2023 Supplemental Doctoral Fellows

Chelsea Alexander (she/her) – Lafayette, Louisiana

Chelsea Alexander is a graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University. She is currently a doctoral student in the Clinical Counseling: Teaching and Supervision program at Trevecca Nazarene University.

Chelsea is interested in researching the correlations between a sense of belonging and academic resilience as moderators of classroom community and counselor self-efficacy of BIPOC counselors-in-training. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Mental Health Service Provider Designation (LPC/MHSP) and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). She has experience providing mental health counseling in jails, nonprofits, and inpatient settings for older adults and adolescents. She currently serves the justice-involved population through an alternative sentencing, co-occurring disorder, intensive outpatient program. She hopes to continue to advocate to decriminalize mental illness and substance use within the justice-involved population. This fellowship will provide her with opportunities to become more engaged with justice-involved organizations; attend conferences to improve her competency in continuing to serve underrepresented and marginalized communities; and increase her leadership, mentorship, and clinical skills. The fellowship will assist Chelsea in continuing her dissertation research on the experiences of the classroom community within the BIPOC population.

Sara A. Al-Khedairy (she/her) – San Diego, California

Sara A. Al-Khedairy is a graduate of the University of San Diego and Western Washington University. She is currently a doctoral student in the counselor education and supervision program at Antioch University Seattle.

Sara is a first-generation college graduate and the child of Egyptian and Iraqi immigrants, two identities that sustain her personally and professionally. Her research interests include examining equitable practices in counselor education admissions, addressing the exploitation of prelicensed clinicians, and increasing affirming and competent care for polyamorous and consensually nonmonogamous clients. As an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor in California, her clinical work focuses on serving adult children of immigrants, polyamorous and consensually nonmonogamous clients, and neurodivergent folx. She works as a integrative narrative therapist, centering the exploration of how systems of oppression, power, privilege, and identity contribute to challenges in the lives of her clients.

Sara currently serves on the Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision board as the region’s Graduate Student Representative. She was the CES PhD Social Justice and Diversity Research Fellow at Antioch University Seattle from 2022–2023. This fellowship will support her as she continues to examine how to bring decolonial and abolitionist practice into the clinical and academic domains. Sara also hopes to connect with other like-minded clinicians who are working to not only serve marginalized populations, but who are seeking to dismantle harmful and oppressive systems within counseling.

Emu Aragon (he/his) – Greensboro, North Carolina

Emu Aragon is a graduate of Southern Adventist University. He is currently a doctoral student in the counselor education and supervision program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Emu is interested in applying decolonial and intersectional frameworks to examine the interaction of power dynamics in the counseling profession with the identities of marginalized individuals. As mental health professionals, counselors hold more power than they often realize. He hopes to increase counselors’ awareness of the impact of their professional power on their clients with marginalized identities, especially queer and trans clients of color.

Emu is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Mental Health Service Provider (LPC-MHSP) in Tennessee and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). He operates from a feminist-multicultural-humanistic lens, and his solo private practice is focused on providing telehealth therapy to QTBIPOC adolescents and adults who are healing from complex and acute trauma. His experience includes providing case management to individuals living with HIV/AIDS; intensive in-home therapy to court-mandated minors and Spanish-speaking families; and counseling to LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and neurodivergent (ADHD/ASD) students in collegiate mental health. With support from this fellowship, he plans to connect and collaborate with other social-justice-minded counseling scholars. Additionally, Emu hopes to grow in his advocacy and leadership abilities and invigorate his research through the training and mentorship he will receive.

Monique Barber (she/her) – Meridian, Idaho

Monique Barber is a graduate of Northwest Nazarene University and Boise State University. She is currently a doctoral student in the counselor education and supervision program at Liberty University.

Monique's research interests include supervision and creativity in counseling and education, focusing on multicultural populations and people with addiction. She has contributed to research that examined attitudes toward survivors of overdose, a book chapter focused on creativity in multicultural counseling, and she was the lead author of the Idaho Wellness Journal, a publication written with Native American students in mind. She is the owner of Ever Forward Counseling x Neurofeedback, a name that reflects her hopeful attitude and resilience as a cancer survivor. Through her practice, she serves people from many walks of life, including those with substance use disorders, those in marginalized communities, and those in rural areas with limited access to mental health services. Her goal in pursuing this fellowship includes advancing her counseling and professorial skills, networking, and bolstering her leadership and advocacy identity. Monique currently serves on the Idaho Counseling Association’s Public Policy and Legislative Committee, where she contributes to advocacy to assure ethical and attainable mental health services for all Idahoans.

