Through Merritt's future dissertation work, she hopes to contribute research to the U.S. study abroad community that might fill the gap in understanding of necessary mental health support so more students with mental health conditions, and especially those from communities that continue to stigmatize poor mental health, feel empowered to study abroad.
Merritt is employed full-time as a program manager for intensive, critical-need language study abroad programs. She gained experience in nonprofit program management and international education initiatives while working in Beijing between 2006-2012. While pursuing her master鈥檚 degree in Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development, she became well-versed in the mental health challenges facing college students today; her thesis focused on the effects culture and acculturation have on the mental health of students studying abroad. She holds professional certification in Education Abroad and has advanced fluency in written and spoken Chinese. Originally from Wisconsin, Merritt is appreciative every day for the warmer climate of Washington, D.C. In her free time, she enjoys reading, trying new coffees, and spending time with her husband and three-legged dog, Mochi.
"The Effect of Culture and Acculturation on the Mental Health of International Students: Implications for U.S. and Chinese Universities." In The Rise of US-China International Cooperation in Higher Education: Views from the Field, edited by Li Li Ji and Christopher Johnstone, The Netherlands: Sense Publishers, 2018.
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