PhD Student
Louisiana State University
Destiny Jelks is a first-generation college graduate from Indianapolis, Indiana. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from Spelman College in 2020 and her master's degree in child and family studies from Louisiana State University in 2023. Destiny has always had a passion for working with and improving the lives of children. During her time at Spelman she served as a mentor to elementary school girls as a member of the Sister Keeping it Real Through Service Inc. While pursuing her master's degree, Destiny worked as a registered behavior technician, providing applied behavior analysis therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder. Destiny's interest in research was sparked during her 2019 study abroad trip where she conducted her own observational study of the Caribbean green monkeys at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve. As a master's student Destiny's passion for research continued to thrive. Her master's thesis examined how racial trauma, specifically that experienced in instances of medical racism, can be passed down intergenerationally in Black families. Currently, Destiny pursuing her PhD at Louisiana State University in social work. Her research still focuses on phenomena that impact Black children and families. It is Destiny's aspiration to continue to contribute to the knowledge of these phenomena and how they impact Black children and families, as well as have her research be a catalyst for change.
Disclosure information not submitted.