Meet Our Interns!

Jordyn Brown, PhD, MPH

Jordyn recently completed her doctoral studies in cancer epidemiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her work focuses on cancer survivorship, patient-reported outcomes, and the social factors that shape healthcare access and quality of life among female cancer survivors. Throughout her training, she collaborated with interdisciplinary research teams, patient advocates, and community partners to translate research findings into accessible resources and equity-focused initiatives. Jordyn is especially interested in centering patient voices and using research to support more compassionate, inclusive, and responsive healthcare systems.

Jonya Smith is a Master of Social Work candidate at Louisiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology with minor in Psychology from Xavier University of Louisiana. She is passionate about mental health, healthcare equity, and community empowerment, with a special interest in childhood trauma and mothers’ mental health. Currently, she works in environmental justice and community outreach across Louisiana, where she supports education, advocacy, and community-based initiatives. Jonya is interested in using research, advocacy, and storytelling to help create more accessible and supportive healthcare and social service systems for underserved communities.