Ep. 114: Dr. Ijeoma Opara on the Protective Effects of Resiliency in Her Personal Life and Research

Dr. Ijeoma Opara

Ph.D. in Family Science & Human Development, Montclair State University

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In this episode of the Cohort Sistas Podcast we speak with Dr. Ijeoma Opara all about her research, the importance of mentors and why there’s nothing wrong with taking a non-linear path to earning a doctorate. Dr. Opara received her PhD in Family Science and Human Development from Montclair State University. She is the founder of The SASH Lab, namely The Substance Abuse and Sexual Health Lab. She currently works as an assistant professor in the School of Social Welfare at SUNY Stony Brook. This summer she will be transitioning to Yale School of Public Health, where she will serve as an assistant professor of Racism and Health in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

In our conversation Dr. Opara openly reflects on how her Nigerian heritage, the death of her parents as well as her school and upbringing impacted her academic journey. She further expands on how research for her dissertation led her to revelations on the impact of positive self-identity and positive group identity, and how this can serve as a protective barrier to risky behavior. Listeners can expect tips and insights for black women who are interested in being successful in the academic job market. She also shares how she balances the many facets of her work and why having a reliable team is crucial. Tune in today for a deep dive into this extraordinary figure and plenty of practical advice!

Connect with Dr. Ijeoma Opara on Twitter or Instagram, and check out the SASH Lab  to learn more about Dr. Opara's research.

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Key Points From This Episode:

• How Dr. Opara’s research centers on substance use prevention, and HIV prevention.

• An introduction to Dr. Opara’s two lines of research: strength-based approaches and community-based participatory research.

• Dr. Opara speaks about why she focuses on young Black girls and urban youth who are at risk.

• Dr. Opara defines strength-based approaches and why it’s important to her research.

• An introduction to the deficit lens, often used when researching poor health outcomes for Black communities and how Dr. Opara chose to address its limitations.

• Examples of strength-based strategies like social support from family, friends, adult allies, teachers etc. which can be a protective factor for Black youth who may be at risk.

• Why having good mentors and feeling good about your identity can offer enough support to prevent risky behavior.

• The importance of the representation and visibility of Black excellence in all forms of media.

• How Dr. Opara’s Nigerian heritage shaped her identity and influenced her choices.

• Dr. Opara speaks about her difficult childhood and how a lack of academic guidance influenced her academic pursuits.

• How her time at Johns Hopkins University informed Dr. Opara’s understanding of the importance of communities.

• Dr. Opara speaks about her first experiences of subtle racism at the University of Pennsylvania and NYU.

• Hear about how Dr. Opara’s work as a family therapist in New York fueled her drive to address and change issues of systemic racism.

• How sexism, racism, and an internalized view of self, impacts the lives of young Black women and the type of behavior they might engage in.

• Why having two mentors was so beneficial during the first year of her doctorate.

• Dr. Opara speaks about her time at Montclair, the people who supported her and the instances of jealousy she experienced from other students.

• Dr. Opara expands on her dissertation, how she found her niche, and why she chose to focus on Black and Hispanic girls.

• An explanation on how Dr. Opara measured participants' sense of identity in her study using the multi-group ethnic identity measure.

• How her participants’ sense of identity, and how they viewed their peer group had a major connection to substance abuse as well as their overall mental health.

• Dr. Opara shares tips for Black women who are interested in being successful in the academic job market.

• How Dr. Opara maintains a balance between her academic work, independent consulting, running a rigorous research program and keeping up with a reliable online presence.

• The value of Twitter as a platform for academics to disseminate information, reach more people and affect change.

• Why the most difficult part of running a research program is getting together a team that you can trust.

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Hosted by Cohort Sistas founder Dr. Ijeoma Kola, The Cohort Sistas Podcast brings to life the stories, struggles, and successes of Black women with doctoral degrees and their lives beyond the degree. If you are a Black woman interested in joining the Cohort Sistas community, sign up to do so here, and if you are looking for more information on how to support or partner with Cohort Sistas, please visit our partnerships page. Find us on Twitter and Instagram, and don’t forget to follow The Cohort Sistas Podcast, rate the show, and leave us a quick review.