A Conversation between IPG-Blacksburg's Dr. Bernice Owusu-Brown and Communications Coordinator Billy Parvatam

Billy: What is your role at the Institute?

Bernice: I have served as a Research Scientist at the Institute since joining in the fall of 2024. In this role, I have contributed and continue to contribute to sponsored research projects while developing my own line of inquiry focused on research and social entrepreneurship. I am currently pursuing federal grants from the U.S. Office of Violence Against Women and the William T. Grant Foundation while monitoring the Opioid Abatement Authority's RFP releases, advancing applied research on community-based mental and behavioral health initiatives, and building sustainable partnerships with external collaborators to translate evidence into practice.

Billy: How would you describe your research and praxis?

Bernice: My research and practice are grounded in developmental economics, with a specific focus on how gender, health, and economic development intersect. I examine the economic and health impacts of intimate partner violence and work on empowering marginalized groups socially and economically. A key goal of my work is to identify barriers to gender equality—such as systemic factors that sustain the glass ceiling—and to develop practical strategies to promote equity.

I employ a multidisciplinary approach, integrating economics, gender studies, sociology, and public health to explore the complex relationships among gender, health, and development. My practice combines quantitative methods with qualitative insights—integrating econometrics with detailed narratives and lived experiences to deepen and contextualize my findings. This combined strategy enables me to obtain findings with the aim of promoting meaningful social change by connecting empirical data with actionable solutions.

Billy: How did you become affiliated with IPG?

Bernice: I joined IPG following a one-year postdoctoral position with Virginia Tech’s Department of Economics. I obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics with a minor in Sociology from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. Subsequently, I pursued a Master of Philosophy in Economics at the University of Ghana, followed by a Doctorate in Development Economics through a collaborative program between the University of Ghana and the United Nations University-World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER). My doctoral research concentrated on the economic implications of intimate partner violence and its impact on national development.

Billy: What are some projects you are currently working on?

Bernice: I am currently working on two projects. The first involves the expansion of the Smyth County Behavioral Health Campus (SCBHC) and the co-location of all County crisis centers. This project aims to reduce state hospitalizations for crisis patients by addressing bed shortages and the difficulties of treating individuals outside their communities. As part of evaluating the SCBHC expansion, I am conducting a Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA) to assess the economic and social impacts of that shift. The CEA is crucial for determining how to maximize quality and quantity of life within a limited budget. It will evaluate whether the expansion and co-location improve health outcomes and increase affordability compared to the current standard of care. 

The second project involves developing a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) plan for the Roanoke Valley Collective Response (RVCR). The RVCR is employing a collective model approach to tackle addiction and substance use disorder. My task is to create an SIA plan for the RVCR, which can help determine the economic, environmental, cultural, and social, and cultural impact of its programmatic strategies while minimizing its adverse effects on society.

Billy: What does a typical day look like for you?

Bernice: Every day varies for me, but my typical day often involves reviewing emails, prioritizing tasks, attending team meetings, conducting literature reviews, meeting with community partners, writing proposals, and searching for grant opportunities, among other activities.

Billy: What is one detail your job entails that might be surprising for others to know?

Bernice: One surprising aspect of working as a research scientist is how much the job involves engaging with community partners and stakeholders, not just analyzing data or writing reports. This requires frequently translating technical findings into clear, practical insights for audiences with different backgrounds, interests, and priorities.

Billy: What inspires you to do the work you do?

Bernice: What inspires my work is a deep commitment to engaged scholarship, the chance to go beyond traditional academic boundaries and actively work with communities and stakeholders. I am energized by the process of employing research in partnership and via collective problem-solving to address ongoing social challenges.

Billy: What is your advice to someone who would want to pursue your area of research and praxis?

Bernice: For those aiming to work at the crossroads of gender, health, and economic development, the best advice I can offer is to foster interdisciplinary curiosity and active community participation. Develop solid skills in quantitative methods while remaining receptive to qualitative insights that highlight lived experiences and social contexts. Seek mentors and collaborators outside your discipline and engage stakeholders and community partners whenever possible. Doing so makes your research more relevant, and actionable. Be open to the challenges involved in translating research into practice, as change rarely occurs in isolation. Lastly, stay persistent and adaptable, valuing continuous learning. Understand that the most significant solutions often develop through collaboration and experimentation.

Billy: What is a potential area of research/grant in the future that you would like to study and/or work on?

Bernice: A promising area for future research and grant funding involves exploring the long-term economic and health effects of integrated crisis response hubs for survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) and mental health emergencies. This includes assessing how cross-sector collaborations—connecting healthcare, social services, law enforcement, and community organizations—can enhance outcomes not only for clients, but also for caregivers and frontline workers.

Billy: What are some things you like to do in your free time?

Bernice: In my free time, I enjoy reading, cooking, and being with my family.

Contact: