Moving Forward Together: Women’s History Month 2025 – Dr. Maghboeba Mosavel
In keeping with the theme of this year’s Women’s History Month, this series highlights the importance and impact of mentoring partnerships between department faculty and their mentees.
Maghboeba Mosavel, Ph.D. is a health disparities researcher whose work focuses on the social drivers of inequities and their negative impacts on chronic disease. Her funded projects have included topics in cancer prevention, obesity, and genomic biobanking, all within the context of social drivers of health. Her commitment to community-engaged research is reflected by her current role as the Associate Vice President of Community Partnerships in the Office of the Provost, where she leads the Division of Community Engagement. Additionally, she dedicates herself to training the next generation of scholars, serving as MPI on the Translational Biomedical Sciences CTSA Predoctoral T32 Program and as Project Director for the Cancer Research and Training Program (CREP) with Virginia State University.
Dr. Mosavel and I had a dynamic rooted in honest communication and constructive feedback. She maintained high expectations while providing the necessary guidance to meet them. Her mentorship was both empowering and practical — she encouraged me to be intentional in my work, eliminate unnecessary distractions, and always strive for clarity and impact.
-Briona Phillips, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Briona Phillips, Ph.D., a recent graduate of the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, began working with Mosavel as a graduate research assistant when she entered the Ph.D. program. Amidst the struggles of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mosavel still developed a dynamic and meaningful relationship between herself and her mentee. “From the very beginning, she fostered an environment of collaboration and continuous learning,” says Phillips. “Our relationship has since evolved into one of mutual respect and trust. Her dedication to community-led and engaged research, along with her commitment to empowering others and communities, has significantly influenced my professional growth. Even after completing my studies, she remains a mentor and a valued source of guidance.”
Mosavel’s example supplied Phillips with many important lessons about how to conduct herself professionally and achieve the highest possible levels of academic success. “Dr. Mosavel taught me the importance of authenticity and follow-through. She emphasized the necessity of being who you say you are, delivering on commitments, and sustaining momentum by focusing on what truly matters,” says Phillips. “By modeling professionalism, poise, and purpose, she demonstrated how to present my ideas confidently and engage meaningfully in academic spaces. Her ability to provide candid feedback while celebrating progress inspired me to approach challenges with resilience and a commitment to excellence.”
During her time at VCU, Phillips worked with Mosavel on the NIH-funded WE (Wellness Engagement) Project 2.0 in Petersburg, which focused on training community members as wellness ambassadors for their peers. In her own research, Phillips focused on the community in her birth city of Baltimore. Her doctoral project examined how discrimination serves as a barrier to oral health care in the Black community there. Her commitment to community-engaged research and confidence to forge a new path was supported by her mentor. “She instilled in me the confidence to carve out the spaces where I aim to contribute, rather than trying to replicate others,” says Phillips. “Understanding my unique perspective and how to articulate it has been invaluable.”
Categories Alumni News, Faculty News