Kerrie Wilkins-Yel, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Counseling Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Her research broadly focuses on equity, justice, and access both at work and in pursuit of work. Specifically, she takes an intersectional approach to understanding how structural and systemic barriers influence the academic and career development of women from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds. Her work has been published in scholarly outlets such as Sex Roles, Journal of Vocational Psychology, Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, and Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering. In addition to her scholarship, Dr. Wilkins-Yel addresses race- and gender-based inequities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines by developing culturally sustaining interventions through interdisciplinary research-practice-partnerships. Most notably, Dr. Wilkins-Yel founded and co-directs the multi-institutional I CAN PERSIST STEM Initiative, a equity-focused counterspace designed to advance STEM persistence among women and girls of color in a manner that centers their thriving. To date, her work has been supported by approximately $5M in federal and private grant awards. Dr. Wilkins-Yel is a National Science Foundation (NSF) Early CAREER fellow, as well as the recipient of the 2021 APA Emerging Leader for Women in Psychology Award from the Committee on Women in Psychology, and the 2021 Society for Counseling Psychology’s Early Career Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Counseling Psychology. She is the current President of the Psychology of Black Women, Section I of the Society for the Psychology of Women.

Dr. Jioni A. Lewis is an Associate Professor in the Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education at the University of Maryland, College Park. She received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Lewis is a leading expert on the impact of systemic racism and sexism on the mental and physical health of women of color. Her primary area of research applies intersectionality theory to investigate the influence of racism and sexism on Black women’s health and wellbeing. Dr. Lewis is one of the foremost published researchers on gendered racial microaggressions, which refers to subtle and everyday discrimination based on the intersection of race and gender. Within this line of research, Dr. Lewis developed the Gendered Racial Microaggressions Scale, which is a self-report measure to assess subtle gendered racism. She also examines protective factors that buffer individuals against the negative effects of gendered racism, such as collectivism, social support, resistance strategies, and radical healing. Dr. Lewis has received several national awards for her research and scholarship, including the 2019 Emerging Professional Contributions to Research Award from the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity, and Race, the 2020 Best in Science Award from the Society of Counseling Psychology, and the 2020 Emerging Leader for Women in Psychology Award from the Committee on Women in Psychology. She is also the Past President of the Psychology of Black Women, Section I of the Society for the Psychology of Women.

Collette Chapman-Hilliard, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Counseling and Human Development Services at the University of Georgia. Hilliard’s primary scholarly research line focuses on examining the influence of cultural assets (e.g., racial and ethnic minority identity, Black history knowledge and critical consciousness) on mental health and school achievement among people of African descent. Complementing her research interests, Hilliard’s clinical interests include multiculturalism and social justice in therapy, trauma experiences and women’s issues. She teaches courses in social justice, human development and clinical practice.

Marlene Williams serves as secretary for Division 35 Section 1 and is an assistant professor in the Counseling Psychology doctoral program at Texas Woman's University. Marlene has a passionate commitment to social justice advocacy and identity based equity, which is exemplified in her research, teaching, and practice. Her research broadly focuses on exploring the relation between gendered racism, gendered racial identity, and mental health among Black women.

Samantha LaMartine is a Haitian American Clinical Psychology postdoctoral fellow at Boston Medical Center. Samantha is an American Psychological Association (APA) Minority Fellowship Program Fellow (MFP) and the current treasure for APA Division 35 Section I . Samantha’s research interests include examining the effects of discrimination, violence (e.g., microaggression, physical, sexual, incarceration), and racism on minoritized transgender and cisgender communities. Samantha is interested in and committed to reducing mental health stigma and increasing utilization of and access to culturally responsive mental health services among Black communities, particularly girls and women.

Martinque "Marti" Jones, PhD is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology's Counseling Psychology Program at the University of North Texas. She earned her PhD in counseling psychology at the University of Houston and completed an APA-accredited internship at the University of Florida Counseling & Wellness Center. She also completed research postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Michigan and Teachers College, Columbia University.

Dr. Jones is a Licensed Psychologist and Assistant Professor with expertise in racial and gender identity and counseling processes specific to Black women. Her research examines how Black women self-define their Black womanhood (referred to as gendered racial identity), the implications of self-defined and stereotypical portrayals (e.g., strong Black woman) of Black womanhood on Black women’s mental health, and best practices in working with Black women in counseling. In 2019, she received the Carolyn Patton Award by the American Psychological Association for her scholarship pertaining to the psychology of Black women, and has earned grants from the American Psychological Association, American Psychological Foundation, and University of Michigan National Center for Institutional Diversity to pursue these lines of research. In addition to serving at the Newsletter Editor for Division 35, Section 1, she also serves as the Member-at-Large, Diversity slate for APA Division 45, and has served in various leadership roles in the Association of Black Psychologists.

Dr. Batsirai Bvunzawabaya is a Counseling Psychologist with a small private practice in the suburbs of Philadelphia. She is currently serving as the Director of Outreach and Prevention Services at the University of Pennsylvania's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). Dr. Bvunzawabaya's clinical interests include exploring issues related to minority mental health, body image concerns, sexual trauma, racial and ethnic identity development, and suicide prevention. She is strongly committed to promoting and exploring how issues of equity and inclusion are incorporated in all aspects of her practice. Dr. Bvunzawabaya has presented at numerous national conferences. She currently holds leadership positions with the American Psychological Association Society for Counseling Psychologists and with the Association for University College Counseling Center Outreach.

Dr. Bianca Jones is employed as a staff psychologist at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston, Texas. In addition, Dr. Jones had maintained a private practice, Sage Supportive Services PLLC, since 2018 providing culturally-responsive, recovery-oriented therapeutic services. She completed her doctoral and master's degree in counseling psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to graduate school, she studied psychology at Hampton University.

Dr. Jones has been in the mental health field since 2009 and has worked in a variety of settings including psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery centers, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams, psychiatric and residential treatment centers, medical facilities, college counseling centers, and private practice. Dr. Jones maintains a specialty in adapting mental health treatments for culturally diverse individuals and addressing cultural issues in therapy. Dr. Jones has shared her expertise on issues related to African American psychology through publishing in peer-reviewed research journals, presenting at local and national conferences, and providing teaching assistance at university-level classes. Dr. Jones is active in psychological organizations, including serving as the membership chair for the American Psychological Association, Psychology of Women, Section 1, Black Women.

Gina is a Ph.D. student in clinical forensic psychology at The Graduate Center and John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York. Her work examines how colorism, gendered racism, interpersonal trauma, and structural oppression affect mental health and criminal legal involvement among Black women and girls. Gina, who identifies as a scholar-activist, is Ford Foundation and National Science Foundation (NSF) Predoctoral Fellow.

Rhyann Robinson received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Ethnic Studies from Santa Clara University in 2018. In addition, she received her Masters of Science in Psychological Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2020. Rhyann is currently a doctoral student in clinical psychology at the University of Massachusetts, Boston under the mentorship of Devin Atallah. Rhyann incorporates decolonial praxis into her work with communities of color on the frontlines of oppression. Her research interests are broadly focused on examining social justice and political activism with Black Indigenous people of color (BIPOC) communities. Specifically, looking at healing justice, she seeks to understand activist and community organizers of color coping and healing from systems of oppression while actively fighting it.