I received a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in General Psychology from Morgan State University (MSU) in 2001. During my tenure at MSU, I began interest in minority health research. Specifically, I began studying the effects of racism on physiological outcomes, including galvanic skin responses, heart rate, and blood pressure among Black college students. As a doctoral student at the University of South Carolina (USC) in 2002, I expanded my research interest and began studying coping typologies in response to racial stress among Black adults. In 2008, I received a Ph.D. degree in Clinical-Community Psychology from USC.

​

Since 2003, I sought and obtained research grants to examine the impact of racial oppression on coping typologies and mental and physical health outcomes among minority populations. To date, my research findings suggest that coping typologies differ according to the location and situation, indicating that Blacks can adapt and utilize higher cognitive processes, such as problem-solving strategies, to combat the stress of racism in America. I attend both national and regional conferences to present my research. Additionally, my research interests and findings have shaped the foundation for the books I authored, and lectures given, which educate persons about the rationale for maladaptive psychosocial symptoms displayed within the Black Community.

​

In March 2008, I founded a community-based mentoring program titled Project Triple E, which stands for “Educate, to Enlighten, to Empower." The project operated as a bi-monthly educational group geared towards assisting minority youth, ages 13-18 years, in their college/career pursuits -- utilizing education, mentorship, and cultural activities. Project Triple E's objectives aid in facilitating Mentoring of students (started in 2011), in which I meet with undergraduate students interested in pursuing graduate-level degrees. The Mentoring guides students through the steps to enter graduate school, obtain funding, and complete the program of study.

​

In August 2010, I began teaching at the academic level and secured a position as an adjunct associate professor of psychology via the City University of New York (CUNY) system. In January 2015, I secured a full-time Assistant Professor of Psychology position. As of August 2022, I hold a tenured Associate Professor of Psychology position via CUNY, where I continue to provide instruction and mentorship to a diverse undergraduate student population. I obtained licensure as a Clinical Psychologist in the state of New York in December 2010. As a Licensed Psychologist, I provide comprehensive assessment and psychotherapy to impoverished and disenfranchised children, adolescents, and adults presenting mild to severe mental health outcomes.

​

Additionally, I continue to engage in community programming and minority health research as a means to further examine the racism-coping phenomena, in addition to developing interventions to counteract the maladaptive effects of racism in America. Additionally, I have clinical supervisory experiences in which I provide training and opportunities for undergraduate and Master's level interns at my practice to develop eclectic, multicultural, and ethical approaches to serving children and adolescents within the diverse health communities of New York. Recently, I have begun developing and providing Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Training for Master’s level counselors, therapists, and educators. Topics surround consideration of the benefits of including racial trauma as a contributor to mental health outcomes for BIPOC.

 

My overall objective is to use my training as an educator, clinician, researcher, and community programmer to educate, empower, and develop programs for underserved & disenfranchised communities in various cities and states. As a result of this objective, in addition to the above noted work, I have authored three books to date. My first book, titled, “Letters to the Black Community” (2012; e-book, 2018) combines my minority health research and clinical intervention within the Black community. “Letters to the Black Community” aims to educate individuals about the multitude of ways in which internalized oppression affect the Black psyche.  Not only do I point out this dilemma, but I offer solutions to combat this phenomenon, which I hope serves as a catalyst for Black community change. This book is also available via E-book format. The second book, “The Steps I Took” (2013), is a workbook for high school and college students. It provides detailed strategic planning to guide students in pursuit of their next level of academia regardless of academic and/or career interest. The third book, “F**k What Man Say: Enough is Enough” (2024), builds from Letters to the Black Community. This anthology offers a psychosocial examination of the impact of chewing and digesting the negative societal messages about Blacks passed from generation to generation. It also includes a look at the systemic structure of racism and platforms in which the system impacts Black quality of life and resulting behaviors that have had a generational impact on the Black psyche, motivations, and behaviors.

 

In my free time, I enjoy traveling abroad to explore other parts of the world and learn firsthand about Africa's influence and continued presence nationwide.  I also enjoy cycling and participating in many of the organized bike tours in the Tri-State areas.