The Community and Stakeholder Research Engagement (C&SE) program is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Community Partnered Research Award: Dr. Taylor Arnold, Assistant Professor in Family and Community Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and Pacino Mancillas, Partner at the Hispanic Contractors Association of the Carolinas, Inc.
Together, Dr. Arnold and Mr. Mancillas will lead a collaborative research project focused on assessing the safety of women employed in the construction industry—a critical and often underexplored area of occupational health.
About the Community Partnered Research Award
This award is designed to cultivate long-term, sustainable partnerships between academic researchers and community organizations. By fostering trust, co-learning, and shared expertise, the program supports both new and ongoing collaborations that address community health priorities.
Key features of the award include:
- Capacity Building: Community partners gain valuable skills in research design, proposal development, and program evaluation—enhancing their ability to lead and sustain action-oriented research.
- Mutual Learning: Academic researchers deepen their understanding of community needs, values, and lived experiences, while learning how community organizations operate and overcome challenges.
- Support and Resources: Both partners benefit from access to C&SE’s extensive resources and expertise to strengthen their collaboration.
Each award provides $10,000 in funding to the community organization and 10% effort support for the academic co-investigator, ensuring both partners are equipped to contribute meaningfully to the research process.
We look forward to the impactful work Dr. Arnold and Mr. Mancillas will accomplish together in advancing safety for women in construction.