The PIE Fund is helping Marisa Nelson tackle disparities through her research on gender, housing, and socioeconomic impacts on health.
Marisa Nelson (she/her) is a health psychology MA student working with Dr. Frances Chen in the Social Health Lab. Marisa explores the social determinants of health, with a focus on gender and housing. She received an Entrance Enhancement Award through the Psychology Inclusive Excellence (PIE) Fund to support her research.
Growing up, Marisa saw how factors like income, housing, and gender shape people’s health, lives, and opportunities—and now she is committed to understanding why. The PIE Fund empowers her to dedicate more time to this critical research, bridging gaps in health equity.
“Awards like the PIE Fund provide important opportunities for equity-deserving groups in psychology. The field of psychology benefits greatly from the inclusion of diverse voices. ”
Established by psychology faculty, the PIE Fund supports undergraduate and graduate students from historically marginalized and equity-deserving communities by providing paid research positions in psychology labs. Entrance Enhancement Awards help recruit outstanding graduate students from diverse backgrounds, paving the way for inclusive excellence in psychology.
In a Q&A, Marisa discusses the importance of diversity in psychology and shares how the PIE Fund has propelled her research career.
How has receiving the Entrance Enhancement Award impacted your research career?
Receiving the PIE fund has helped support my research endeavours by alleviating financial pressures and creating space for me to dedicate more time and energy into my research. Graduate school can be demanding, so having this support has contributed to my ability to continue pursuing research addressing issues that impact equity-deserving groups.
How do awards like the Psychology Inclusive Excellence Fund help increase diversity and inclusion in the field of psychology?
Many students do not have the means to pursue research activities. Awards like the PIE Fund provide important opportunities for equity-deserving groups in psychology. The field of psychology benefits greatly from the inclusion of diverse voices.
What are your research interests and what led you to pursue this research?
My research interests are diverse, but they all center around the social determinants of health. In particular, I am interested in the ways that gender, housing, and socioeconomic status affect our health. Growing up in a low-income, single-parent household, I have seen firsthand how the social determinants of health shape our lives and opportunities. I am immensely grateful that I am positioned to pursue research that addresses these disparities, though I realize that this work requires collective effort. I remain inspired by my peers and mentors who contribute to addressing the health and well-being of our communities.
Your support helps students like Marisa, who are advancing health equity for a just world.
