Kenan Galapagos Fellow
PhD Student, Social Work, UNC-CH
Sarah McGlothlin is a second-year PhD student at the UNC School of Social Work. Guided by the paradox of place—the idea that the natural, built, and historical environments both shape and are shaped by the people living within them—her research focuses on how climate-induced stressors, such as temperature changes, water quality, and pollution, impact maternal health. Sarah’s work aims to strengthen community resilience through place-based, culturally informed interventions.
Sarah is collaborating with her mentor, Dr. Paul Lanier, to explore the potential for a home visiting program in the Galápagos, with a core focus on understanding how to assess and meet the community’s maternal health needs in the face of climate-related challenges. McGlothlin has been selected as an Inaugural Kenan Galapagos Fellow to continue her impactful research. Her work includes developing a readiness assessment to identify gaps in care and create solutions that integrate maternal and environmental health.
Sarah holds a BA in Public Policy from Emory & Henry College and an MSW from the University of Montana.
Publications
Jones, H. E., Apsley, B., Cocowitch, A., Merrill, T., McGlothlin, S., Middlesteadt-Ellerson, R., Andringa, K., & O’Grady, K. E. (2022). Increasing knowledge about recovery-related life domains among pregnant and parenting women in comprehensive substance use disorder treatment: The Art of Addiction Recovery Program. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 232, 109252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.109252
Carter, G., McGlothlin, S., McLaurin-Jiang, S., Carlson, R. B., O’Grady, K. E., & Jones, H. E. (2024). The effects of prenatal opioid exposure on early childhood development: Context matters most. Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, 25(8), 1083-1094. https://doi.org/10.1080/14656566.2024.2365331