Expanding the Voices of Black Women Psychologists Beyond the Ivory Tower
Saturday, December 4th
11:00 AM-12:15 PM EST
Maysa Akbar, PhD, ABPP
Maysa Akbar, PhD, ABPP is a respected scientist-practitioner and APA’s Chief Diversity Officer, charged with infusing equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) into the fabric of the association’s work. As the leading architect of APA’s evolving EDI framework, Akbar works with APA staff, leaders and members to refine and build consensus for an overall plan, operationalize its goals and establish metrics to monitor and ensure progress. The CDO also serves as a spokesperson and advocate for EDI in the field of psychology, both within and outside the association. Before assuming the CDO post, she was the founder and chief executive officer of a clinical practice based in New Haven, Connecticut, that specialized in race-based trauma. She also created a consulting firm and educational network focused on organizational cultural transformation. Her firm delivered cutting-edge programs anchored in EDI to city governments, public schools and court systems, among other entities. Akbar’s areas of specialty include racial identity development, racism, urban trauma and allyship, topics on which she has written research articles, books and book chapters. Akbar is an experienced instructor and master trainer in EDI for both the medical and the broader community. Akbar has first-hand experience advocating for the interest of psychologists while holding multiple leadership roles advancing EDI and social justice initiatives at state and national level. She has played an integral part in mentoring and shaping leadership development programs for early career psychologists, postdoctoral and graduate students. Based on her expertise in EDI, Akbar was selected to serve as an APA representative at the United Nations, providing research and guidance toward the development and implementation of psychologically informed policies that respect human rights and promote human welfare. A longtime member of APA, she is a graduate of APA’s Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology and the Diversity Leadership Program.
Le Ondra Clark Harvey, Ph.D.
Dr. Clark Harvey is a psychologist and the Chief Executive Officer of the California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies a statewide advocacy organization representing mental health and substance use disorder non-profit agencies that collectively serve over 750 thousand Californians annually. She is also the Executive Director of the California Access Coalition- a group of advocacy organizations and pharmaceutical industry companies that advocates for patient access to behavioral health treatment. Dr. Clark Harvey has previously served as Chief Consultant to the California State Assembly Committee on Business and Professions, Principal Consultant to the Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development, and a health policy consultant to the office of former Senator Curren D. Price, Jr.
Prior to her work within the California Legislature, she completed her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She completed her pre-doctoral fellowship at the University of Southern California Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of California, Los Angeles Mattel Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Clark Harvey has maintained an impressive record of leadership including serving on national and local boards including the American Psychological Association (APA), and prior positions on the Association of Black Psychologists, Sacramento County Public Health Advisory Board and the Sacramento County Children’s Coalition. Dr. Clark Harvey has received numerous local and national awards and in 2020, was appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom to his Master Plan on Aging Advisory Committee and the Behavioral Health Task Force. In 2021, she was appointed by California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis to the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Board.
Cashuna Huddleston, Ph.D.
Dr. Huddleston received her Ph.D. from the University of Houston and trained at Vanderbilt University Medical Center-Veteran Affairs Consortium and Baylor College of Medicine. She is also a Texas Credentialed Mediator through University of Houston Law Center. Dr. Huddleston has been in private practice for 6 years and is the owner of New Way Psychological Services, PLLC and The Houston Psychological Source, PLLC.
She is a member of several organizations on the local and national level. Dr. Huddleston served as the Past - President (2016-2018) of American Psychological Association (APA) Division 35: Section 1 (Psychology of Black Women) and has been appointed as Co-Chair of several Division 35 Taskforces (e.g., ECP Taskforce, Intersectionality Taskforce, and Leadership Through Relationship Taskforce). She has a laudable publication record, including co-authorship in The Journal of Rural Health, Rehabilitation Psychology, and Military Medicine. Additionally, she has presented at national conferences and facilitated educational trainings at the APA, Society of Behavioral Medicine and Texas Psychological Association. Dr. Huddleston is a reviewer of proposals for the APA convention, National Multicultural Conference & Summit, and Society of Behavioral Medicine. She has also participated as an ad hoc reviewer for Psychology of Women Quarterly and Women and Therapy journals.
