Howard University Ph.D. student Nailah Dillard was recently awarded the Health Policy Research Scholars Program fellowship from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. 

The Health Policy Research Scholars program is a national leadership development program for doctoral students from historically marginalized backgrounds “who can connect how their background, identity, or lived experiences have positioned them to contribute to the goals of the program, including bringing unique and diverse perspectives to their research.”

Dillard, who’s studying clinical psychology, was featured in the September 2025 issue of the Howard University Graduate School’s news publication The Sway, and discussed how the fellowship will advance her research into health advocacy and criminal justice reform for people of color. 

“I’m interested in how exposure to systemic inequities — such as community divestment, redlining, lack of green spaces, inadequate public infrastructure, and over-policing — contributes to cycles of trauma, hypervigilance, and justice system involvement among Black and brown youth,” Dillard shared in the article. “This research sits at the intersection of psychology, criminology, sociology, and environmental justice, aiming to uncover the hidden ways structural oppression affects mental health, decision-making, and pathways to criminalization.”

According to The Sway, Dillard’s academic and career pursuits are “unfolding at the intersection of direct service, research, and policy. Academia offers a powerful platform for thought leadership and mentorship, and I would be honored to contribute in that space. I’m also passionate about being in communities, shaping programs, informing legislation, and making mental health services more accessible and culturally responsive.”