Robinson’s research highlights mental health in new assistant professor role
By Matthew Smith
The desire to take a holistic approach to health and well-being led Millicent Robinson to social work, but her background in psychology, sociology and public health laid the foundation for her research program.
The three-time University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduate began her new role as an assistant professor with the School of Social Work on July 1.
“I was first introduced to social work during an AP Psychology course during my junior year of high school,” Robinson said. “It sounded interesting; however, I decided to put it on the back burner and continue my pursuit of psychology.”
Robinson earned an undergraduate degree in psychology from Carolina before pursuing two master’s degrees.
While participating in the Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program, Robinson was mentored by UNC School of Nursing’s Cheryl Giscombé on a project that identified factors influencing the use of mental health services for African American women.
“Collectively, my perspectives shifted from thinking about physical and mental health challenges in terms of (being individually) distinct to recognizing the complexity and interconnectedness of them,” Robinson said.
At a scholars’ program meeting, Robinson was introduced to the School of Social Work during a presentation, learning more about the profession.
“I left that session knowing that social work was the field I needed to pursue graduate studies in to better contextualize what I learned from my research study to promote Black women’s health and well-being,” she said.
Research program
That session spurred Robinson to pursue her Master of Public Health from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and her MSW from UNC’s School of Social Work. She earned her doctorate in Community Health Sciences from the University of California, Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, before returning to Carolina as a postdoc.
“It was extremely important for me to get a full view of health from the individual to the community,” Robinson said. “Focusing solely on individual drivers of health and well-being does not consider the overall context that shapes an individual’s health.”
Her well-rounded background has molded her research program and approach to addressing the health and well-being obstacles Black women encounter.
“The health challenges and various forms of systemic injustice that Black women and so many others face are not (one dimensional) and it is important to intentionally address that in research scholarship,” she said.
Robinson’s research addresses four major areas among Black women, including:
- Identifying mental and physical health trends and their interconnectedness;
- Evaluating the role of culturally relevant forms of coping in shaping health patterns;
- Examining the ways sociodemographic and psychosocial factors impact these associations; and
- Developing, implementing and assessing culturally relevant mindfulness interventions to promote mental and physical well-being.
Past research has shown that Black women often participate in forms of high-effort coping — a strategy for handling stress by exerting high levels of effort which can lead to physiological costs. That strategy can be beneficial in the short term, but can cause wear and tear on the body, leading to long-term health issues.
“I am working to better understand if and how culturally relevant mindfulness interventions might be a healthier alternative to high-effort coping for Black women,” she said.
Current work, goals
As Robinson moves into her new role, her research continues thanks to a Research Diversity Supplement award from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.
She’s teaming up with Giscombé and UNC School of Medicine’s Susan Gaylord to assess the acceptability and cultural relevance of an enhanced mindfulness-based stress management program for Black women.
“The overall goal of my study is to clarify if mindfulness is an important first step to introducing other mind-body activities as interventions for Black women,” Robinson said.
No matter where her research takes her, Robinson hopes her work is able to empower others.
“I hope that through my scholarship and collaboration with Black women to center their lived experiences and expertise, I will be able to meaningfully contribute to a body of work and practice that honors the autonomy, agency and humanity of Black women so that we are able to not only survive, but do so in an authentic and empowered way while thriving in all areas of health, well-being and living,” she said.
As classes begin, Robinson is eager to continue her Carolina career.
“It feels exciting and is a powerful experience for me to be back at UNC as an assistant professor,” Robinson said. “I first stepped foot on UNC’s campus as a high school student for a college tour as a rising junior … UNC has been a huge part of my journey and trajectory and the programs I participated in along the way were integral and invaluable to my success. Being back here in my new role feels like a full-circle moment.”
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