RRT 2022 Cohort

Dennis W. Boyd Jr., MSW is a first-year Ph.D student from Flushing, Queens, New York City. Before attending the Brown School, Dennis worked as a consultant with the New York City Department of Education with public schools, charters schools, and youth organizations. He designed supplemental programs to enhance school culture, and improve social and educational outcomes for Black and Latino males. In 2014, Dennis launched Mothers With Son's seminars for African American and Latino moms with teenage sons. Dennis’ research interest is in the Black family with a focus on the mother-son relationship. His other interest includes adolescent development, k-12 public education, and juvenile justice.

Jerell DeCaille is a second year Public Health Studies doctoral student in the College for Public Health and Social Justice at Saint Louis University. Jerell’s research interest looks to explore how masculine norms and race impacts coping behaviors among Black men and boys. Additionally, he is interested in sexual health communication and the role fathers and male mentors play in communicating with adolescent sons about sexual health and sexual risk behaviors.

Samantha Francois, PhD is an Assistant Professor in Tulane University’s School of Social Work. Dr. Francois is also an executive director of Tulane University’s Violence Prevention Institute and co-director of the Center for Youth Equity, a CDC Center of Excellence in Youth Violence Prevention. Her research uses systems perspectives and critical race theory to understand the intersections of individual, community, and structural factors that impact development in Black and African American youth. She also explores youth-led activism and organizing as community and structural violence prevention strategies. Dr. Francois is a mixed methods researcher who uses community-based, participatory, and action research frameworks. She designs and executes research through an anti-racist and intersectional lens aimed at social transformation and community liberation. Dr. Francois has a doctorate in psychological sciences, concentrated in developmental psychology, from Tulane University.