Kathleen Novak is participating in the CAS Social Justice and Sustainability Internship
Kathleen Novak, a senior majoring in BMB and Psychology, is participating in the CAS Social Sciences Undergraduate Internships in Social Justice and Sustainability program. Kathleen’s research project explores the role of nature in facilitating resilience and well-being in women of color. Along with her fellow undergrad, Emily Parkington, Kathleen worked with Dr. Brenda Phillips, who is a Lecturer in the Department of Psychology and Brain Science.
According to Kathleen, her work “aims to address the difficulties Black women face in meeting their psychological needs. While nature connectedness has a demonstrable positive impact on women’s well-being and emotional resilience, access to nature (or urban green spaces) has historically been denied to people of color, specifically Black women living in urban settings. Previous psychological studies concerning women’s abilities to seek solitude in nature were not representative of Black women’s experiences. Therefore, our goal is to design a mixed-methods study with questions that address Black women’s needs and experiences specifically. As an intern, I am conducting interviews with spiritual leaders in low-income Boston neighborhoods in order to gain their perspectives regarding the issues they believe are most pressing for Black women. Our results will then guide us in the design of a follow-up survey to be distributed to women within their spiritual communities. I am also aiding in participant recruitment.”
The CAS Social Sciences Internship in Social Justice and Sustainability is a program that aims to help support and advance faculty research in these areas and to provide undergraduate students interested in honing their research skills with an experiential learning opportunity.
Click here for more information about Kathleen’s internship.