Personal profile
About
I obtained my BA in Psychology from St. Louis University in 2010 and my BSN from Goldfarb School of Nursing in 2014. I have a broad background in psychology, with specific training and expertise in women’s health nursing and education. I spent most of my career as an educator on the Gynecology Oncology inpatient unit, followed by Labor and Delivery. During my time on Labor and Delivery, I began the PhD program at UMSL. My passion is in fostering the growth of students, while cultivating their desire for knowledge.
While in the PhD program, I birthed four beautiful daughters and acquired two male golden retrievers. I currently serve as a Peer Mentor and Group Facilitator for Sisters of St. Mary’s MomsLine where I speak with mothers weekly to support, empathize, and hold space for childbearing women to express their needs and concerns. I also am a member and Peer Mentor of Postpartum Support International. While similar to MomsLine, it serves women and men worldwide to promote psychological wellbeing.
Education
- BA, St. Louis University
- BSN, Goldfarb School of Nursing
- PhD, University of Missouri-St. Louis
Research Interests
My research interest includes the experiences of low-income American perinatal women. My ongoing research is focused on lack of perceived social support and empowerment in rural low-income perinatal women.
Selected Publications
Castellano, Christina, "The Motherhood Crusade: Rural Low-Income Mothers, Support, and Empowerment" (2023). Dissertations. 1288. https://irl.umsl.edu/dissertation/1288
Selected Presentations
- Poster Presentation at Postpartum Support International Conference, 2022
- Poster Presentation at Washington University Institute for Public Health, 2022
- Poster Presentation at Midwest Nursing Research Society, 2023
- National Alliance for Mental Illness Presenter, 2023
- Poster Presentation at Postpartum Support International Conference, 2023
Honors and Awards
- O'Grady Dissertation Award,
- Mary Reardon Castles Award
Memberships
- Association Colleges of Nursing
- Postpartum Support International
- Midwest Nursing Research Society
- Sigma Theta Tau Member
- Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
- American Nursing Association