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Doctoral Research

Doctoral dissertation

Expected 2027

Examines the Millennium Challenge Corporation as a U.S. aid-policy instrument using a quasi-experimental Difference-in-Differences design.

  1. 01 Institutional performance
  2. 02 Poverty-level outcomes
  3. 03 Individual-level replication centering African citizens' voices

01Research Projects
01

Mixed-methods research | UNC Charlotte

Prenatal to Age 3 Landscape Assessment

A baseline inventory of services and support in Mecklenburg County for families expecting or raising children ages zero to three.

Funded by Smart Start of Mecklenburg County
02

Community-engaged research | UNC Charlotte

The Latino Equitable Access to Early Care (ECE) Project

Profiles Mecklenburg's Latino family population and early-care access landscape, identifying strategies to improve enrollment.

Funded by the UNC Charlotte Gambrell Foundation Faculty Fellowship
03

Mixed-methods research | Ongoing

Advancing Latina Mothers Employment Project

A community-driven project focused on increasing employment prospects for Latina mothers in Charlotte while training UNC Charlotte students in research.

04

Policy capstone | Syracuse University

Immigrants' Integration & Economic Development in Charlotte

Examines local integration policy, barriers to resources, economic-development effects, and policy alternatives.

02Publications
2024

Potochnick, S., Armstrong, L. M., Kangmennaang, J., Delmelle, E., Gadaire, A., Suclupe, R., Shahinfar, A., Valladares, B., Stamp, J., Govan-Hunt, D., Ordonez, S., Caro, L., Revens, K., Mikkelsen, E., Mikkelsen, I., Kangnissoukpe, D., et al. (2024, In press). Using civically engaged research to promote young Black and Latino children’s well-being. Politics, Groups, and Identities. doi:10.1080/21565503.2024.2423081

View DOI
03Conference Presentations
2025

Kangnissoukpe, D. (2025). The impact of the Millennium Challenge Corporation on poverty reduction in Africa. Working paper presented at the African Studies Association Annual Conference.

2023

Potochnick, S., Kangnissoukpe, D., Aguirre, M., & Luba, C. (2023). Lessons from a Community-University, Faculty-Student Project Advancing Young Black and Latino Child Development. Roundtable, UNCC Collaboration in Action Symposium.

04Methods & Professional Development
Mixed methodsQuasi-experimental designDifference-in-DifferencesProgram evaluationQualitative codingThematic analysisStataRSPSSNVivoTableau

August 2024 to May 2025

STEM Communications Training Program (Participant)

The Graduate School, UNC Charlotte

Academic-year training through asynchronous courses and practical assignments, with in-person expert workshops, public speaking events, and networking with industry representatives.

  • Engaging audiences and communicating with numbers, images, and data
  • Communicating STEM outside academia
  • Combating scientific misinformation on and beyond social media
  • STEM writing for expert and general audiences
  • Creating STEM visuals and videos
  • STEM communication across cultures and disciplines

Spring 2025

Applied Research Experience, Program Design, Monitoring and Evaluation

Political Science & Public Administration, UNC Charlotte | Independent study with Dr. Carman

Semester-long professional development in evaluation practice and its foundations, completed as an assistant director of programming under Dr. Carman's supervision.

  • Examining the policy implications of dissertation research through program evaluation practice
  • Developing and applying program evaluation methods
  • Gaining practical community research experience under a faculty mentor
  • Strengthening professional consulting experience

Spring 2025

Topics in Graduate Professional Development: Leadership in the Workplace

The Graduate School, UNC Charlotte

Study of leadership styles, personal strengths, and areas for development.

  • Developing self-awareness and communication skills
  • Building relationships and managing conflict
  • Improving decision-making and managing change
  • Motivating others through coaching and mentoring
  • Leading teams

May 2019

Medical Interpreter Training: French & Language Neutral

The Cross-Cultural Health Care Program

  • Selected by Atrium Health for the 40-hour Bridging the Gap: Medical Interpreter Training, provided at no cost from May 1 to 28, 2019
  • Interpreter roles, sight translation, ethics, the culture of biomedicine, and memory development
  • Medical terminology, body systems, and terminology study tools

April to May 2017

Immigration Interpreter Training: Language Neutral EWE/MINA

The Southern California School of Interpretation

Immigration law training in English, culminating in an examination of the ability to interpret accurately and efficiently during court hearings involving Ewe/Mina-speaking respondents.

The History of Public Administration, Leadership Across Sectors

Maxwell School of Citizenship

Humanitarian Action Seminar

Maxwell School of Citizenship, Washington, DC