Dr. Devin A. Heyward
Devin A. Heyward, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) is a Black cis-gender woman who has lived in the Soundview section of the Bronx on and off for the last 16 years. She spent most of her formative years in New Rochelle, NY. Devin has worked at Lehman College as an adjunct instructor in Psychology, as well as the program coordinator for the CUNY Institute for Health Equity (CIHE). Currently, Devin is an Assistant Professor of Sociology, Urban Studies, and Anthropology, the Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and the Director of the Gender and Sexuality Studies program at Saint Peter’s University in Jersey City.
As a patient, Devin is a carrier for Sickle Cell Anemia. Devin first became involved with the CRRB as a CERA facilitator. At the conclusion of CERA 2018, she joined as a member and was eventually elected to the Board of Directors. She hopes that through the work and guidance of the CRRB, researchers will create projects that centers and respects the agency and needs of Bronx residents. Additionally, Devin hopes that ethics are expanded to include cultural and historical understandings of our communities. Her research analyzes how racial identity changes over the lifespan and how it is influenced by self-initiated encounter events, in particular genetic ancestry testing. Prior to joining Saint Peter’s University, Devin taught several courses at The City College of New York, Lehman College, The Fashion Institute of Technology (SUNY), and SUNY Empire State College. She can be contacted at the following email address: [email protected] (website forthcoming)