Claudena Skran

Claudena Skran is a Professor of Government and the Edwin & Ruth West Professor of Economics and Social Science at Lawrence University, where she also directs the Business & Entrepreneurship program. Her academic affiliations include the Government Department and Global Studies program, with expertise in international politics, African politics, and qualitative research methods. She pioneered experiential learning through fieldwork trips to West Africa and the Caribbean, emphasizing applied social entrepreneurship and community development.

Education: DPhil in International Relations from Oxford University and BA in International Relations from Michigan State University. She has been at Lawrence University since 1990.

Research focuses on refugees, humanitarian assistance, and refugee law, with notable works on refugee self-reliance, Sierra Leonean case studies, and the historical development of international refugee frameworks. Her fieldwork includes UNHCR policy evaluations and community empowerment projects in post-conflict regions.

Teaching innovations include the KidsGive practicum, which engages students in nonprofit management and global initiatives such as building schools and water wells in Sierra Leone. She has led over 20 academic travel programs to diverse locations, including Ghana, Jamaica, and upcoming trips to Finland and Estonia.

Her scholarly contributions span refugee law, migration policy, and gender equity in humanitarian contexts, with a focus on bridging academic theory with real-world impact through fieldwork and entrepreneurship.