Phebe Brako-Owusu (she/her) – Puyallup, Washington

Phebe Brako-Owusu is a graduate of Seton Hill University and Salem College. She is currently a doctoral student in the counselor education and supervision program at Antioch University.

Phebe is a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist and Counselor in Washington state and Washington, D.C. As an immigrant from Ghana, she is passionate about working with fellow immigrants and encouraging them to prioritize their mental health. She is a recipient of The Dr. Ellen K. Carruth Diversity & Inclusivity in Counseling Scholarship. She was named Blacked Owned Advocate for her community work as the founder of 253 Therapy and Consult. She is currently researching transracial adoption and hopes to focus on Black transracial adoptees and Ghanaian birth parent stories. This fellowship is an opportunity for her to pursue her education and research and receive mentorship from accomplished counselors as a blueprint for her own mentoring one day.

Sierah Campbell (she/her) – Clarksville, Tennessee

Sierah Campbell is a graduate of Lipscomb University. She is currently a doctoral student in the counselor education program at Adams State University.

Sierah is a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Mental Health Service Provider designation (LPC-MHSP) in Tennessee. Her goal is to aid in reducing health disparities by addressing barriers to equitable treatment among marginalized groups. Alongside colleagues, she is conducting research on the training and experience of independently licensed counselors working with people of color navigating an eating disorder(s). Based on her challenging pregnancy and birth experience during her doctoral program, she is also interested in researching the experience of doctoral students navigating pregnancy and motherhood while pursuing a PhD in counselor education. As the daughter of a veteran, she is also committed to continued counseling and advocacy to serve veterans, active duty military, and their families. The fellowship will support Sierah’s professional growth by allowing her to collaborate with other counselors dedicated to being change agents addressing barriers to culturally competent counseling and strengthening contributions to research, education, and advocacy.

Angelica Castillo (she/her) – Caldwell, Idaho

Angelica Castillo is a graduate of Idaho State University. She is currently a doctoral student in the counselor education and supervision program at Idaho State University.

Angelica is a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Idaho. She has a private practice and strives to serve individuals with marginalized identities by providing accessible, quality, compassionate, trauma-informed care. She is passionate about working with Spanish-speaking individuals and people with disabilities. Her research interests include social justice and multicultural continuing education postgraduation. She is also passionate about researching and advocating for bilingual counseling training and supervision. Angelica hopes this fellowship can help her grow as a counselor educator, researcher, and advocate to better serve her community..

Ashley D. Cosby (she/her) – Atlanta, Georgia

Ashley D. Cosby is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where she is currently a doctoral student in the counselor education and supervision program.

Ashley's research interests include burnout among Black women school counselors, supervision within school counseling, school counselor leadership, and school counselor efficacy with the college admissions process. She is the Head School Counselor at a school that serves students pursuing a nontraditional path to obtaining their high school diploma through dual enrollment and prepares them for careers in high-skilled, high-demand, high-wage fields upon graduation. This fellowship will allow her to become a subject matter expert in burnout among Black women through advocacy, education, and preventive measures and further her development as a scholar and researcher. The fellowship will also grant Ashley access to professional organizations that will enhance her school counseling and counselor education knowledge.

Karina Crescini (she/her) – Aubrey, Texas

Karina Crescini is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and the University of Florida. She is currently a doctoral student in the counselor education and supervision program, specializing in play therapy, at the University of North Texas.

Karina is interested in researching the therapist-caregiver relationship to support early interventions, such as play therapy, and better serve marginalized children and their families. She hopes to expand her research toward trauma-informed care, particularly with domestic violence and sexual violence. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Florida, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas, and a Registered Play Therapist (RPT). Her clinical experience includes counseling children who were sexually abused, supporting the children’s caregivers who experienced secondary trauma, and providing child-parent relationship therapy to parents who experienced domestic violence. She currently provides low-cost counseling services to Denton County, Texas, residents, and accessible, pro bono play therapy services to children in local Title 1 Schools. Karina is committed to providing culturally inclusive counseling services and leveraging this fellowship to serve minoritized children, adolescents, and their families. Through mentorship and connections with diverse counselors, she aims to strengthen her cultural humility and comfort and grow as a culturally responsive counselor and educator. She views the fellowship as an opportunity to further her research interests in trauma-informed care by attending trainings, engaging in mentorship, accessing resources, and collaborating with other professionals dedicated to promoting culturally informed practices.

