Amaya Parks (she/her) is a first-year Sociology Ph.D. student at Washington University–St. Louis. She is a proud native of Atlanta, Georgia, and alumna of Spelman College. Since graduating, she has worked as the Programs Assistant for the UNCF/Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship, supporting undergraduate research, student mentorship, and faculty-led research projects.

Amaya’s research interests lie at the intersection of race, gender, and social stratification. As an undergraduate, she conducted research on the relationship between hair styling choices and social mobility among African American women—work she is eager to continue and expand in graduate school.

Amaya is excited to be a part of the department’s intellectual community. She looks forward to learning from faculty and peers while pursuing her long-term goal of becoming a professor and published scholar.