The Arts & Sciences senior has researched public health initiatives through an anthropological lens in Uganda, Switzerland, and St. Louis.
Victoria Wright has always been a curious person. WashU has allowed her to embrace that curiosity and explore her many interests. Take her double major, for example: The Arts & Sciences senior is studying both philosophy-neuroscience-psychology (PNP) and anthropology, concentrating on cognitive neuroscience and global health and environment.
Wright recently talked with the Ampersand about her time at WashU, her upcoming graduation in May 2025, and her experience conducting public health research — both at home and abroad.
When did you become interested in undergraduate research?
I think WashU has really allowed me to flourish in different avenues. The summer of my freshman year, I became involved with the Institute for Public Health’s Summer Research Program and began working in WashU’s Child & Adolescent Psychiatry clinic. I spent eight weeks exploring the efficacy of methods for preventing child maltreatment recidivism among infants and toddlers in the custody of the St. Louis court system through the SYNCHRONY Project. It was there that I was able to start integrating my passion for public health policy with psychiatry and mental health.
Which experiences were particularly influential in your research journey?
The time I spent in Uganda the summer of my sophomore year through GlobeMed, which is a student-run nonprofit here on campus, was really defining for me as a researcher. I was able to be a community health researcher with the Uganda Development and Health Associates (UDHA), where I participated in ethnographic research around cultural and social attitudes about menstruation. That’s when I was able to really explore women’s global health initiatives. That experience opened the door for the global research that I do and led me to work with Lindsay Stark in the Brown School on a UNICEF initiative that seeks to improve women’s and girls’ safety and well-being in humanitarian contexts. I was able to explore what it looks like to have social support in countries like Indonesia, Uganda, and Jordan.
Where else has your research taken you?
During the spring of my junior year, I traveled to Switzerland and conducted a comparative analysis of the time I spent in Uganda, studying what menstruation looked like there and putting it in conversation with the different policy initiatives in Geneva. I was able to take a top-down approach to research. I interviewed people from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, local NGOs, and Geneva government officials about the medicalization of menstruation. It was an amazing experience, and I learned so much from their perspectives.
“I believe there is a researcher in all of us, and WashU fosters a community of innovative thinkers who are driven to create real, meaningful change.”
—Victoria Wright
How have all of these experiences culminated in your senior year?
I’m currently formalizing all of my research within my senior thesis, and that’s something I'm really proud of. My thesis encompasses all of the work that I’ve done, particularly in Uganda, and showcases what it looks like to pursue menstrual health initiatives. I’ve noticed that global health research can often start from an ethnocentric perspective, such as assuming that the solution to menstrual health is simply providing sanitary pads as if the primary issue is a lack of knowledge regarding menstruation. But this mindset overlooks the deeper, more complex social and cultural dynamics at play. Rather than assuming knowledge gaps, I try to reframe the conversation by asking, ‘Whose knowledge is being represented?’ and ‘Whose perspectives are valued?’ By bringing a more anthropological lens, I aim to foster inclusive discussions that engage entire communities, not just women.
In your opinion, what makes WashU a great environment for researchers?
WashU is a place where differences can be made. It’s a university that lends itself to people who are open-minded and aware that research, in itself, is inherently flexible. I think sometimes when we think about research, it’s very stringent or there’s a step-by-step process. But it’s really more like a journey that’s iterative, constantly changing, and constantly flowing. I believe there is a researcher in all of us, and WashU fosters a community of innovative thinkers who are driven to create real, meaningful change.
What advice would you give to an incoming student interested in pursuing similar types of research?
You have to have a certain level of proactivity because there are so many different resources here at WashU. I think that’s one of the reasons why the WashU Research Ambassador Program (WRAP) was created; a lot of students want to get into research but don’t know where to start. It can be jarring because there is just so much to explore. I’ve always felt like the people here — whether in a lab or research group — are incredibly collaborative. It’s never been about “getting ahead” of others. Instead, it’s about helping each other find the right opportunities and make a real impact. I’ve been blessed to have had so many people willing to share their advice, support, and opportunities with me.
What is next for you after graduation in May?
I just received my acceptance to the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, where I’ll be studying global epidemiology with certificates in maternal and child health and humanitarian emergencies. My acceptance has reinforced the research I’ve conducted at WashU and reaffirmed my passion for public health. It not only clarified my future path as a public health researcher but also deepened my commitment to making a meaningful impact through my education. I feel incredibly grateful, excited, and inspired for what’s ahead.
