India McCray is a first-year graduate student in the Adult Track of the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program at the University of Miami. She works under the mentorship of Dr. Simon Howard, a social psychologist leading the Psychology of Racism, Identity, Diversity, and Equity (PRIDE) Lab, and Dr. Sannisha Dale, a health psychologist leading The Strengthening Health with Innovation and Engagement (SHINE) Lab. Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, India received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Louisville. Her research interests include the behavioral and cognitive effects of systemic racial factors on marginalized communities, with a particular focus on mental health, substance use, and quality of life among individuals in underserved populations. She is also interested in understanding how systemic racism, socioeconomic and health disparities, and historical trauma shape perceptions of both personal and collective well-being. India strives to produce research that identifies systemic risk factors to contribute to interventions aimed to improve quality of life and achievement for underserved communities, supporting the well-being of minority populations in a nuanced and culturally responsive manner.

With the support of the Center of Global Black Studies (CGBS) Summer Research Grant, India will conduct a cross-sectional study aimed at addressing gaps in the literature concerning the mental and behavioral effects of vicarious racism. Specifically, she will investigate whether experiences of vicarious racism are associated with substance use outcomes among Black adults, with an emphasis on the moderating roles of psychological factors such as anxiety and depression. The goal is to explore the broader impact of vicarious racism as a potential risk factor for substance use behaviors. This project builds upon previous data collection conducted in the PRIDE Lab. Following recent methodologies used in studies on vicarious racism, India will adapt validated measures of direct racism to assess indirect experiences. The findings are expected to not only expand the literature on vicarious racism but also inform intervention strategies for race-related trauma, addressing both mental health and substance use in Black communities.