Employee Spotlight is a new Cohear blog series meant to share more about the amazing individuals on our team. Every month, we’ll share a quick Q&A with one of our team members so you can get to know us a little bit better.
Meet Anna Johns! Anna just joined team Cohear as our Summer '21 Communications Intern. Anna is a student at UC double majoring in Criminal Justice and Psychology. Learn more about Anna below.
Hey Anna! We’re so excited to have you on the Cohear team! How did you first hear about Cohear and what was your initial impression?
I applied on Handshake and I knew this was something I wanted to do because I believe in the mission. The work that Cohear is doing is such a no-brainer, but involving community members in the decision-making process is something not many industries are doing. I’d like to think that Cohear can change that.
One thing that stood out in your interview was a research project you led on mental healthcare and prison inmates. Would you tell us a little about this project?
I’m super proud of that project. It was actually for my criminal justice capstone, but I wanted to focus on a topic that had overlap with my other major, psychology. I was already working on a few projects that examined racial and ethnic disparities in prison sanctioning, so I was thrilled to be able to use data from the Ohio Department of Corrections to analyze how an incarcerated person’s mental health designation impacts disciplinary segregation outcomes.
I was particularly excited because I had a substantial sample of women, which is a population that so often gets overlooked in prison research. Among my findings, I was primarily interested to find that women with a mental illness designation were significantly more likely to be placed in disciplinary segregation than women without. This trend is actually the opposite for men, who are the main focus of much of the research on this topic. This was an eye-opening project for me, and I hope to be involved with more research on women in the criminal justice system in the future.
What are you most excited for in your role at Cohear?
I am excited to hear the perspectives of the everyday experts in the focus groups that Cohear facilitates. My background is primarily in conventional quantitative research, so there are quite a few people that Cohear works with that I would typically never be able to hear from.
Is there anything about Cohear’s work that you find most surprising or enjoyable?
I’m surprised that my input is valued, even as an intern. This is the first experience I’ve ever had in a workplace where I’m asked to share my ideas and opinions.
How long have you been in Cincinnati and what are some things you love most about the city?
I grew up in a suburb of Cincinnati and have been at UC since 2018. There are a lot of beautiful old buildings and homes around Cincinnati. I love that there is always something to do, and I particularly like the music scene here.
What are three words you would use to describe yourself?
Meticulous, diligent, conscientious
What are the three words you would use to describe Cohear?
Welcoming, diverse, unconventional
Do you have a favorite travel destination?
England and Wales. I’m a first-gen American, and my entire extended family lives in the United Kingdom. The only time I get to see everyone is when I go over there, and I miss my family all the time!
How about your favorite movie or TV show?
Favorite movie: Not much into movies, but Tommy Boy is a classic.
Favorite TV show: Schitt’s Creek or Shameless
Anything else you want to add or share about yourself?
You can catch me at the climbing gym in Oakley or planning my next weekend trip...