Meet Eh Ta Taw
Majors: Global Studies and Political Science
Hometown: Ter Pbaw Village, Myanmar
Eh Ta, a second-year student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, credits a class he took in his first semester with sparking his curiosity and shifting his academic path.
Eh Ta is Knyaw, an ethnic group indigenous to Myanmar. He moved to Nebraska in 2016, and Lincoln has since become his second home.
Initially, he planned to major in business with a minor in global studies. But after taking “Introduction to Global Studies,” he changed direction, ultimately deciding on a double major in Global Studies and Political Science.
“I really enjoyed [that class] because it helped me understand diverse cultures and global issues. Around the same time, I got involved in research and realized how much I enjoy learning about social issues that connect to my own life, like immigration and refugee resettlement,” Eh Ta said. “That’s when I knew I wanted to be in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Eh Ta participated in the First Year Research Experience (FYRE) program, which informed his experiential learning project in spring 2025. With guidance from Professor Emira Ibrahimpasic, he began a research project titled “History of Refugee Resettlement in Nebraska.”
“I chose it because I wanted to better understand how people like me, and my family, came to the U.S. and built new lives,” Eh Ta said.
Eh Ta’s research involved searching online archival collections for information on refugees in Nebraska. He gained hands-on experience recording key information, properly citing and attributing materials, and compiling and synthesizing scholarly articles for a comprehensive literature review.
An especially meaningful moment was presenting his findings at the Forced Migration and Resettlement Community Partnership Symposium on April 1, 2025, which was hosted by the Nebraska Initiative for Migration Studies.
“I presented my own work and heard from other student researchers. I was inspired by how passionate they were about their topics,” Eh Ta said. “It made me think about my research in new ways and helped me realize how research can make a real difference.”
His research project is ongoing in 2026, and Eh Ta values the new skills and opportunities to connect with others it provides. He is now part of the Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experience (UCARE) program.
Eh Ta is grateful for the continued support from his faculty sponsors. In addition to Professor Ibrahimpasic, he is also mentored by Professor Julia Reilly in the School of Global Integrative Studies.
“My faculty sponsors have been incredibly supportive not just with my research but also with my long-term goals. They’ve given me valuable guidance and feedback that has helped me improve my work,” Eh Ta said. “More importantly, they’ve introduced me to new opportunities, like internships and networking events, that will help me grow beyond this project.”
The research work Eh Ta has contributed to in the first two years of his university experience aligns well with his future goals and the positive impact he hopes to have on others.
“After graduation, I hope to work with organizations that support immigrant and refugee communities. This research project is a fantastic way to build my resume and develop experience,” Eh Ta said. “It’s helping me grow skills, while also giving me a deeper understanding of migration and resettlement that will directly support my future career goals.”
