FSOS graduate student awarded NCFR dissertation award

Doneila McIntosh, Family Social Science doctoral candidate, has been awarded the John L. and Harriette P. McAdoo Dissertation Award from the National Council on Family Relations' Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Families section.  

In its notification letter, Denzel Jones, an assistant professor at Antioch University and chair of the award committee, noted, "The committee was impressed by your application and what you have been able to accomplish in your career thus far. They also found your dissertation topic and long-term goals and innovation efforts to be an asset as your work continues to address underserved family and community needs and moves the field away from a deficit-oriented perspective. It is clear that you will continue to have a positive impact on the field and the communities that you serve."  

As part of her award, McIntosh will present a talk at the NCFR 2025 conference based on her doctoral dissertation, "Navigating Loss: The Impact of Bereavement on African American Youth and Families."  

In her dissertation abstract, McIntosh wrote, "The death of a loved one is a highly distressing life event for youth. Before the age of 10, African American children are four times more likely than their White peers to suffer the traumatic loss of a loved one. Despite the prevalence of premature loss in Black communities, there remains a substantial gap in literature addressing the repercussions of traumatic grief within African American families. This study will examine psychologic distress and identify factors influencing both vulnerability and resilience among African American youth and families. This project will involve two distinct quantitative studies, each utilizing its own corresponding dataset."  

About the John L. and Harriette P. McAdoo Dissertation Award  

As eminent scholars and educators, Drs. John L. and Harriette P. McAdoo made significant contributions to the scholarship on ethnic minority families, especially regarding understanding of African Americans' familial experiences. The purpose of this award is to provide support for the completion of an approved doctoral dissertation with a focus on issues impacting ethnic minority families.