Provost Diversity Fellow: Leesh Menard

Headshot of Leesh Menard

Leesh Menard, PhD candidate

Department and School
School of Social Work

Bio
Leesh Menard is a joint MSW/PhD student on the policy track at the School of Social Work. Leesh received their B.A. from Vassar College in Psychology and Sociology; Leesh is interested in discrimination, health and mental health disparities, and health and mental health care access for those who are transgender, non-binary and gender expansive. Leesh hopes to add to the paucity of literature on the current state, realities and needs of this population, as well as examine within group differences, specially between binary trans and non-binary trans individuals. Looking forward, Leesh aims to inform the decisions of policymakers and institutional stakeholders to eliminate disparities and increase access to care and resources, such as gender affirming care, for transgender, non-binary and gender expansive people. 

Advisor
Heidi Allen, Associate Dean for Research; Associate Professor of Social Work

Favorite self-care ritual
Running and relaxing with their cat, Dovewing

Recommended book
The Salt Eaters by Toni Cade Bambara

To learn more about Leesh Menard, please follow them on Twitter, connect via LinkedIn or email them directly.