Alumna Publishes Article in Global Media Outlet 

Westminster alumna Janepicha “Bambi” Cheva-Isarakul ‘08 from Chiang Mai, Thailand, who currently lives in Wellington, New Zealand, recently published an article in The Conversation, an independent global media outlet which publishes informed commentary and debate from academicians and researchers on the issues affecting the world.  

Janepicha’s article, “Blood, Soil and Paper: Thailand’s Mission to Reduce Statelessness,” discusses the issue of statelessness in Thailand, which received international attention when it was discovered that some of the Wild Boars soccer team boys rescued from a cave in northern Thailand were stateless.  

Currently, Janepicha is a teaching fellow at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand.  

Although she lives there, she spends some time in northern Thailand conducting research on topics such as the subject of her recent publication.  

After graduating from Westminster with majors in sociology & anthropology, French, and international studies, she earned a master’s degree in developmental studies from Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland (2010).  

She also has extensive experience working in the international development sector with various organizations, including International Organization for Migration, Sasin Institute for Global Affairs, Oxfam Great Britain, Ashoka Foundation, ActionAid (Thailand), and the Life Skills Development Foundation.  

She expects to complete her Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from Victoria University in 2019.  Her Ph.D. ethnographic research explores lifeworlds and evcryday experience of stateless youth in Chiang Mai, Thailand.  

“The more I have been exposed to various educational institutions around the world, the more grateful and privileged I feel to have been a part of a nurturing and caring community at Westminster where college became more than a place to get a degree,” says Janepicha.  

She credits the mentoring, guidance, and support she received at Westminster with her tremendous professional and personal growth.  

“Professors and staff never made me feel that I wasted their time,” Janepicha explains.  “Instead they would listen not only to my ideas but also my doubts, concerns, and confusion.  It is easy to underestimate how important these small gestures are.  In reality, it is these caring gestures that make all the difference.  

Janepicha’s article can be read at https://theconversation.com/blood-soil-and-paper-thailands-mission-to-reduce-statelessness-100519.