Weinberg College welcomes Assistant Professor Charlayne Mitchell to the Program in Global Health Studies! Mitchell recently offered insight into her background, research, and what inspired her to pursue her current area of study.
Where are you from? Where did you study?
I was born in Mississippi but was raised in Florida and Arkansas. I studied at the University of Arkansas and Arizona State University.
What inspired you to pursue your area of study?
At an early age, I was introduced to a broken heart. At the age of 8, I lost one of my favorite aunts from lupus, the woman who hugged me through my pains as a young child trying to navigate through my parent’s divorce. Then I lost my grandfather, with whom I shared the love of sweet potato pie and rich conversations about his past, involving him being the son of a Native American father and a once enslaved mother. I continued to view life through death as five more of my mother’s siblings died from treatable or preventable diseases because of medical mistrust and malpractice. The compounded deaths on my mother’s side of the family caused me to question the health inequities that Black Americans face. Thus, being the fuel, I needed to leave my cushioned corporate America job and head back to school to pursue graduate degrees.
Please describe your research.
My research interests are the social, emotional, physical, and spiritual experiences of health care, health practices, and health beliefs in Black Americans (with a focus on women) located in the Southeast part of the United States. Furthermore, my research intersects and parallels race, gender, and class and how these social divisions affect health.
I am particularly attentive to how narratives can inform our research (fieldwork) and pedagogical (instructional and curriculum design) praxis’ in ways that assist in redefining and rebuilding what health looks like for certain bodies.
What are you working on right now that excites you the most?
I am working on a book chapter, learning a new area within Global Health (water insecurities), and designing new curricula.
How do you enjoy spending your free time?
I love coming up with witty statements that could be used on tee shirts, reading/learning, coming up with new recipes, and enjoying my family.
What is most fulfilling to you about teaching?
The relationships formed in the classroom that are continued outside of the classroom.
What accomplishments would you like to share?
Scholarly I have written several articles and a book chapter, and coordinated several clinical and social science research projects. Regarding my personal accomplishments, I’m training to be a certified doula (birth, postpartum, and transitioning/death), and most all being a mother and wife.
Why did you decide to come to Northwestern?
When I interviewed with my GHS colleagues, I felt the most social warmth and acceptance even though my interview was via Zoom than I have ever felt in any other interview, in-person or online.
What’s a fun fact that you want to share with the Northwestern community?
I am a great fisherperson but don’t eat fish anymore.