Research Interests

Sociopolitical Determinants of Health, Anti-Black Policy, and Black Mental Health

  • Developing and applying sustainable solutions in communities which address social determinants of health

  • Using social science to advocate for mental health promotion via policy reform

  • Addressing racial mental health disparities and Black psychological liberation through community program development and policy

Racial Identity, Racial Trauma, and Minority Stress across the Lifespan

  • Using prevention science to ameliorate race-related stress

  • Improving overall Black life quality and trajectory

  • Understanding historical trauma, oppression, and the bruised psyche through technological innovation and decolonial research methodology

Positive Black Youth Development and Community Empowerment/Engagement

  • Encouraging civic engagement in predominantly Black communities and youth through the development of critical consciousness

  • Dismantling Anti-Black practices in education (Eurocentric social-emotional learning programs, curriculum violence, school-to-prison pipeline)

  • Exposing Black youth to careers in social science via pipeline program development

Intersectionality, Black Feminism, and Culturally Responsive Healing for Girls and Young Women of Color

  • Addressing transgenerational trauma using mother-daughter dyad interventions

  • Developing models for emotionally and mentally liberating Black girls using positive mentoring/role-modeling.

  • Creating space for Black women to shift their personal and cultural narratives using artistic mediums such as literature, art, and theater

Mental Health and Sport

  • Understanding the correlates of endurance sports and stress reduction or management

  • Evaluating running program’s and groups’ effectiveness in improving self-esteem and self-efficacy

Research Snapshot

I am a 2021 Health Equity Summer Intern in Medical Affairs at Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, a top 10 global biotech company.

I am a 2021 Health Equity Summer Intern in Medical Affairs at Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, a top 10 global biotech company.

I am a graduate research assistant in both the Stigma, Identity, and Intersectionality Research Lab (Teachers College) and the Cogburn Research Group (School of Social Work). The SII group focuses on the links of oppression and collective identity a

I am a graduate research assistant in both the Stigma, Identity, and Intersectionality Research Lab (Teachers College) and the Cogburn Research Group (School of Social Work). The SII group focuses on the links of oppression and collective identity attitudes with mental health and career outcomes among sexual, gender, and racial/ethnic minority people. The Cogburn research group uses technological innovation to dismantle systemic, institutional, and interpersonal racism.

For 2 years, I worked as a Public Health Analyst in the Mental Health, Risk, and Resilience Research Program. Here I participate in prevention science, implementation science, and program evaluation related to mental health promotion in marginalized

For 2 years, I worked as a Public Health Analyst in the Mental Health, Risk, and Resilience Research Program. Here I participate in prevention science, implementation science, and program evaluation related to mental health promotion in marginalized populations. Research areas include: Mental health promotion; research on boys and men of color; community mental health; criminal and social justice research; research on the effects of trauma and exposure to violence; social and emotional learning; and violence prevention.

I am an intern at the Research to Policy Collaboration where I focus on connecting lawmakers and researchers to create evidence-based policy concerning health and racial equity. This includes qualitative coding for legislative briefs, policy analysi

I am an intern at the Research to Policy Collaboration where I focus on connecting lawmakers and researchers to create evidence-based policy concerning health and racial equity. This includes qualitative coding for legislative briefs, policy analysis regarding COVID and racial health disparities, and using prevention science to advocate for geographical and racial/ethnic health equity. I also manage the organization's science communication efforts through social media.

At the UNC Center for Health Equity Research (CHER) I served as a research assistant, summer fellow, and eventual principal investigator for the Surviving after Hurricane Matthew Project. Here, my work focused on psychological trauma and resiliency f

At the UNC Center for Health Equity Research (CHER) I served as a research assistant, summer fellow, and eventual principal investigator for the Surviving after Hurricane Matthew Project. Here, my work focused on psychological trauma and resiliency following a natural disaster in a rural, Black community. I also examined the social implications of discriminatory policy concerning FEMA and post-disaster community investment funding.

My senior year I kept busy by immersing myself full-time as science policy and research assistant researching the influence of DNA sample requirements and other genomic-related policies on family reunification, migration, and human trafficking, and m

My senior year I kept busy by immersing myself full-time as science policy and research assistant researching the influence of DNA sample requirements and other genomic-related policies on family reunification, migration, and human trafficking, and missing persons cases. Here, I was particularly interested in the openness of policy interpretation as well as the bioethical dilemmas concerning DNA disposal post-collection. We also ran social media analyses related to the media discourse surrounding the Trump Administration and immigrant rights.

At UNC, I served as an undergraduate research assistant in the African American Youth Wellness Lab which examines the link between racism and health in African American youth. I was also involved in the Motivation and Identity Lab which studies the d

At UNC, I served as an undergraduate research assistant in the African American Youth Wellness Lab which examines the link between racism and health in African American youth. I was also involved in the Motivation and Identity Lab which studies the development of adolescents’ academic motivation with particular attention to race/ethnicity and gender as social identities that shape youth’s experiences and behaviors.