Dr. Marisa Westbrook Awarded National Fellowship for Research on Hispanic Families and Housing

We are proud to announce that Dr. Marisa Westbrook, Assistant Professor of Health Promotion & Community Health at Portland State University and the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, has been selected for the prestigious Fellowship Program Research Award from the National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families.

This highly competitive 12-month fellowship supports early career scholars whose research advances understanding of the economic well-being of Hispanic/Latine children and families in low-income households. Fellows receive seed research funding, mentorship, and professional development opportunities aimed at expanding their networks and impact in the field.

Dr. Westbrook’s research centers on the intersection of housing and health. With support from the fellowship, she will continue a current research study exploring how Hispanic/Latine immigrant families in the Portland, Oregon Metro Area navigate economic hardship through shared or informal housing arrangements—often referred to as “doubling up.” Her project explores the implications of these living arrangements on mental health, well-being, and low-income families’ access to economic support programs.

Dr. Marisa Westbrook aims to bring forward community voices often overlooked in policy discussions around housing and public health. OHSU-PSU SPH recent grads Jade Garza, MPH CPH, Judith Solomon, BS, and PSU School of Social Work grad Cristina Flores, MSW, supported initial research design, pilot interviews, and survey data collection for this project.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Marisa Westbrook on this outstanding achievement!