Jenika Scott is a PhD student in Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis (Brown School), where her research centers on culturally adaptive evaluation, social development, and holistic wellness within the African and Afro-Caribbean diaspora. Her work examines how social determinants of health, chronic racialized and gendered stress, and cultural displacement shape wellbeing — while identifying protective mechanisms through asset-building, capability development, and the Community Capitals Framework.
Jenika holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan and professional certificates in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Dismantling Oppression; Political Social Work; and Trauma-Informed Practices. She is an applied sociologist and macro-focused social worker committed to participatory, Afrocentric, and context-specific approaches to evaluation, intervention, and policy design.
In addition to her research, Jenika is an Adjunct Professor of Sociology at Essex County College, where she teaches introductory sociology and social problems courses. Her pedagogy bridges theory and praxis, integrating participatory methods, culturally grounded inquiry, and real-world application to help students critically engage issues of race, inequality, policy, and social change. She incorporates AI-assisted learning tools, reflective assessments, and community-centered frameworks to move students beyond memorization toward transformative understanding.
Jenika also served as Scholar-in-Residence at the Africana Institute at Essex County College, where she focused on integrating Africana studies, sociology, and evaluation methodology. In this role, she developed workshops and curriculum exploring Afrocentric epistemologies, culturally adaptive research methods, and community-based intervention frameworks. Her residency emphasized knowledge production rooted in the African diaspora and contributed to the development of innovative academic programming and community-engaged scholarship.
Her scholarship bridges research, policy, and practice. Jenika has co-authored peer-reviewed publications and policy proposals addressing immigrant justice, participatory programming, and culturally responsive interventions. She has presented nationally and internationally, including at MITESOL, and facilitated Know Your Rights trainings developed in partnership with Congolese refugee communities in Michigan.
Internationally, Jenika has conducted community-based research and program evaluation in India, where she led a multi-method needs assessment with Irular tribal communities and authored a manifesto advocating for young urban women at Action Aid Association in Tamil Nadu. She delivered guest lectures at Madras Christian College and Madras Christian Community College on global social work, equity, and community development.
Across all of her roles — researcher, educator, evaluator, and community partner — Jenika’s work is grounded in a central mission: to co-create equitable, culturally grounded systems that promote holistic wellness, dignity, and sustainable development for women, youth, and families across the African diaspora and beyond.
