AeYanna Yett
Biography
AeYanna Yett is a first-year Ph.D. student at the School of Social Work. With her background as a community-focused social worker, her experience consists of intervening with Black women who have experienced sexual assault in the City of Detroit and informing organizational policy and approaches on issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. Within her goals to become a teacher and scholar-activist, AeYanna is committed to advancing social justice efforts toward engendering an anti-rape culture. Grounded in Black feminist and intersectional lenses, she strives to contribute not only to the academic discourse but also to the development of practical, culturally specific preventions and interventions that address the holistic needs of Black women in their journey toward healing and empowerment.
Responsibilities
As a graduate research assistant, AeYanna serves as the Research Support Lab Coordinator at the Center for Social Work Research. Within this role, she provides supervision and support for student research assistants, including project coordination and training research assistants on research-related tasks. AeYanna also provides direct research support including interviewing, focus group moderation, data analysis, and data reporting.
Degrees and Certifications
- MSW-IMH, Wayne State University
- BS, Wayne State University
- Human Services Management Certificate, Wayne State University
Research Interests
AeYanna is passionately studying the intersection of socialization, sexuality, and wellbeing, with a particular interest in Black women’s experiences. Through her research pursuits to examine society’s definition of well-being, her research interests lie in exploring the unique intersectionality of Black women’s experiences with sexuality, including aspects of socialization, trauma, healing, health, and pleasure. She aims to focus her graduate studies on shedding light on the intricate dynamics of the specific socialization experiences of Black women regarding sex and how they shape psychological well-being, especially in response to and with the goal of disrupting sexual assault.