Luke Horton

Luke (he/him) is currently pursuing his Master of Social Work at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice. Originally from Southern New Jersey, he graduated from Brown University with dual B.As in Anthropology and Psychology writing his honors thesis on loneliness, human connection, and the power of listening on suicide crisis hotlines. Furthering his passion and background for community engaged research, especially within BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, he worked with CRAFT Lab as part of the Trans-Led Care Study which piloted peer-led mindfulness support groups for transgender people who wish to change their relationship with substances. Most recently, Luke has successfully completed a Fulbright grant in Thailand where he worked as an English teacher in a public high school in a small Northern Thai town on the borders of Laos and Myanmar. During his time teaching, he was involved with non-profit work with the Karen population where he conducted interviews about displacement and continuing education. Through these interviews and community voices, Luke created a comic intended to be part of displacement care packages that uplift the stories of the Karen and make community assets more visible. He is extremely grateful to have received this scholarship and to be part of such an amazing cohort where he hopes to grow in his passions for the intersections of art, research, community, social justice, and education.