Nayara Da Costa Silva Beall (she/her) – Newcastle, Washington

Nayara Da Costa Silva Beall is a graduate of the University of Washington and the Universidade Federal do Paraná in Brazil. She is currently a doctoral student in the counselor education and supervision program at Antioch University.

Nayara is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the state of Washington and assumes the role of Clinical Director at a group practice serving individuals and families struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). She is an immigrant from Brazil and is passionate about utilizing research as a tool for advocacy with the goal of increasing access to mental health for marginalized communities. Her research agenda includes Brazilian immigrants, the Latinx community, BIPOC individuals, and individuals with OCD. The fellowship will support Nayara’s doctoral journey, enabling her to continue pursuing her research agenda, connect with mentors, disseminate knowledge, and increase representation in our field.

Allen L. Davis III (he/his) – Greeley, Colorado

Allen L. Davis III (Davis) is a graduate of Merrimack College, Springfield College, and the University of Louisville. He is currently a doctoral student in the counselor education and supervision program at the University of Northern Colorado.

Davis is presently studying the need for trauma-informed care and its application in supporting underserved and vulnerable populations such as veterans and students of color in counseling programs. Davis is a clinician for an organization that oversees the housing and treatment of incarcerated youth as well as a mobile crisis clinician who serves some of the most at-risk. Davis is also working toward developing his own private practice and consulting firm. The fellowship will help him connect with more professionals of color working in similar areas and spark new ideas to benefit the populations he serves. Davis has a special interest in counseling theory and instructional strategies.

Caroline Fernandes (she/her) – Atlanta, Georgia

Caroline Fernandes is a graduate of Mercer University and Goa University in India. She is currently a doctoral student in the counselor education and supervision program at Mercer University.

Caroline is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Georgia. She offers multicultural integrative and complementary alternative treatments in her private practice. She also offers pro bono counseling for marginalized, uninsured youth. She mentors national and international counseling students and facilitates training and workshops on multicultural sensitivity in counseling and supervision practices. Caroline fervently advocates for integrating multicultural spirituality pedagogy into counselor education programs. To reduce global mental health disparities, she focuses on inclusion, diversity, and multiculturally sensitive assessments for marginalized minorities. She has translated culture-competent psychometrics and trauma training modules into Hindi to support mental health in India. Her extensive clinical training includes evidence-based trauma treatments, Eastern complementary and alternative therapies, training in psychedelic-assisted therapy, and indigenous healing modalities. Her dissertation delves into understanding the intersectionality of psychedelics, spiritual emergence, trauma, and mental health to prevent misdiagnosis. Fernandes envisions developing BIPOC-specific holistic treatment curricula for survivors of familial sexual abuse, healing intergenerational trauma, and wellness programs for wounded healers. This fellowship will support Caroline’s dissertation, enrich her professional and leadership skills, empower her to continue serving the underserved, marginalized, Asian immigrant community, and help develop community workshops on harm reduction/prevention of substance/psychedelic abuse.

Kendall B. Holloway (she/her) – Richmond, Virginia

Kendall B. Holloway is a graduate of Old Dominion University and Virginia Tech. She is currently a doctoral student in the counselor education and supervision program at Virginia Tech.

Kendall is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Virginia specializing in the therapeutic intervention of eating disorders. With a diverse clinical background encompassing partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient and outpatient care, she has also served as a Director for the programs she oversees. Her research pursuits center on dismantling barriers to eating disorder care for marginalized individuals, exploring clinical supervision competencies in eating disorder care, and advocating for the often overlooked stories and experiences within this community. Currently, Kendall is a graduate assistant at Virginia Tech, where she fulfills roles as a supervisor and educator for master’s counseling students.

Helen Jennings-Hood (she /her) – Wynne, Arkansas

Helen Jennings-Hood is a graduate of Arkansas State University. She is currently a doctoral student in the counselor education and supervision program at the University of the Cumberlands.

