Riana Howard

Riana Howard is a BUSSW doctoral student with an interest in researching how the incorporation of trauma-informed practices into education systems can improve the mental health of marginalized youth and decrease the trauma caused through the education process. She is also interested in researching school discipline practices amongst students of color, carceral logic, and their connection to the school-to-prison pipeline. She earned her MSW degree from California State University, Monterey Bay in 2015. Since graduating, she has been employed in higher education working with non-traditional students (transfer students, student parents, former foster youth students, and formerly incarcerated students), supporting student equity programs, working with Hispanic Serving Institute (HSI) grants, and the African American Resource and Cultural Center. Her work is rooted in educational equity practices and assisting in breaking down systematic barriers in the educational system.