Dae-Zhane Boland, Class of 2019

MPH, University of Connecticut, 2020

Current position: Doctoral Student in Community Health Sciences at the University of California-Los Angeles

Dae-zhané (she/her) is a second-year Doctoral Student in Community Health Sciences at the University of California- Los Angeles. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Urban and Community Studies, with a minor in Africana studies. She acquired her master’s degree in Applied Public Health Sciences at the University of Connecticut. She is a native of Waterbury, CT.

Dae-zhané has worked on health equity report cards for girls and women of color, health equity art contests, and a Black mother’s care plan that educates and provides resources for community members in order to improve the health outcomes of Black mothers and their infants. She is also currently on a research team that is conducting a systematic review on racial disproportionality in the child welfare system in the United States. Prior research has included social support and mental health outcomes among Black men, the impacts of tobacco use, online racism and gender differences in perceived stress among Black adults. Her research interests include maternal and child health disparities, reproductive justice, trauma and mental health disparities, and agency and sexual decision making among Black women. She hopes to deepen her knowledge and understanding of the way trauma, stress, and racism impact the health and health outcomes of Black women and girls.