Helen specializes in working with neurodivergent women and LGBTQIA+ communities, specifically supporting trans individuals during their gender journeys, practicing from a humanistic and intersectional feminist lens. She is also an Adjunct Professor for the graduate counseling program at Henderson State University, where she builds a curriculum with intersectional awareness and a focus on social justice. Her research interests are gender in counseling and how gender roles impact the quality of life for clients and clinicians. The fellowship will assist Helen in her passion for researching mental health needs, supports, and resources within the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and developing counseling education related to working with Native American populations.

Karen Jubert (she/her) – Lake Charles, Louisiana

Karen Jubert is a graduate of the University of Houston and Prairie View A&M University. She is currently a doctoral student in the counselor education and supervision program at Saybrook University.

Karen proudly identifies as a Black woman on a two-part mission to increase the number of graduated and licensed Black counselors and culturally informed mental health professionals and expand access to culturally responsive mental health care for minoritized community members. She is the sixth child of nine and will be the first among her siblings to graduate with a PhD. Though she calls Louisiana home, she’s lived in Houston, Texas, for over 20 years. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S) and National Certified Counselor (NCC). She is a university mental health counselor and co-partners with J&J Partners to conduct insightful and empowering learning experiences on compassion fatigue and inclusive leadership with corporate, community, and educational organizations. She often uses her voice to reduce mental health stigma and advocate for inclusivity related to intersecting identities as she serves her profession and community as a volunteer, panelist, or speaker. Her research will explore Black counselor educators’ experiences of compassion fatigue. Research outcomes could support the recruitment, training, retention, and persistence of Black mental health professionals, leading to positive mental health outcomes within marginalized communities. This fellowship will support Karen’s commitment to supporting underserved communities and diversifying the mental health profession.

Sheria Kwok (she/her) – West Palm Beach, Florida

Sheria Kwok is a graduate of Palm Beach Atlantic University and the University of Central Florida. She is currently a doctoral student in the counseling program at Florida Atlantic University.

Sheria is interested in exploring the relationships between mindfulness, self-care, and burnout among mental health counselors and bridging gaps in mental health, pedagogy, and research for various populations within counseling and counselor education. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Florida and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). In private practice, she counsels adolescents, adults, couples, and families from diverse ethnic backgrounds, including but not limited to the American Asian and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population. She employs evidence-based therapies, counseling clients to discover and meet their mental health needs so they can transform positively. This fellowship will provide her with training and experiences to further increase and enhance her competency, knowledge, and clinical skills in leadership/advocacy, research, and counseling. The fellowship, professional conferences, training, and mentorship will be instrumental as Sheria completes her PhD in counseling. As part of the fellowship, she can continue her dissertation research on the wellness of mental health counselors and engagement in philanthropic service.

Huy Lam (he/his) – Dallas, Texas

Huy Lam is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences. He is currently a doctoral student in the counselor education and supervision program at Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Huy is interested in exploring factors that facilitate help-seeking within the Vietnamese community using documentary film. This method involves collaborating with community members to coproduce a research-oriented documentary film. The resulting film will reflect the participants’ perspectives and experiences and serve as a tool to communicate research findings to a wider audience. He is also interested in learning and applying constructivist grounded theory in his dissertation and future work. He hopes this dissertation will mark the beginning of many years of research with, rather than on, the Vietnamese community, amplifying their voices and evoking their inherent strengths. Huy cofounded the Psychological Wellness Initiative for Communities-Vietnamese (PsyWic-V), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing mental health information to the Vietnamese-speaking community in the United States and Vietnam. Since its inception in 2020, PsyWic-V has published over 100 YouTube videos and hosted many training sessions, webinars, and workshops for nonprofit organizations serving underprivileged populations. This fellowship will be instrumental in enabling Huy to dedicate more time to growing as a researcher and serving the Vietnamese community.

Amanda Elaine Long (she/her) – Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Amanda Elaine Long is a graduate of Mount Mary University and Carroll University. She is currently a doctoral student in the counselor education and supervision program at Mount Mary University.

