Lore Cohort
2024-2025
The Georgetown - Howard Center for Medical Humanities and Health Justice (MHHJ) is proud to introduce the recipients of the inaugural fellowships for the 2024-2025 academic year, themed "Lore." These distinguished scholars were selected for their exceptional interdisciplinary research at the intersection of the humanities and health justice.

Faculty Fellow
Anita Gonalez, PhD
Professor of Black Studies and Performing Arts at Georgetown University
Anita is a Professor of Black Studies and Performing Arts at Georgetown University, uses storytelling as a methodology for cultural exchange. She is a prolific director and writer for the stage and a Founding Director of Georgetown University’s Racial Justice Institute... read more
Project Title: Black Foodways and Cultural Resiliency
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Faculty Fellow
Lynn McKinley-Grant, PhD
Associate Professor of Dermatology at Howard University College of Medicine
Lynn, an Associate Professor of Dermatology at Howard University College of Medicine. Prior to joining Howard University, she was Vice Chair for Diversity and Community Engagement in Dermatology at Duke University, an Associate Professor of Dermatology at Georgetown University School of Medicine, and a Fellow at the National Institutes of Health... read more
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Project Title: Hidden Figure in Healthcare & Health Lore​​

Faculty Fellow
Monica Ponder, PhD
​Assistant Professor Health Communication & Culture at Howard University
Project Title: Expanding the Henrietta Hypothesis: Identification of a Culturally Responsive Public Health Crisis Communication Approach to Improve Women's Health in Washington, DC
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Postdoc Fellow
Amy E. Alterman-Paradiso, PhD
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Amy is a feminist ethnographer engaged in critical interdisciplinary research at the intersection of performance and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Her work integrates methods from performance studies, (medical) anthropology, gender studies, and public health to examine inequities in reproductive health and identify strategies for change... read more
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Project Title: Vibrant Threads: Weaving LGBTQ Experiences into Abortion Stories

Postdoc Fellow
Lena Maria Lorenz, PhD
Originally from Germany, Lena had the privilege of a classical education and parents who modeled compassion for those at the fringes of society. Coupled with a deep longing to help people experience healing and flourishing, she gained her first degrees from Leipzig University and found herself in special needs education working with vulnerable, less fortunate children and youth. Lena then had the opportunity... read more
Project Title: Rituals of Remembrance: Narratives of Hope​​
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Graduate Fellow
Carmen Ross
Carmen is currently pursuing dual Master's degrees in Social Work (MSW) and Business Administration (MBA) at Howard University, Carmen's concentration is in Community, Administration, and Policy, and her research is focused on community centered philanthropy. Previously, Carmen served as the Program Director of the California Black Freedom Fund... read more
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Project Title: Reclaiming Health Narratives: Community-Centered Philanthropy
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Graduate Fellow
Julien Spurling
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Julien Spurling is a doctoral student in the Philosophy Department at Georgetown University. He researches bioethics, public health policy and social epistemology with a focus on the ongoing overdose crisis.
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Project Title: Theorizing the Overdose Crises
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Community Advocate
Geneva Greene
Geneva Greene recently completed her doctoral studies in Communication, Culture and Media Studies at Howard University. Geneva engages in scholarly research with an emphasis on transnational and dance communications. She leverages her research to advocate for cultural policies and equitable practices supporting marginalized groups... read more
Project Title: African Diaspora Dance Communication: Elevating and Bridging Community