Student Spotlight: Makenna Lindsay

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Meet Makenna Lindsay

Makenna Lindsay is a first-year doctoral student in the Department of Health, Behavior and Society at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her research focuses on reproductive justice, sexual health, and wellness for marginalized and underrepresented communities. At the Bloomberg School, Makenna examines Black American women’s susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), exploring the sociocultural factors that contribute to this risk.

What sparked your interest in public health?

I studied sociology as an undergrad and all of my study interests revolved around reproductive justice, especially Black women’s sexual, reproductive, and maternal health. My undergraduate thesis focused on HIV-positive, pregnant Black women and their battle for bodily autonomy. Throughout my research, I came to a frustrating realization: Black women, as a historically marginalized group, are rarely at the forefront of conversations about health, yet we’re constantly labeled as “victims” of significant health disparities. That never sat well with me and I knew I had to pivot.  

While pursuing my master’s degree in sociology research and practice, I remained committed to studying sexual health but found myself wanting to sink my teeth into more than theory. I love sociology for its focus on social causes, but I needed to shift toward solutions. It became clear to me that it was time to transition to a public health curriculum and redirect my attention from identifying the issue to resolving it.  

What led you to join the Department of Health, Behavior and Society? 

I wasn’t quite ready to part with my sociologist brain, and HBS was the only department at the Bloomberg School that explicitly acknowledged the role of social conditions and context in health behaviors, public health practice, and policy. I appreciate the interdisciplinary focus of the department and very much enjoy engaging with faculty and students with diverse academic and professional backgrounds. 

What’s an academic highlight you've experienced during your time as an HBS student?

Though I’m still early in my program, I’m excited about how closely my academic and research interests align with my adviser and I’s research team at the Gender Health Equity Lab (GHEL). With GHEL I’m currently working on two manuscripts about sexual and reproductive coercion and conducting interviews with Black women in rural Texas about increasing HIV/STI home testing and care. 

Beyond the lab, I’ve had the chance to connect with scholars both within and outside of the Bloomberg School whose work not only aligns with my own, but also expands my perspective on how my degree can be applied beyond academia while still advancing health equity and justice. To know that there is still work to do and more than one way to do it is what keeps me going.

What’s a research highlight you’ve experienced during your time as an HBS student? 

In one of my graduate seminars, I was introduced to Paulo Freire’s concept of critical consciousness, a theory that encourages individuals and communities to recognize systems of oppression in which they live and take action to transform their reality. I reimagined Black women’s sexual health through this lens, using critical consciousness as a tool that can empower them to reclaim their sexual agency. 

Before entering this program, I made a promise to myself that the training I receive would pour directly back into my community. Every step of this journey—pursuing my degree, shaping my research interests, and writing my dissertation—is grounded with Black women’s liberation in mind. I see critical consciousness as the vehicle to move us towards intersectional sex education, accessible sexual health resources, and to true bodily autonomy. I’m grateful to have engaged with this framework early in my training, allowing me to integrate it into my research and dissertation moving forward.

Outside of public health, what are some of your hobbies, interests, and personal passions? 

I pretend I’m an acrobat in my free time—I’ve been practicing pole fitness for nearly four years and enjoy taking classes in dance, aerial/acro yoga, and Pilates. I also love to travel, take long walks by the beach, and mother my daughter, a feisty cat named Sade Aaliyah (after two of my all-time favorite singers). 

What are some of your favorite places in Baltimore? 

I love Cuples Tea House, a Black-owned tea experience here in the city. I also love being anywhere near the water, be it a walk along the Patapsco River or a boat ride around Port Covington Marina.    

What advice do you have for prospective students interested in joining the HBS community? 

HBS is interdisciplinary on purpose. Whatever you bring to the table academically, culturally, professionally, intellectually, is useful in some way. Even though you’re pursuing a public health degree, there are enough subdisciplines explored in the Department’s curriculum that allow for nuanced approaches to public health research and practice. Bring all of who you are to class!

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.