Asbury University Professor of Psychology Dr. Laura Dryjanska will share her expertise in human trafficking prevention at the Kids Are Worth It (KAWI) conference, presented by Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky. In its 29th year, KAWI is Kentucky’s premier educational event designed to meet the continuing education, networking, and programmatic needs of diverse professionals who contribute professionally or personally to the safety, well-being and permanency of Kentucky’s children. This year’s conference will happen in Lexington from September 15-16.
“My presentation will focus on child trafficking in the United States in general and in Kentucky in particular,” Dryjanska said. “I will talk about psychological aspects and complex traumatic experiences inherent to child trafficking. My research with human trafficking survivors demonstrates the impact of exploitation on emotional regulation and coping, as well as physical, cognitive, spiritual, and educational development, in the light of psychological coercion.”
Dryjanska looks forward to meeting other speakers, especially a renowned motivational speaker and online child trafficking survivor, Alicia Kozakiewicz. She also hopes to bring Asbury students (interested or enrolled in the Human Trafficking Studies minor) to the event. Last year, Dryjanska shared her expertise and experience working in human trafficking prevention on the This Is Asbury podcast. Listen here.
The 18-credit Human Trafficking Studies minor offers courses in global and regional perspectives, psychological perspectives, international social issues, and more, with opportunities for internships, independent studies and seminars. As part of the Political Science program, this minor is a cross-disciplinary effort that draws on faculty with a background in human trafficking studies from other fields such as psychology, social work, sociology, and history.
“The classes are meant to foster critical thinking and introduce students to key issues and practices which impact human trafficking work while preparing students to be good, collaborative partners with those outside of their primary field of study,” Dryjanska said. “Focusing on anti-trafficking efforts is in line with Wesleyan principles and history, where seeking justice for the oppressed is encouraged as an expression of holiness.”
Asbury undergraduate students can benefit from taking courses in human trafficking prevention.
“The Human Trafficking Studies minor can be relevant to multiple majors,” said Assistant Professor of Political Science & History Dr. Glenn Harden. “Anti-trafficking work brings together people from many sectors including policy-making, survivor care, law enforcement, business, education, health care, social services, coding, research, and religion. Thus, students who major in various disciplines can benefit from learning more about the complexity of human trafficking in the United States and beyond.”