Seanna Leath

Seanna Leath is an Assistant Professor in the Department of African and African-American Studies at Washington University in St. Louis, affiliated with the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program. Her research focuses on cultural and ecological factors shaping developmental outcomes for Black youth and young adults, with emphasis on gendered and racialized processes. She directs the Fostering Healthy Identities and Resilience (FHIRe) Collaborative, a lab integrating Black feminist epistemologies to address systemic oppression’s impact on Black women and girls’ health.

Education:

• Ph.D., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• B.A., Pomona College

Research interests include

• Intersectional oppression effects on mental health
• Sociopolitical development in Black college women
• Intraracial dynamics in PWIs
• Racial trauma and community resilience

Methodologically, she employs mixed methods (quantitative surveys, qualitative interviews) to explore identity formation, academic performance, and wellness across the lifespan. Her work emphasizes community partnerships for actionable social change.

Advising & Grants: Mentors undergraduate and graduate students through the FHIRe lab, focusing on collaborative research with community stakeholders. Current initiatives include programming to improve wellbeing for Black women and girls through developmental science frameworks.

Labs/Teams: Leads the FHIRe Collaborative, a multidisciplinary team advancing equity-focused research and interventions in education and psychology.