Doctoral student aims to bridge research-policy gap

Ariayana Harrell ’23 knew she would need help paying for college, and several schools offered her full-tuition scholarships.

But Harrell, who grew up in the small eastern North Carolina community of Washington, wanted to be a Tar Heel — no matter the cost. “I’m going to go to Carolina, and we’re going to have to figure it out,” she told her mom.

When she applied, Harrell didn’t know about the Carolina Covenant, the scholarship program that enables talented students from low-income families to graduate debt-free. She discovered she had been offered the Carolina Covenant when she received her acceptance email.

It was 3 a.m., and she ran to wake her mom to tell her: “We don’t have to pay anything!” Knowing she would leave Carolina without debt was a relief for Harrell and her family.

The Covenant also shaped Harrell’s academic career in other ways, helping her explore different fields. Her academic interests evolved from pre-med studies to sociology, where she could study the societal factors that shaped her own life.

In her junior year, Harrell studied the impact of neighborhood social factors on adolescent mental and physiological health. That summer, she participated in the Covenant’s Career Accelerator program, staying in Chapel Hill to work on research with faculty in sociology and psychology. The experience solidified her desire to pursue a doctorate.

Carolina remained her top choice for graduate school. Beyond a strong sociology program, Carolina offered something Harrell deeply valued: a sense of community. “Part of the reason I stayed here for grad school was because I knew I had that Covenant support — not through financial aid anymore but through having a community,” she said.

Financial considerations also played a major role. Having completed her undergraduate degree debt-free, Harrell was determined to find a fully funded graduate program. Through UNC’s sociology program and a traineeship at the Carolina Population Center, she secured funding that allowed her to focus on her research without financial strain.

Now in her first year as a doctoral student, Harrell is refining the research she started as an undergraduate. She is also giving back to the Carolina Covenant community, serving as a mentor and sharing her experience of following her passion into graduate school.

“I really enjoy working with the Covenant because I know that they’re driven students who care about their education,” she said. “You can’t teach that.”

Looking ahead, she envisions a career in academia, where she hopes to bridge the gap between research and policy. “Creating a space for dialogue between researchers and policymakers is really important,” she said. “Ultimately, I hope my work helps people across the country live longer, healthier lives. I want to see vulnerable populations get the resources they need not only to get by, but to thrive.”

For Harrell, Carolina has been more than just a step in her career. It’s where she discovered her passion, found her voice and built a future she once didn’t think possible. As she mentors the next generation of Carolina Covenant Scholars, she hopes others will see the same chance to explore, grow and follow their passions.

The Graduate School has made it a priority to find funding that will allow Covenant Scholars –– some of the most talented students at the University –– to attend graduate school at Carolina, said Beth Mayer-Davis, graduate school dean.

Harrell believes making that opportunity available would enable more of her peers to become graduate students.

“The Covenant does a good job of orienting low-income, first-gen students and helping them get through college,” she said. “Having that as a resource for grad school would make it a realistic option for more inquisitive, driven students.”