07/19/2022 02:48:47 PMAfter years of working as a research chemist, University of Houston doctoral student Kerry Chávez decided to change careers and study psychology with a focus on addressing health inequities. “It hit home that to do nothing is to remain part of the problem, so I felt motivated to stand up,” said Chávez, who’s pursuing a Ph.D. in counseling psychology in the UH College of Education. Her recent research investigates how social support affects the relationship between childhood trauma and marijuana use among African American young adults. For her work, Chávez earned recognition from the national Association for Psychological Science. She received honorable mention for the 2022 Researching Injustice and Social Equality (RISE) Research Award. “It is a recognition that we are headed in the right direction in looking for ways to be of service in reducing health inequities,” she said.