Randl Dent PhD Candidate in Health Psychology

Randl Dent is a current PhD candidate in the Health Psychology Doctoral Program at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). She completed her bachelor's degree in psychology from Washington and Lee in 2015. In August 2015, Randl joined the VCU health psychology doctoral program. In December 2017, she earned her Master of Science Degree in Psychology. She is expected to graduate with distinction with a PhD in Health Psychology in May 2020. Her research interests are primarily focused on discrimination, the physical and mental health of African Americans, healthcare utilization and the mechanisms by which racial health disparities are created and maintained, with a particular focus on Black emerging adults (aged 18-29). Additionally, Randl was selected for the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) in 2017 to investigate the help-seeking behaviors of Black undergraduate students, a topic inspired by her time at W&L. Randl received additional funding from the NSF to fund herself to complete an internship at the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. During Summer 2019, she was awarded a fellowship at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Her long-term career goal is to translate current research into policy to create a healthcare system that promotes health equity and improves the health of African Americans. Randl frequently returns to W&L to speak on panels and meet with current students. She encourages students to reach out to her with any questions regarding the NSF GRFP, graduate school, and health-related careers.