, has the distinction of being one of only two Meredith students who presented research findings at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research in San Francisco, April 12-14, 2007.

Working with Mary Thomas, professor of foreign languages, Humphrey is conducting a study about the experiences of individuals immigrating from Mexico and Central America to North Carolina. Her project is titled “El Otro Lado-Narrating Migrant Journeys from Mexico and Central America to North Carolina.”

“I am interviewing individuals who have immigrated to North Carolina from Mexico or Central America,” Humphrey said. “I would like to share as much as I can about their own personal experiences in an effort to promote understanding beyond the politics of the wall.”

Humphrey chose this topic not only because it interested her academically, but also because she has a strong personal connection to the topic. Humphrey is a Spanish major with a love of Latino culture. Since hearing the stories shared by one of her closest friends back home, she has strived to share the stories with others.

“It is too easy to distance oneself from the problem and not share another's struggle,” she said. “That is why I'm doing this thesis, to make their personal stories to be just that, up close and personal.”

Humphrey also hopes to “convey their reasons for coming, the challenges they faced and the emotions surrounding the journey.”

Although Humphrey has heard stories of three-day journeys in difficult conditions before she was still amazed every time she heard a new story she at what the subjects went through for their families. To Humphrey some of the most interesting stories include “tales of walking for days on end, dodging cacti and border patrol, being captured, freezing, trying again, crossing rivers and helping others who are too dehydrated to go on.”

Humphrey wants to pass on what she has learned from her research to the Meredith community.

“My goal is to promote understanding, a feeling of solidarity and relationship as well as shared responsibility,” said Humphrey. “I hope that by telling these stories, [Meredith] women will be motivated to combat injustice, whether it deals with immigration or a different social justice issue.”

Humphrey also hopes that students will take the initiative to become involved in the immigration issue.

“I’m hoping that it will help people on this campus to take a deeper look into the issue of immigration, to get involved in what is happening,” she said. “I hope it will motivate students to care about people beyond the sphere of Meredith and to reach out to other cultures.”

As for the future, Humphrey is still unsure about her career plans, but she intends to keep working on her research study and to incorporate it into whatever she pursues.

“I am interested in areas of public policy and social justice,” she said. “I have also applied for an internship this summer, which will allow me to work with migrant farm workers and to promote their rights and education.”

Humphrey encourages students to learn a second or third language because learning Spanish has changed her life.

“As members of a global community, we have the responsibility to learn other languages and it's easier to be a good neighbor if we can communicate.”

Humphrey will also present her research as part of Meredith’s Celebrating Student Achievement Day on April 26, 2007. Visit www.meredith.edu/achievement/ for more information.