Raven Pierce

Surry County, Virginia native, R.A.V.E.N. Pierce strives to Raise A Voice Everyone Needs through placemaking and conscious raising for marginalized communities. Raven earned her B.A. in Psychology from William & Mary in 2023. There, she distinguished herself as a William & Mary Scholar award recipient, full-time breastfeeding mother, and underrepresented student through her extensive wellness and research endeavors

In her work as a wellness ambassador for the W&M Wellness Center, she proposed the “Diversity Equity & Inclusion” committee, through which she created the Black & Brown Girl Wellness Series. As a W&M Student Undergraduate Research Experience (WMSURE) student fellow she co-led several expressive art workshops and co-authored her first manuscript entitled: “A Single-Session Wellness Initiative for Black College Women: Integrating Expressive Arts, Spirituality, and Political Resistance;” which was recently published in the Journal of Black Psychology.

In addition to currently being a Clinical Mental Health Counseling student at the William & Mary School of Education, Raven is the WMSURE graduate assistant and owner of Raeted Art LLC. Since assuming these roles, Raven has beautifully bridged the gap between wellness, research, and motherhood through her value of “authentic excellence.” Raven's commitment to authentic excellence is central to her life because it allows her to embrace and express her true self, resulting in a more inclusive and supportive environment for marginalized groups.

Currently entering her second year of study, Raven is seeking placements and fieldwork opportunities that align with her professional interests in perinatal mental health. In her capacity as a William & Mary Inclusive Excellence Champion and recipient of a SOE Inclusive Excellence Mini-Grant, Raven will continue to advocate for Black maternal health and mental health initiatives in the campus community and society at large.