Hi Pitt Honors Blog!!

My name is Cheyenne Degiglio and I am a 2022 Creative Arts Fellow!!

I am a rising senior majoring in psychology, minoring in studio arts and gender, sexuality and women’s studies and pursuing a certificate in global health.

I’m also an RA on campus (I’ve been in Tower C for the past two years and am now going to be the LRA of Lothrop next year). I’m also in Alpha Delta Pi sorority and am currently acting as their Wellness Specialist. I also do psych research with a lab at Pitt and work at a women and children’s shelter in the area for victims of domestic violence

Over the next year I am setting my sights on applying for a JD/PhD dual degree program in order to get my law degree and PhD in clinical psychology at the same time. With this, I’m hoping to go into healthcare law/reform to help build a more just, equitable healthcare system in the United States.

A fun fact about me is that I just got back from a two week backpacking trip through Europe!! I visited London, Barcelona, Nice, Sorrento, Positano, Naples and Rome. It was an absolutely unbelievable trip (it was my trip time out of the country as well) and I truly had the best time! But, now I’m back in Pittsburgh and ready to start this project!

I am so excited and grateful for the opportunity to explore my creative processes along with my mentor Professor Lenore Thomas this summer on a topic that I’m very passionate about, addiction in the Appalachian region. The Appalachian region has faced heavy stigmatization over the years due to the high drug use and abuse in the area. However, what many people might not know is the way that big pharma has gotten away with targeting these rural areas with high levels of labor intensive work with drugs such as opioids. What I want to focus on in my project is the reality of the addiction that has ravaged this region of the United States, but I also want to emphasize the beauty in this area. I grew up with the Appalachian Trail literally in my backyard and this region is where I was raised so I want to pay homage to it while also highlighting the struggles that the people in the region face. I am hoping to explore this all through getting out and talking to the Appalachian people, taking pictures of the region and just gathering other inspiration to create art.

This project is important to me because I have experienced the impact of addiction in the Appalachian region very personally and it relates to the healthcare related injustices that I’m hoping to fight against in my future career.

Okay, I think that’s all for now!! I can’t wait to keep you updated on how this project evolves and changes and develops throughout the summer!!

All the best,

Cheyenne Degiglio