School of Social Work - Simmons College

SIMMONS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK 11
Hope Away From Home:
Hugo Kamya, M.Div., M.S.W., Ph.D.
Professor and Co-Director of the Center for Applied Community Research
As a young man growing up in Uganda, Professor Hugo Kamya was a student at a time when
students were persecuted, jailed, and even killed. He fled to Kenya, continued his studies, and
upon graduating immigrated to the U.S. Political unrest in Uganda at that time made it impossible
for Kamya to return home.
The situation cast him as an unwitting émigré — and profoundly influenced his social work career.
“It’s become a passion of mine,” says Kamya, “to look at how people adjust to new environments
and to engage immigrant communities in research that benefits them. Community-based participatory
action research is an important commitment for social work.”
Deeply personal practice: Kamya’s recent research
is with Sudanese and other African refugees and immigrant
populations — in particular, young refugees
who have emigrated from war-ravaged Sudan to the
Boston area. Kamya is currently involved in a project
interviewing refugee children (many of whom have
post-traumatic stress disorder) and working with
their families on adjustment issues. “My hope is to
integrate the painful experiences of their pasts into
a new future,” he says.
Wide-ranging interests: Kamya also has delved
extensively into issues related to HIV/AIDS, often
traveling to Uganda and other African countries to
conduct trainings and research, collaborate with
governmental and other types of organizations, and
serve at clinics. His work has expanded to focus on
issues of social development in Africa.
As a member of the Simmons Suicide Prevention
Education Initiative team, he helps train social workers
in the work of trauma and prevention of suicide
among immigrant populations.
Classroom connection: Kamya’s work has found a
home in his teaching. “I use what I’ve learned in my
research to illustrate various points to students and
to advance my own teaching and practice.”
His students, in return, reward him with fresh perspectives.
“I’m continually amazed at the diversity
of students at the school,” he says. “They come
from such varied experiences and contexts. Their interest
in learning extends to a curiosity about things;
they ask questions. Those questions are generative.
They allow me to pose questions to myself.”