LaBella Congratulates Planner and Grants Manager Tanya McGee on Earning Her PhD!

Please join us in congratulating Tanya McGee, PhD, for earning her doctoral degree in Community Research and Action from Binghamton University—SUNY.

Tanya joined LaBella in 2023 as a Planner and Grants Manger and is based in our Charlotte, NC office. She supports projects related to grant administration, land use, community development and engagement, economic development, and sustainability across the Southeast U.S.

Tanya’s dissertation, titled “Segregated Neighborhoods as Socio-spatial Factors to Violence and Trauma in Black Mothers,” explored social determinants of health to understand how place contributes to trauma. Her research involved interviewing Black mothers living in historically redlined neighborhoods throughout Upstate New York who have lost at least one child to violence. The study also utilized qualitative data from grassroots organizations that fill service gaps in these communities to examine how the availability—or lack thereof—of community services impacted the mothers’ resilience. Additionally, the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Civilian Exam (PCL-C) was administered to compare the mothers’ symptoms with those of individuals diagnosed with PTSD.

Her research revealed that neighborhoods concentrated by poverty and race suffer from stagnation and a lack of investment. Mothers in these areas face limited social mobility, poor experiences with first responders, and feelings of disenfranchised grief, often becoming advocates for justice. Despite high PTSD scores, most mothers did not recognize their trauma and lacked access to grief services. The study also highlighted the vital role of grassroots organizations in filling service gaps and building trust within disadvantaged communities.

Tanya’s key findings emphasize the importance of understanding and addressing the unique circumstances of the communities we serve, and she is dedicated to creating equitable neighborhoods. With upcoming projects directly serving disadvantaged communities, Tanya’s passion and expertise are invaluable to LaBella.

We are proud to have Tanya on our team and look forward to her continued contributions.

Congratulations on this outstanding achievement, Tanya!