Veronica Hanna-Walker will complete her Ph.D. in Summer 2024. She enrolled in the HDFS program in 2020 to work with Dr. Eva Lefkowitz on research about sexual identity development and the health and health-related outcomes of sexual and gender diverse (SGD) youth and young adults. During graduate school, Veronica worked on several research projects, including a longitudinal project examining SGD college students’ health and well-being during academic breaks with Dr. Lefkowitz.

Veronica successfully defended her dissertation in May. In her dissertation, she used qualitative and quantitative methods to understand the role of religion in SGD youth’s and young adults’ lives. Findings included a better understanding of SGD youth’s experiences of religious parents’ reactions to their diverse sexual orientations and gender identities along with narratives from SGD young adults’ experiences in religions that are disaffirming of sexual and gender diversity.

Veronica recently accepted a position as a research associate at UConn’s School of Social Work. She intends to continue pursuing applied research. Outside of work, Veronica can be found hiking, reading, walking, or working out.

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