Completing a Summer Internship -- (5 points), Kennedi Munson

This summer, I had the distinct honor of being a part of the second cohort of the W.E.B. Du Bois Scholars Program at Harvard University. Through this 8-week experience, I was able to conduct research and engage in the field of public health for the first time. Under the mentorship of Dr.Tamarra James-Todd, I worked in her Environmental Reproductive Justice (ERJ) lab at The T.H. Chan School of Public Health alongside Marlee Quinn, MPH, Marshae Nickelberry, MPH, Katherine Van Woert, Kathryn S. Tomsho, and Benjamin Lanava. The main project I was able to embark on this summer was the creation of The Hair Additions Ingredients and Risks (HAIR) Study. My presentation, “Do You Know What’s In Your H.A.I.R?” detailed how the study aims to evaluate the effects of hair additions/hair extensions on Black women’s health. Through questionnaires, over the course of this year, my lab and I will evaluate four focus groups to understand: usage patterns, product choices, perceptions of product safety, and awareness of chemical risks as they relate to health. Upon my return to Spelman College this fall, I will be continuing this research and proceeding to share my presentation with my peers to shed light on the importance of Black women knowing what they are consuming and being aware of how to protect their health. Throughout my time in the ERJ lab, I was also able to learn about Environmental Health Literacy, exploring the relevance of making topics like science and scientific language accessible. Equally, for one week, I was a camp counselor in partnership with the Bethel AME Church for their Community Development initiative and taught kids in the 4th-8th grade about water pollution.