LaMecia Ward

LaMecia Ward is a Ph.D. student and UC Merced Chancellor’s Excellence Fellow whose research focuses on minority mental health, social determinants of health, and social epidemiology. She earned a B.S. in Food and Nutritional Sciences and an MPH in Health Promotion from California State University, Fresno. Her previous work as a Research Associate in Fresno County involved collaborating with community and leadership organizations to amplify marginalized voices and address health inequities. LaMecia’s research explores how race, social support, and environmental factors influence mental health outcomes among African Americans. She aims to advance health equity through community-engaged research and data-driven policies that improve well-being in underserved Central Valley populations.