Graduate Student; Developmental Psychology
About
Faculty Advisors: Vonnie McLoyd & Luke Hyde
Deaweh Benson is currently a doctoral student in the Developmental Psychology program at the University of Michigan. She investigates racism, health, and healing with a focus on Black adolescents and young adults who experience intersecting marginalized identities (e.g., race, class, gender). Her work is grounded in cultural-ecological frameworks, Black feminist theory, critical consciousness, and positive youth development. Deaweh’s work broadly pursues three lines of research: (1) Examining the potential neurobiological embedding of structural racism (i.e., brain function and structure), (2) Investigating factors that protect youth from racism exposure (e.g., ethnic-racial identity, critical consciousness, social support), and (3) Identifying opportunities for healing and transformation despite exposure to structural racism.
Deaweh earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Spelman College and her Master of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has worked in non-profits, research organizations, and academic institutions where she has examined socioemotional development, college student academic success, and the economic security of young adults.
