MICHAELA HOWELLS

Describe your role.

“As an anthropologist, I am interested in understanding the connections between human culture and biology. This is especially important when looking at how pregnant people’s stress impacts their pregnancy outcomes and lives of their children. As the director of the UNCW GAPS (Growth Adaptation Pregnancy Stress) Lab, my students and I conduct research focusing on stress associated with racism, stigma, and natural disasters. I combine my teaching with applied research opportunities for students at the local, national, and international level.”

What’s a future goal?

“In collaboration with my community partners, I am working to address the disparities in pregnancy outcomes among Black individuals compared to non-Blacks. These differences are not caused by underlying biological differences between groups but by differences in exposure to toxic stress, barriers to health care, and other forms of systemic discrimination. We are building a coalition of community partners in New Hanover County to reestablish First Year Cape Fear, a support and information network for pregnant people in the Cape Fear Region.”