Guided by my identity as a Black woman, I have pursued academic and research opportunities that allowed me to examine the individual, community-level, and societal factors surrounding health disparities for Black communities. My passion has influenced my education and training at every step, as I have actively pursued opportunities that would grow my ability to foster resiliency, strength, and wellness for racial and ethnic minority populations. I remain fueled by my long-term career goal of advancing emotional health outcomes for Black Americans through interdisciplinary translational research, culturally responsive mental health services, and community leadership and service.

As an incoming Assistant Professor, I look forward to leading a fruitful career dedicated to improving the mental and physical well-being of Black youth, young adults, and families. I will maintain a prevalent mark in both academia and my community, through the development and implementation of culturally informed mental health interventions that address racial trauma and suicide for Black populations. I am excited about the opportunity to teach and mentor developing minds in psychology while leading an innovative and welcoming research laboratory dedicated to advancing mental health outcomes and suicide prevention for individuals from historically underrepresented and marginalized communities.