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    Lab Members

  • GRADUATE STUDENTS at Georgia State University

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    Ashanti J. Brown (she/her)

    University: Georgia State University

    Year: 2nd Year Doctoral Student
    Major: Clinical-Community Psychology

    Hometown: Stone Mountain, Georgia

    Research Interests: Improving culturally-tailored interventions for racial/ethnic minorities, risk and resiliency for Black youth and women, and the impact of racial and intergenerational trauma on Black individuals PTSD outcomes.
    Future Goals: Obtain my PhD in clinical-community psychology and work in mental health research centers while also serving as a practicing clinician.
    Interesting Fact: I love all things pink, glittery, and Beyoncé!

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    Sumayyah K. France (she/her)

    University: Georgia State University

    Year: 2nd Year Masters Student
    Major: Instructional Design and Technology

    Hometown: Decatur, Georgia

    Research Interest: I'm interested in the impact that sexual orientation has on African American families and the children in those families.
    Future Goals: My goals include obtaining my Masters in Instructional Design and Technology and working with educational technology companies to create online courses for students in K-12 environments.
    Interesting Fact: I'm a dog mom to a 7 year old Yorkie Shih Tzu mix named Bailey. I'm the biggest Drake fan. I love all things rose gold and I need my daily Starbucks coffee to function. I find joy in traveling and painting in my spare time.

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    Sawyer Adams (they/them)

    University: Georgia State University

    Year: 1st Year Doctoral Student

    Major: Clinical-Community Psychology

    Hometown: Don't really have one!

    Research Interests: I graduated from GSU in fall of 2021 and am interested in the intersection of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC identity. I'd like to understand intersectional identity development and analyse how socialisation either encourages or hinders identifying with multiple marginalised groups (eg. "coming out" as a Latinx/Black/Asian person).

    Future Goals: I'd like to get my PhD and develop sustainable intervention/prevention programs to better serve the wellbeing of marginalised communities.

    Interesting Fact: I'm a fantasy author in my free time. I hope to one day be published!

  • UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

    Past & Present

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    Jaimyn Johnson (she/her)

    Position: Research Assistant

    Year: Senior

    Major: Psychology

    Hometown: New Orleans, LA

    Research Interests: I would like to research how past experiences impact the personal growth and identity of underrepresented communities.

    Future Goals: Obtain my PhD in Clinical Psychology and become an accomplished researcher and clinician.

    Interesting Fact: I love being a cat mom and my favorite reality show is Big Brother!

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    Deron Morrison (he/him)

    Year: 4th Year
    Major: Psychology (pre-med, neuroscience emphasis)
    Hometown: Suwanee, GA
    Research Interests: I am interested in the neurobiological impact of racial trauma across the lifespan in African Americans.
    Future Goals: I plan on attending medical school and pursuing a career in orthopedic surgery.
    Interesting Fact: I currently work as a phlebotomist at St. Mary’s Hospital and serve on the executive board for UGA Doctors Without Borders as the CAO/event secretary. In my free time I enjoy playing soccer/working out., and I have a mini Yorkie named Daisy.

  • POST-BACCALAUREATE STUDENTS

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    Taylor Davis (she/her)

    Hometown: Connecticut

    Research Interests: Identifying risk and protective factors for suicide risk among Black youth and creating culturally adaptive interventions and treatment.

    Future Goals: I hope to become a children's psychologist and continue to conduct research to address the increase in suicide rates among Black youth.

    Interesting Fact: I've been to every state on the East Coast and I hope to hit all 50 states!

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    Gifty Ayawvi (she/her)

    Major: Psychology
    Hometown: Stone Mountain, Georgia
    Research Interests: I am a Spring 2021 graduate of the University of Georgia, and I am interested in the impact of psychosocial stressors such as racial discrimination and immigration history on the mental and physical health outcomes of people of African descent, with some emphasis on psychotic disorders and the prodromal stage.
    Future Goals: I plan on attending a Clinical or Clinical Health Psychology Ph.D. program.
    Interesting Fact: I am a first-generation from Takoradi, Ghana and I speak four languages, three of which are tribal Ghanaian languages.

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    Jahi Hamilton (he/him)

    Major: Psychology
    Hometown: Lilburn, Georgia
    Research Interests: I study the impact sexual orientation has on mental outcomes such as depression and suicidality.
    Future Goals: I plan on attending a clinical or counseling Ph.D. program.
    Interesting Fact: I own a red-tailed boa constrictor!

  • GRADUATE STUDENTS IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS

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    Tyquavious Kelley (he/him)

    University: Howard University

    Year: 1st Year Doctoral Student

    Major: Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology

    Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

    Research Interests: I am interested in HIV stigma and Black MSM living with HIV. I am also interested evidenced based interventions to that target different forms of stigma.

    Future Goals: I plan on working close with community organizations offering my resources to improve the mental health and life outcomes of underserved racial and sexual minority communities and adolescents.

    Interesting Fact: I love outdoor activities, traveling to new places, and meeting new people.

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    Devon Slaughter (he/him)

    Major: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
    Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
    Research Interests: I am a first year Master of Counseling candidate at Georgia State University, and I am interested in the impact of intergenerational trauma among the African American community. I hope to examine the negative physical and psychological outcomes associated with high trauma exposure on economically disadvantaged African American children. Additionally, I am interested in interventions that promote resilience, healing, and mindfulness in the African American community.
    Future Goals: Academically - I plan on obtaining my Ph.D. in Counseling. Professionally – I plan on pursuing private practice.
    Interesting Fact: I love reading, so I enjoy finding and supporting Black owned bookstores in the metro Atlanta area. If you join me for a car ride, you will definitely hear audio from the “Black Star Network”.

  • LAB ALUMNI

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    Destin Mizelle (he/him)

    Year: 1st Year Doctoral Student
    Major: Psychology, Minor in African American Studies
    Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
    Research Interests: I am interested in researching masculinity, racial socialization, Black resilience and protection
    Where is he now? I am in my second year of training as a Doctoral Student in the University of Kentucky's Counseling Psychology Program!
    Interesting Fact: I love to travel! I have been to 5 countries in the past year (Jamaica, Mexico, Thailand, Malaysia, and Brazil).

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    Lacey Walker (she/her)

    Major: Psychology, Minor in Human Services
    Hometown: Chatsworth, Georgia
    Research Interests: I am interested in the Red Zone and and the impact that sexual assault on college campuses has on the emotional, physical, and social well-being of female college students.
    Future Goals: I plan to obtain a clinical psychology PhD.
    Interesting Fact: I have a service dog named Sugar Ray!

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    Barbara Walcot-Ceesay (she/her)

    Year: Post-Bac
    Major: Psychology, Minor in Women's Studies
    Hometown: Lithonia, Georgia
    Research Interests: I am interested in understanding the intersection of race, physical health, and mental health in people of African descent.
    Future Goals: I plan to get my Ph.D. in clinical psychology
    Interesting Fact: I am a first-generation American!

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    Julie Nguyen (she/her)

    Position: Past Research Coordinator
    Year: 1st Year Doctoral Student
    Major: Psychology

    Hometown: Lilburn, Georgia

    Research Interests: Examining how sociocultural factors impact behavioral health outcomes among racial/ethnic minority trauma survivors.
    Future Goals: To obtain a PhD in Clinical Psychology.
    Interesting Fact: I’m learning American Sign Language (ASL).