People
Zhamira Amaison
Zhamira Amaison (she/her/ella) is an MA student in the ÐÜèAVÃâ·Ñ's Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department. Her undergraduate degree in both Psychology and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies helped guide her research focus to center methods of resistance in the perceived accessibility of, and resulting interactions when accessing behavioral healthcare for the undocumented and second-generation dependent Latina/e/o/x immigrant community. She is dedicated to further examining the impact and personal understanding of anti-immigrant, xenophobic discourse in the context of mental health, as well as how the community fosters resilience through these lived experiences.
Zhamira's academic research, volunteering work, and laboratory experience have focused on working alongside communities living in the margins; not only questioning the systemic barriers preventing underserved communities from receiving necessary assistance and support during crisis, but also how these communities navigate these challenges through acts of resistance. She has had the opportunity to help and learn alongside queer youth experiencing mental health crisis through a nationwide helpline, assist with harm reduction efforts in the Tampa Bay Region for community members struggling with substance use, and providing emotional support for elders recently diagnosed with chronic illnesses.
After the completion of her MA, Zhamira plans to continue researching healthcare disparities in hopes of fostering equitable access to medical and mental health services for underserved communities facing stressors related to deportation.