Maya Barnes '26 | 2025-26 Fellow

About:

My name is Maya Barnes, and I am a Communications major with minors in Health and Society and Digital Media, Cultures, and Industries. My career interests are rooted in public health, particularly in addressing health inequities and improving access to quality care for marginalized communities.

As an Ellen Barreto Research Fellow, I conducted a qualitative research project examining the experiences of Black women in the maternal healthcare system across the United States. My findings explored how systemic racism, provider bias, and gaps in communication contribute to disparities in maternal health outcomes and shape Black women’s experiences within healthcare settings.

This fellowship gave me the opportunity to engage in research from the ground up, allowing me to understand the full research process from developing research questions to collecting and analyzing qualitative data. Through this experience, I strengthened my research and critical thinking,  while deepening my commitment to using research as a tool for advocacy and social change within public health.