Research Project: Precarious Workers Research Network
Emily Miller is going into her senior year at the ILR School and is originally from Vestal, NY. She is excited to be working with Professor Lieberwitz and the Precarious Workers Research Network researching issues related to faculty organizing in higher education. In the past, she interned for the Office of Collective Bargaining in New York City and the International Labor Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. During the school year, Emily will be continuing her research fellowship with The Worker Institute. Outside of her research, she is the President of the Cornell Mock Trial Association, a member of the Kappa Alpha Pi pre-law fraternity, and fundraises for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. After graduation, Emily hopes to attend law school.
Spring/Summer/Fall 2014
Year: ILR '15
Cornell Activities/Groups/Affiliations/Leadership Roles:
- President, Cornell Mock Trial Association
- Kappa Alpha Pi pre-law fraternity
- Students of Diabetes Awareness
- Cornell University Pre-law Journal
Precarious Workers Research Network
Describe your research project: My research with Professor Lieberwitz involves precarious workers in higher education, including adjunct faculty, part-time faculty, and graduate student assistants, which have become an ever increasing part of higher education. This involves analyzing Collective Bargaining Agreements between Universities and Faculty Associations to determine the impact that the use of contingent will have on issues such as academic freedom and faculty governance.
What have you gotten out of the experience so far?: So far, I have learned an enormous amount about the legal rights of faculty and the effects of labor law on higher education from Professor Lieberwitz. I have gained very useful experience in researching and communicating my findings. In addition, working with the Worker Institute has given me a deeper sense of connection to the ILR school as well as the satisfaction of contributing to an important project.
Why might other students be interested in pursuing this opportunity?: Any student interested in issues of workers' rights and social justice and who desires more hands-on experience with these topics outside of the classroom. Students should also be willing to work independently and have an interest in the research process.