Charmain Jackman, Ph.D.
Dr. Jackman is a Harvard-trained licensed Psychologist with 23+ years of experience in the mental health field. She was born and raised in Barbados and emigrated to the U.S. for higher education. She is a national spokesperson on BIPOC mental health and advocates for emotional wellness for all. Dr. Jackman is the founder and CEO of InnoPsych, Inc., a mental health tech start-up on a mission to make it easier and faster for people of color to match with therapists of color. She also consults with schools and organizations on topics including mental health, racial trauma, employee wellness, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. She has won several awards for her impactful work and has been featured on national media outlets such as the New York Times, NPR, PBS, and the Boston Globe. Learn more at: www.innopych.com | www.drcharmainjackman.com. Connect on Twitter & Instagram at @InnoPsych and @AskDrCharmain; You Tube: InnoPsych TV.
Maryam Jernigan-Noesi, Ph.D.
Dr. Jernigan-Noesi is a licensed psychologist, educator, and organizational consultant with over two decades of professional experience. As a clinician, Dr. Jernigan-Noesi has worked alongside a multidisciplinary team of health providers in medical, academic, community-based, and private practice settings. She specializes in integrative treatment approaches to address mental health concerns for youth and families, racially and ethnically minoritized individuals, and women. Dr. Jernigan-Noesi works with a vast array of public and private corporations, early learning centers, K-12 schools, institutions of higher education, graduate and professional schools, professional associations, and state and federal agencies. She frequently consults with organizations to offer culturally inclusive professional development and training in an effort to prioritize the emotional wellbeing of employees and their immediate supports. Additionally, Dr. Jernigan-Noesi’s consultation services include organizational assessment and strategic planning designed to promote equitable policies and practices, improve diversity, and sustain inclusive work environments. Dr. Jernigan-Noesi completed advanced clinical training at The Center for Multicultural Training in Psychology at Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine. She also completed fellowships at Harvard Medical School and Yale University School of Medicine.
She transitioned to Yale University School of Medicine where she completed a National Institutes of Health Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award fellowship in translational research and intervention science. Dr. Jernigan-Noesi’s work asa clinician-scientist and Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine focused on collaboration with health providers and community partners to develop and implement culturally responsive behavioral health and wellness initiatives in communities and schools. She is frequently called upon by clinical and healthcare organizations to assist with efforts to improve culturally equitable practices and delivery of health services, and to design and implement strategies to recruit and retain a diverse health care providers. Dr. Jernigan-Noesi is Director of the Intersections Research Lab, which explores topics related to racial trauma, culturally-responsive assessment and treatment, the social determinants of racial health disparities, social-emotional development, and Black maternal health. She is also an Affiliate Research Associate with the Immigration, Critical Race, and Cultural Equity (IC-RACE) Lab, Founded and co-directed by Dr. Nayeli Y. Chávez-Dueñas and Dr. Hector Y. Adames, which investigates topics related to immigration, culture, and race in psychology and develops models, programs, and interventions that are designed to promote and support psychological wellness within different Communities of Color. As a clinical researcher, Dr. Jernigan-Noesi’s contributions to the field of behavioral health have earned recognition from numerous organizations including the Ford Foundation, Mellon Foundation, and the American Psychological Association. Highlights related to her research and expertise have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, NPR, Huffington Post, USA Today, and Newsy. As an educator, Dr. Jernigan-Noesi provided over 17 years of formal instructional experience in higher education. She held tenure-track appointments as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA and the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, CT. Since transitioning from her role as a full-time educator, Dr. Jernigan-Noesi has shifted her focus to offer professional development for mental health trainees, providers, and supervisors, educators, legal professionals, and executives. To date, she has offered training to over 5,000 participants.