Class of 2026: Amaria Ford connects biology, psychology and youth development

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It might not be the typical spot for a biology major, but Amaria Ford has made a mark in the lab - the Empower Youth Lab, where she explores how race, ethnicity and youth development overlap.

"Working in a psychology lab as a biology major has been wonderful," said Ford, a senior who graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University this spring. "I really enjoy being able to get these experiences of researching from both a psychology and biology perspective."

Empower is led by Chelsea Williams, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Psychology in the College of Humanities and Sciences. Ford, who also is minoring in Spanish, was drawn to its work with Black, Latino and multiracial children and their mental health.

"Growing up, I always felt different than others, as I was one of five Black kids in my grade. That's not something I would wish on anyone," the Roanoke native said. "When I'm working on research, I talk to kids of color about how they are feeling and fitting in. We are teaching them the concept: You are important as a child of color. You are special."

As an undergraduate, Ford has participated in two prominent studies through the lab.

In the STAR Kids and Families project - shorthand for Supporting Thriving, Ambitious and Resilient parties - Ford helped interview children ages 5 to 11, and their caregivers, who identify as Black/African American or Hispanic/Latino.

"This study was the first time I was exposed to research," Ford said. "It meant the world to me to be able to interview young children who look like me and to hear their thoughts on their ethnic-racial identity, as well as other factors that contribute to their positive development."

In the PLAY project - Playing to Learn About You -- Ford helped interview children ages 3 to 7 with their caregivers.

"We were able to give super-young children a way to speak about their own experiences, from discrimination to how they feel about school," she said. "These studies add to research that supports children and families at younger ages."

Those lab experiences propelled Ford's participation in VCU's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program in the summers of 2024 and 2025.

For her first UROP summer, Ford's research focused on how parents' thoughts and feeling about their ethnic-racial identity can influence their child's cultural feelings. In addition to presenting her work at VCU's undergraduate poster symposium, she went to Pittsburgh to present it at ABRCMS - the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists.

"Being able to travel to a different state to present my very own research to others was such a surreal experience," she said.

In her second UROP summer, Ford's paper highlighted protective factors that could block the transmission of maternal depression from Black mothers to their children. This April, Ford is presenting at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Richmond, and she also will travel to Toronto for the Society for Research on Adolescence conference, where she will present a separate paper on how the mental health of Black families can be better supported.

Williams, the Empower Youth Lab director who has been mentoring Ford for almost three years, emphasized how her protégé's UROP achievements are impressive and rare.

"This is usually not a program that students participate in once, let alone twice - it is competitive and requires additional summer work, but Amaria is quite noteworthy," Williams said. "Since she began in the lab, she has consistently demonstrated outstanding dedication, initiative and excellence. She excels at every task she does."

Williams even invited Ford to become part of the lab leadership team, which consists primarily of Ph.D. students and postdocs.

"Amaria is the only undergraduate student who is part of leadership. She not only effectively leads her working team, but she mentors across the more than 30 undergraduate students in our lab anytime anyone needs help," Williams said.

Among her accomplishments from the lab, Ford has contributed to two publications, beyond her poster presentations, that explore Black, Latino and multiracial children and their mental health.

"Ever since high school, I have always wanted to help communities of color in any ways that I could," she said. "These publications have certainly been huge steps in that journey of supporting my community."

In addition to her research, Ford is passionate about service. She has served as vice president of the Diabetes Link chapter at VCU, which aims to help others with diabetes or who want to support diabetic loved ones through community building and volunteering.

"As someone with Type 1 diabetes, it can feel very scary and isolating to live with something that not a lot of people know much about," Ford said.

As her undergraduate experience winds down, Ford recalls how she fell in love with VCU during her first tour - and how it propelled her impressive journey on campus.

"It was so diverse. Everyone was so different," she said. "I had grown up in Roanoke, and there wasn't a lot of diversity. I decided immediately, this is where I want to be."

After she graduates, Ford plans to take a gap year or two to work in a molecular biology lab before applying to graduate school or starting an M.D.-Ph.D. program.

"I'm still figuring it out, but I will definitely be continuing in research," she said.