Morgan Doctoral Candidate DeJa Love Named RWJF Health Policy Research Scholar

Morgan State University doctoral student DeJa Love is gaining national recognition for her work at the intersection of research, policy and community health. Love, a student in Morgan’s Ph.D. program in Applied Sociology and Social Justice, has been selected as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Health Policy Research Scholar (HPRS)—one of the nation’s most competitive leadership development awards focused on advancing health equity.

The four-year fellowship brings together more than 40 scholars from across the country who are committed to using research and policy to build healthier, more equitable communities. Only three scholars in this year’s cohort represent Historically Black Colleges and Universities, placing Love among a select group of emerging leaders addressing some of the nation’s most pressing public health challenges.

“Being selected as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Research Scholar is a tremendous honor that my work is resonating at a national level,” shared Love. “It affirms that there is space for scholars who are not on a traditional academic path and that lived experience in applied work matters. What many people don’t realize is that this funding is intentionally designed to support the full experience of doctoral students, not just tuition.”

The Health Policy Research Scholars program supports doctoral students from a wide range of disciplines—from sociology and economics to urban planning, engineering and public policy—whose research has the potential to influence systems that shape population health. Through mentorship, leadership training and research support, the program equips scholars with the tools to translate academic inquiry into meaningful policy solutions.

For Love, the opportunity aligns closely with both her research and her commitment to community-centered change. Her scholarship integrates applied sociology, public health and spatial analysis to examine structural factors that influence health outcomes and well-being. The goal, she says, is to develop solutions that move beyond theory and directly support communities facing systemic inequities.

Added Love, “The challenges we are addressing, especially around health inequities, are complex, layered, and deeply rooted in structural systems. They cannot be addressed through a single lens. My work intentionally bridges applied sociology, public health, and spatial analysis because each discipline brings something necessary. “

Beyond her academic work, Love is the founder of The Black Women’s Wellness Agency, a Washington, D.C.–based organization that advances structural approaches to wellness and community health. The organization reflects her belief that research, policy and grassroots engagement must work together to address disparities in health and quality of life.

Serving as the foundation of her research, The Black Women’s Wellness Agency is focused on creating solutions, not just identifying problems according to Love. “Especially in this current climate, where we are seeing significant economic shifts and disproportionate impacts on Black women, this work is urgent. My business keeps me anchored in that urgency and reminds me constantly of my ‘Why’.”

Love’s selection highlights the strength of Morgan’s doctoral training and the University’s longstanding tradition of producing scholar-practitioners dedicated to service and social impact. Her work reflects the institution’s core values—leadership, integrity, innovation, diversity, excellence and respect—while continuing Morgan’s legacy of advancing knowledge that uplifts communities.

As a Health Policy Research Scholar, Love will join a national network of researchers and policy leaders working to ensure that future health policies are more inclusive, equitable and responsive to the needs of diverse communities.

Congratulations to DeJa Love for seamlessly aligning her distinct social awareness and impact with her doctoral pursuit en route to earning RWJF’s highly coveted Health Policy Research Scholar fellowship.