Gifty Ayawvi
Doctoral Student Researcher
Gifty Ayawvi (she/her) is a third-year Clinical Psychology PhD student at the University of California, Los Angeles. Her research examines mental health disparities among immigrant-origin and forcibly displaced youth, focusing on racial discrimination, trauma-related outcomes, and structural determinants of well-being. At the Pritzker Center, she works on the Eaton Fire Project and the HOPE Court Project, supporting efforts to understand and strengthen trauma-informed services for youth and families. Gifty’s interest in bridging research and policy is further developed through her fellowship with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Health Policy Research Scholars (HPRS) program. She also mentors underrepresented students pursuing psychology and health policy pathways. Her long-term goal is to advance research, policy, and clinical practices that promote culturally responsive, community-grounded mental health supports for youth and families.