Active Minds Announces 2021 Emerging Scholars Fellows

Active Minds is excited to announce its 2021 Emerging Scholars Fellows. The Emerging Scholars Fellowship Program aims to expand the body of literature, creative expression, and discourse devoted to mental health with a particular emphasis on health equity and antiracism related to young adult mental health. It encourages creativity in the development of a project that reflects interest in behavioral health issues; a wide range of project types (i.e. research papers, art installations, photo exhibits, and printed resources) are likely to receive funding. Human subjects research is not suggested.

The fellowship provides an opportunity for students to complete funded, independent mental health projects and to be connected with a network of young scholars and national experts in the field of behavioral health.

During the six month fellowship program – through online meetings and support – scholars will complete their projects, build a peer network, connect professionally with a national mentor and gain experience distributing their content to college audiences. 

Meet 2021 Active Minds Emerging Scholars:

1. Jardin Dogan is a fourth year doctoral candidate in the University of Kentucky’s Counseling Psychology program. Her project aims to assess critical consciousness as a culturally-relevant coping strategy for race-related stressors and negative mental health outcomes among Black communities.
2. Selina Flores is completing her Masters of Public Health at San Francisco State University. Selina will examine how decolonizing mental health by highlighting holistic approaches can promote positive mental health outcomes among college-aged students of color and eliminate disparities in those seeking help. With an interest in photography, a photovoice component will document mental health journeys and holistic approaches with photographs.
3. Amanda Gao is a current undergraduate student at Georgetown University, pursuing a degree in Healthcare Management and Policy. She is a mental health advocate and the President of her college’s Active Minds chapter. She is investigating mental health literacy among Black, Indegneious, and People of Color (BIPOC) college students, evaluating their mental health literacy levels and the current programs available to students on campus.
4. John Taylor is a PhD candidate in Human Sexuality Studies Program at Widener University. John is passionate about educational and public health initiatives that address issues involving Black men and their families. As part of his doctoral studies, he will explore young Black men’s perceptions of the connections between structural violence, mental health, and sexual behavior.
5. Jennifer Tran is a doctoral student in the Interdisciplinary program of Behavioral and Community Sciences at the University of South Florida. Her project will provide an online resource aimed at addressing stigma experienced by marginalized communities (i.e., individuals living with mental illness, LGBTQ+ individuals, and BIPOC) through the power of intersectional storytelling.