University of South Florida College of Behavioral and Community Sciences doctoral student, Jennifer Tran, has been awarded the Active Minds Emerging Scholars Fellowship. The Active Minds Emerging Scholars Fellowship, generously supported by the Scattergood Foundation for Behavioral Health, 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.
The 2021 program cycle called for applications to support five students who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or person of color (BIPOC) to submit unique and thought-provoking research proposals or creative projects related to mental health for the 2021 program cycle. 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 anti-racism related to young adult mental health. From March to August 2021, the fellows will complete their projects, build a peer network, connect professionally with a national mentor and gain experience distributing their content to college audiences. To support their work, scholars will be awarded a $1,000 stipend and may also apply for an additional $250 in reimbursement for project material expenses.
Ms. Tran will be conducting content analysis of stigma change narratives from the national anti-stigma program, This Is My Brave. She will be focusing specifically on stories from LGBTQ+ community members, BIPOC, and college students (Active Minds is a college-based mental health advocacy organization). Ms. Tran will use her findings to develop a web-based resource where people struggling with their mental health and clinicians can go to find stories of hope from others who share common identities. Dr. Kristin Kosyluk of USF's Department of Mental Health Law & Policy will serve as her local mentor and she will be pared with another national scholar to support her work.