New Yale grants support innovative Yale-HBCU research partnerships

Two Yale School of Public Health (YSPH) faculty members in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences – Dr. Ijeoma Opara, PhD, associate professor of public health; and Dr. Trace Kershaw, PhD, department chair and Susan Dwight Bliss Professor of Public Health – are partnering with faculty from two historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) as part of a new research grant program instituted in the spring by Yale University.

The partnerships are funded by grants from the university’s new Alliance for Scholarship, Collaboration, Engagement, Networking and Development (ASCEND) initiative. Established in March 2024, ASCEND supports research collaborations between HBCUs and Yale faculty, provides resources for HBCU faculty research projects, and expands pathway programs for HBCU students, with a commitment to increasing representation and amplifying the significant contributions of HBCUs in shaping the academic landscape.

Over the next five years, the university will commit $10 million, $2 million per year, to the program. The YSPH-HBCU partnerships are among 10 ASCEND grants awarded by the university this year.

The Yale-HBCU partnerships funded through the ASCEND initiative are structured so that both sides are considered equals in their endeavors. And that distinction is important, Opara said.

“Too often, as I learned while visiting other HBCUs, some faculty feel that their relationships with PWIs [predominantly white institutions] are extractive,” Opara said. “I want to ensure that as we partner with an HBCU, they feel like valuable and equal partners in the work.”

A team of Yale University scholars traveled to North Carolina A&T in January to give a talk and discuss potential collaborations between faculty. Opara, along with Dr. Mayur Desai, PhD ’97, MPH ’94, professor of epidemiology (chronic diseases) and associate dean for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at YSPH; and Dr. Lakia M. Scott, PhD, assistant provost for faculty development & diversity at Yale, shared their work during this visit.

One of the ASCEND grants will fund a study entitled “Intersectional Analysis of Sexual Risk Behaviors among LGBTQ Students: HBCUs vs PWIs and Implications for STIs/HIV Intervention.” The research is a collaboration between Kershaw and Dr. Zahra Fazli Khalaf, PhD, assistant professor of psychology at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, a public, historically Black, land grant research university.

Kershaw said that the study is being undertaken in response to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting that sexual risk behaviors have escalated among the emerging adult age group. This rise has contributed to over half of the new sexually transmitted illnesses and nearly 20% of new HIV cases.

“This situation disproportionately affects minorities and marginalized populations, with Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx communities facing the highest risk,” he said. “Notably, 80% of HIV-positive cases in this age group fall within the 20-24 age range, and 81% of these cases were young gay and bisexual men, with projections showing the highest risks (50%) among Black men who have sex with men (MSM). Given that around 40% of individuals aged 18-24 are university students, STIs/HIV remain significant health concerns in these settings.”

Kershaw also said that risk factors may vary between PWIs and HBCUs due to differences in campus climate, student demographics, and social and environmental influences. “This proposal aims to develop and test innovative methods that accurately capture the complexity of the social and environmental context. We propose to address critical gaps in the existing literature,” he said.

Fazli Khalaf was made aware of the grant by a colleague early this year and contacted Kershaw, as she saw that YSPH’s SBS program aligned with her research interests in health disparities and equity.

“My focus stems from a deep concern for the health disparities that disproportionately affect marginalized communities,” she said. “This research is vital because it seeks to uncover the nuanced factors – social, environmental, and institutional – that contribute to these disparities. By understanding these complexities, we can develop more effective, targeted interventions to reduce risks and improve health outcomes for LGBTQ students, ultimately contributing to greater health equity.”

The Yale ASCEND grant, Fazli Khalaf, said, is crucial for advancing her research.

“Specifically, it enables us to explore and address the unique challenges faced by students at HBCUs, who may experience different social and structural pressures compared to their peers at PWIs,” she said. “For HBCUs, this grant represents a significant opportunity to contribute to the broader discourse on health equity by highlighting the experiences and needs of their student populations.”

“The findings from this research,” she added, “could inform campus policies and health programs, not only enhancing the well-being of students, but also positioning HBCUs as leaders in addressing public health issues within marginalized communities. This grant, therefore, has the potential to make a meaningful impact both academically and within the communities served by HBCUs.”

The other ASCEND grant is funding a joint effort between YSPH and Tuskegee University. Opara, director of YSPH’s Substances and Sexual Health (SASH) Lab, is collaborating with Dr. Lynn Benson, PhD, assistant professor of psychology at Tuskegee.

The two researchers are using the Yale funding to develop a program called, “EmpowHERed: Advancing Black Girls Voices and Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health in Alabama.” It was conceptualized and is being led by Opara’s postdoctoral research fellow, Dr. Jaleah Rutledge, PhD, who earned her BS in psychology and BA in communications at Tuskegee.

Once Opara learned about the ASCEND program, she thought Rutledge, who is funded through the CIRA Yale AIDS Prevention Training Program, would be ideal for the grant. Besides being a Tuskegee alumna, she – like Opara, who does extensive community work in her native New Jersey – has long expressed an interest in learning to conduct community-engaged research, in her home state of Alabama.

“My goal has always been to lead the next generation of strengths-based prevention researchers. The ASCEND grant is one of the ways that it is making this goal possible,” Opara said. “I know the feeling of being able to work in my home state and to use my lived experience to tackle tough issues, strengthen resources and use research to empower Black girls and women. I’m glad that we will be doing the same in Jaleah’s hometown” Opara said.

“Last fall, I came across a few news stories about maternity wards across the state [Alabama] closing, which would make some women have to drive upwards of 100 miles to get to a labor and delivery unit,” Rutledge said. “After reading this, coupled with my knowledge around HIV and Black women, particularly in the South, I expressed interest to my mentors in pursuing work in Alabama that would equip and empower Black women with the skills needed to advocate for their sexual and reproductive rights.”

Benson was born in the Black Belt region of Alabama – Macon County, where Tuskegee is located, and where she has lived for many years – and has a passion for studying HIV/AIDS, particularly as it pertains to Black women in the South. Rutledge approached her about her project, and the proposal developed from there.

Benson’s involvement entails conducting a needs assessment in Black Belt counties. She helped pave the way for the project through her existing ties with local communities.

Benson said she is encouraged by the YSPH-Tuskegee partnership. Thanks to the ASCEND grant, she said, “Our students will have the opportunity to gain research experience, internships, as well as be actively involved in community service. Additionally, our students’ educational experience will be further enhanced by the exposure to careers in public health, medicine, and related fields.”

She added, “This grant encourages collaboration between HBCUs and other institutions. Research and programs funded by grants benefit communities served by HBCUs and strengthen ties between the institution and community residents. Grant funding permits HBCUs to study the unique health challenges faced by Blacks.”