Health Equity, Agency, Racism and Trauma (HEART) Lab

Dr. Carter examines how racial and cultural characteristics (e.g., racial identity, Africentric worldview, racial composition of communities, and place-based factors) influence health. A common theme in her work has been examining how racial discrimination effects development and exacerbation of chronic illnesses. She aims to enhance our ability to tackle health disparities in underserved and underrepresented communities.

Keianna is a current working on her Masters in Public Health at Georgia State University. She completed her undergraduate studies at Georgia State University studying Public Health with a minor in Biology. She is passionate about researching racial disparities in chronic disease outcomes in the Black community, as well as racial and socioeconomic disparities in maternal and child health. Her goal is to become a Public Health Physician and a Medical Director by completing her Masters in Public Health and continuing into a Doctor of Medicine dual-degree program. Fun Fact: Her favorite hobby is watching true-crime documentaries and dramas and solving them before the end of the show.

Briana Raven is a previous M.S. graduate student who studied Neuroscience at Georgia State University. Her research interests include discovering non-invasive techniques and coping strategies to combat mental health disparities, discrimination, and racism specifically in the Black community. She is also heavily interested in analyzing how racism, health disparities, and stress can impact the brain and if these factors can lead to neuroplasticity alterations. Briana’s goal is to eventually obtain a doctorate degree either in Neuroscience or Psychology which will lead to her goal of conducting clinical-focused research while utilizing neuroimaging in a laboratory setting. Her hobbies include: cooking, reading, and loving God.

Precious is currently a junior at Emory University majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology(NBB). Her research interests lie in the intersection between psychology, neuroscience, and human health and their use in understanding Mental Health illnesses in underrepresented populations. Precious’ goals include attending Medical School and later becoming a Pediatrician. She wants to specifically serve underserved communities who unfortunately fall victim to the growing disparity gap in our healthcare system. Fun Fact: She’s Nigerian American, enjoys traveling, listening to music, and cooking new foods.

Casey is an undergraduate student at Georgia State University studying Psychology. She is passionate about researching effects of racial trauma on child development, as well as the effect of racial and socioeconomic disparities on psychopathology . Her goal is to become a Clinical Psychologist by completing a Doctor of Psychology in clinical psychology and eventually open her own practice. Fun Fact: She likes to write poetry, crochet, and draw abstract art.

Heather is a Georgia State Alumni who graduated with a BA in Psychology. She has a strong passion for understanding how racial and gender-based issues affect adolescent development. She is also interested in studying how racial and systemic disparities harm the intersectionality of Black individuals. Her goals is to become a licensed therapist with a focus on helping adolescents. Fun fact: she loves to hike, binge watch TV shows, and paint.

Rose is currently an undergraduate student majoring in Psychology at Georgia State University. Her research interests include racial trauma and neurodiversity, intersection of race and gender, and mental health amongst Black LGBTQ+ people. She also has a strong passion for investigating the impact of colonial parenting styles on childhood development. Her goals include attending graduate school to specialize in Community Psychology and becoming a licensed psychologist. From there she hopes to continue her research endeavors and provide community organized Mental Health Counseling.

Gifty is a fourth-year psychology major with a minor in Human Services at the University of Georgia. She has research interests in the effects of racial discrimination on the physical and mental health outcomes of people of African descent, discrimination in healthcare, provider trust, and psychological help-seeking stigma among African American families. She is also interested in how the effects of history (colonialism and American chattel slavery) has contributed to stigma and healing among African American families. Her goal is to obtain a doctorate degree in Clinical Health Psychology to specialize in therapy for chronically ill individuals and conduct research to help mitigate the effects of racial health disparities. Fun Fact: She speaks four languages, three of which are tribal Ghanaian languages and is a skilled seamstress and fashion enthusiast.

Devon, a Fall 2019 Georgia State graduate, is interested in the impact of generational trauma among the African American community. He hopes to examine the negative physical and psychological outcomes associated with high trauma exposure on economically disadvantaged African American men. Additionally, he is interested in community-based interventions and its implications as it relates to resilience and healing in the African American community. Fun Fact: He enjoys challenging himself by learning about topics that are outside of his comfort zone. For instance, if you join him for a car ride, his stereo is always tuned into NPR.

Kimberly is currently a freshman neuroscience major at Georgia State University. She has a research interest in how racial trauma and implicit racial bias in the healthcare system contributes to African American infant mortality rate during physician interactions. Her goals include attending medical school to specialize in medical trauma. Fun Fact: She loves to shop and watch Netflix.

Cierra has a BA in Psychology with a minor in African American Studies. Her research is centered around reducing health disparities with a focus on infant mortality rates, maternal mortality rates, bias in treatment, and lack of access to care for Black women and children. Post graduation, Cierra will be a licensed clinical social worker and plans on opening a counseling practice along with community centers in urban areas around Atlanta and other metropolitan cities. She also hopes to create a scholarship fund for Black women pursuing careers in psychology or social work. Fun Fact: She will travel very far for food. The furthest to date has been Sweden!

Kelly is an undergraduate student at Georgia State University studying Psychology. She has a strong passion for gender-based issues under the patriarchy as well as understanding how the intersection of systematic oppression on minority racial groups affect these. Her goal is to attend graduate school and become a college professor and executive director of a research lab one day. Fun Fact: Kelly is really, really good at Minesweeper.