Spring 2021

And the Weatherston Scholarship in Infant Mental Health Goes to . . .

AeYanna Yett, who is working toward her Master's degree in social work with plans to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical-community psychology. AeYanna's work has focused strongly on the community since her undergraduate days at WSU, studying psychology and African American studies. She also has a keen interest in Black feminism and wants to empower Black women and girls to "live the best life that we can, using the traumas that we experience as soil to plant our roots and transform into the beautiful beings that we are created to be," she said. AeYanna is currently president of the Wayne State University Association of Black Social Workers. AeYanna's scholarship provides funds to assist with the additional expenses incurred when pursuing the Dual-Title Degree Program. 

Scholarship supports diversity in infant mental health field

The Deborah J. Weatherston Infant Mental Health Scholarship honors Dr. Weatherston's lifetime of developmental and clinical work, leadership, and mentorship that measurably improved the welfare of infants by expanding and professionalizing Infant Mental Health best practice. Her scholarship supports diversity in the profession of Infant Mental Health by providing financial support to students with financial need who are enrolled in the Dual-Title Degree Program. Donate to the Weatherston Scholarship.

Spotlight on Infant Mental Health Dual-Title Students

For LaShae Brooks, a social work student at WSU enrolled in the Infant Mental Health dual-title program, flexibility was a necessity to achieve a goal that at times seemed unattainable. Balancing life as a wife, mother of three daughters and full-time employee while pursuing her degree was only possible with Social Work's flexible four-year track option. Wayne State was also the only university in Michigan to offer an Infant Mental Health program, which sealed the deal for LaShae to begin her journey, which concludes this May when she completes her graduate degrees. The Dual-title Social Work and Infant Mental Health Program (IMH) helps students gain a thorough understanding of research and clinical work with infants and families. IMH graduates are prepared to become researchers, university faculty or practitioners who work in clinical cross-disciplinary teams with infants and families. 

Read the interview with LaShae.

Meet IMH student Katherine Pfeiffer

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Cheryl Deep manages media relations and publications for the Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute. To interview faculty, pursue a news tip or learn more about what we do, contact her at (313) 664-2607 or cheryldeep@wayne.edu.