Monica Desjardins

Monica is a member of the Navajo Nation, she belongs to the One-Walks-Around Clan, born to the Haitian People, and is from Chandler, Arizona. She is a 2020 Udall Scholar, and a David M. Rubenstein Scholar studying Psychology and Global Health. Monica's current interests lie in mental health disparities among Native American communities. She aims to improve the effectiveness and accessibility of mental health services by researching the intersection between race and health, then ultimately becoming a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. At Duke, Monica is a research assistant in the Identity and Diversity Lab, a lab that explores the diverse experiences of monoracial and multiracial individuals that may affect social behaviors, perceptions, and expectations of others. Additionally, She assists the Evidence Lab with the KUPAA project, where a culturally tailored model of Family Psychoeducation for adults with psychotic disorders and their families in Tanzania is being developed and tested. Her thesis focuses on the social stigma associated with psychosis and the lack of education of psychosis among the caretakers and family members of those affected. In her free time, Monica loves to go hiking or trailing running, especially at home in Arizona if the weather permits it. Additionally, the gym is a like a second home to her as she loves to weightlift.