Feylyn Lewis

A native of Nashville, Tennessee and a Vanderbilt University alumna, Feylyn Lewis grew up as a youth caregiver for her disabled mother. Her experience with caregiving, disability, and living life on the margins led her on a path of global research and advocacy. She has a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a PhD in Social Work. Her research focuses on mental health and resiliency in youth and young adult caregivers, and she conducts research in the United States, Europe, United Kingdom, and Australia. Lewis currently works as the assistant dean of student affairs at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, where she is responsible for providing vision, leadership and strategic planning for student affairs programming that delivers holistic wellness, formal support services, student life and community engagement.

In the inaugural New America Story Fellowship, Lewis will continue vision-building for a world that is more equitable for children and young people with caregiving responsibilities. Utilizing her unique dual role as a researcher and a caregiver, she will pursue stories related to youth caregiving and the need to build infrastructure to support their educational attainment and health outcomes. Youth caregivers are overlooked in scholarship, policy, and practice, so her writing will have a particular focus on these hidden groups of youth caregivers. The status of youth caregivers in the United States remains precarious, yet Lewis is committed to telling stories that showcase their hope and determination.