Area of Emphasis: Sociology of Health and Illness

Advisors: J'mag Karbeah & Sarah Gollust

Research Interests:

Maternal Health, Doula Policy, Health Inequities/Equity, Structural Racism, & Colorism; Health Services Research utilizing methodologies that disrupt white supremacy.

Bio:

Kene Orakwue (she/they) is an interdisciplinary health equity scholar, activist, and practitioner. Informed by black feminist theory, reproductive justice, intersectionality theory, and other critical frameworks; she is dedicated to dismantling oppressive systems and strives every day to move closer to this goal. Kene is fascinated by the ways in which our social structures and policies deny or grant access to, and quality of, health for certain populations. She believes health inequities are an intentional product of white supremacy and that maternal-child health metrics can be indicators of population-level health. These perspectives are the launching point of her scholarship. She plans to apply her findings to real-world initiatives to improve the outcomes for Black birthing people. 

Kene's experiences in the workplace, abroad, classroom, and research office collectively contributed to her success thus far and continue to fuel her eagerness to learn. Her personal life experiences continue to motivate her work and her commitment to applying an equity and an anti-racist lens to every problem she comes across. She is committed to striving for equity in the maternal health field and the greater public health sphere.

When she is not in class, Kene enjoys staying active with her German Shepherd and spending time with friends.

Education:

• MS- Health Services Research, Policy & Administration; University of Minnesota Twin Cities; 2025

• MPH - Health Policy & Management; University of Massachusetts Amherst; 2022

• B.S. - Public Health Sciences; University of Massachusetts Amherst; 2021

• Certificate in Reproductive Health, Rights & Justice - University of Massachusetts Amherst; 2021

Professional Activities/ Relevant Work

• Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health, Rho Chapter

• Member of the American Sociological Association (2022-present)

• Member of Academy Health (2022-present)

Get Connected!

orakw005@umn.edu