The UMB Center for Violence Prevention leader explores identity, belonging, and resilience in a new work of speculative fiction.
Nadine Finigan-Carr, PhD, research professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work and executive director of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Center for Violence Prevention, has published a new novel, "The Waterman’s Daughter." The work marks a new chapter in the career of a nationally recognized prevention research scientist, educator, advocate, and community leader whose scholarship centers on improving outcomes for young people and communities.
A labor of love years in the making, "The Waterman’s Daughter" is set in a not-too-distant future and explores enduring questions of family, identity, resilience, and the ties that connect people across generations and circumstances. Through fiction, Finigan-Carr invites readers to consider the forces that shape individual lives while reflecting on the strength found in community, belonging, and human connection.
“Writing this book has been a remarkable journey,” Finigan-Carr said. “I’m thrilled to finally place it in the hands of readers.”
She expressed gratitude for the encouragement and support she received throughout the writing process and hopes the novel will find a place on readers’ lists. "The Waterman’s Daughter" is available through Full Circle Press.
Celebrating Literature and Community
Finigan-Carr participated in two Baltimore Book Festival events Sept. 19–20, celebrating storytelling, imagination, and the release of The Waterman’s Daughter.
First, she appeared with Sheree Renée Thomas and Lawrence T. Brown for a conversation on Thomas’ Ring Shout on Saturn and The Tongue I Dream In. The discussion examined speculative fiction, Afrofuturism, Black storytelling, identity, activism, and visions of liberation.
Finigan-Carr also presented The Waterman’s Daughter on the Urban Reads Stage, sharing her work with festival attendees and adding her voice to the festival’s celebration of authors, readers, and Baltimore’s literary community.
Research, Prevention, and Advocacy
Finigan-Carr brings a distinctive breadth of experience to her creative work. At UMB, she leads the Center for Violence Prevention, advancing research, prevention strategies, education, and partnerships designed to address violence and promote well-being. A prevention research scientist with more than two decades of experience in youth violence prevention, her work applies behavioral and social science perspectives to contemporary health challenges, particularly those that disproportionately affect people of color.
Her research has focused on the social conditions that can place young people at greater risk for chronic disease, injury, and violence, as well as the systems and supports that can foster healthier outcomes. Finigan-Carr is an internationally recognized expert in human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of minors. She has led state- and federally funded research involving system-involved youth, including young people in foster care and the juvenile justice system.
Her leadership also extends to public education and advocacy. Finigan-Carr has helped lead the Maryland Child Trafficking Conference, which convenes researchers, practitioners, service providers, policymakers, advocates, and community members to strengthen prevention, identification, intervention, and survivor support. The conference is entering its 10th year, reflecting a sustained statewide commitment to moving beyond awareness and toward coordinated action.
Finigan-Carr also serves as a commissioner with the Baltimore City Office of Equity and Civil Rights’ Community Relations Commission, contributing her expertise to efforts that advance equity, civil rights, and community well-being. Her earlier scholarly publication, "Linking Health and Education for African American Students’ Success," examines the critical relationship between health and educational outcomes for African American students and underscores her longstanding commitment to interdisciplinary research and equity-centered solutions.
With "The Waterman’s Daughter," Finigan-Carr adds novelist to a body of work already defined by inquiry, compassion, and a deep belief in the power of people and communities to endure, heal, and thrive.