Amanda is interested in researching correlations between mental health outcomes, factors of identity development such as racial salience, and the environment of underrepresented populations. She serves the community as a Professional Counselor at the Center for Behavioral Medicine (CBM), working with adults, adolescents, and families of individuals with severe emotion-regulation concerns. As a doctoral student, she supports aspiring counselors through various roles within the counseling department, including professional mentor, instructor, supervisor for initial clinical training, and graduate assistant at the campus Counseling and Wellness Center. Amanda is a Counselor for Social Justice through the American Counseling Association; an Anti-Racist Committee member through the International Society for the Improvement and Teaching of Dialectical Behavior Therapy; a Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Council member at CBM; and a Black Clinicians Milwaukee member representing and advocating for 53206. This fellowship will help cover the costs of her doctoral studies, including tuition, course materials, dissertation research, and professional development expenses.

Illiana Navarra-Bueno (she/they) – Detroit, Michigan

Illiana Navarra-Bueno is a graduate of Bowling Green State University and Wayne State University. She is currently a doctoral student in the counselor education and practice program at Georgia State University.

Illiana is committed to decolonizing research practices and advancing anti-oppression and anti-racist pedagogy within counselor education. Her research centers on generational trauma and the intersectionality of cultural, racial, sexual, and gender identities and their development. Specializing in working with underserved populations, including adolescents, teens, and adults within the LGBTQIA+, Latinx/e, Asian, and Black/African American communities, she demonstrates a focused dedication to addressing the unique needs of diverse individuals. This fellowship offers valuable opportunities for networking, community building, and research support, contributing significantly to the development of her dissertation. Beyond her research, Illiana has a keen interest in play, adventure, and animal therapy to provide to underserved populations and hopes to obtain certification and training for each.

Tiffany Michelle Perry-Wilson (she/her) – Washington, D.C.

Tiffany Michelle Perry-Wilson is a graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio and Park University. She is currently a doctoral student in the counselor education and supervision program at The George Washington University.

Tiffany’s current passion lies in exploring the experiences of Queer Womxn of Color (QWoC) within the African diaspora, specifically focusing on their narratives within the realms of religion and spirituality. Her overarching goal is to utilize a liberatory framework that sheds light on these crucial aspects and contributes valuable insights to the counseling field. In doing so, she aspires to enhance the support and assistance provided to QWoC within the African diaspora, particularly in the domains of religion and spirituality. As a PhD candidate, she actively engages with and serves minoritized and racialized communities. Her commitment to making a positive impact is evident through her collaboration with the Transformative Praxis Research Lab (TPRL) at California State University-Fullerton and her work with underserved populations as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). This fellowship holds significant value for her, serving as a gateway to spaces that may not have naturally opened up to her due to her multiple minoritized identities. Through this opportunity, she aims to further cultivate her skills and expertise in core areas such as leadership, research, and academia. By doing so, Tiffany envisions personal growth and increased avenues to enact positive change within the counselor education subfield.

Jasmine Peters (she/her) – Charlotte, North Carolina

Jasmine Peters is a graduate of Georgia Southern University. She is currently a doctoral student in the counselor education and supervision program at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Jasmine is currently interested in conducting research that elevates the voices and lived experiences of marginalized communities, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and those holding intersecting racial, gender, and sexual identities. She is also interested in research that explores queer futurism, specifically, what methods of resistance queer and trans people of color (QTPOC) implement as a means of surviving and thriving in oppressive environments. Currently, she is a counselor/LGBTQIA+ specialist at Davidson College, where she provides mental health services and campus-wide psychoeducational programming to improve student, faculty, and staff well-being. Through her participation in the fellowship program, Jasmine will be able to continue growing her knowledge and pursue additional training in best practices for providing equitable care to marginalized populations. She will also be able to maintain her professional memberships and build meaningful connections within the profession.

Marium Sadiq (she/her) – Plano, Texas

Marium Sadiq is a graduate of the University of North Texas and Texas A&M. She is currently a doctoral student in the counselor education and supervision program at the University of North Texas.

Marium is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas, a Registered Play Therapist (RPT), and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). Before entering the doctoral program, she worked with populations who have experienced interpersonal and community-level traumas, including victims of domestic violence. Currently, she works to ensure that children within the nearby public schools receive mental health services by recruiting skilled counselors and supervising the effectiveness of their work. Her research interests include the impacts of incarceration and refugee status on parenting and the overall mental health of children and adults. This fellowship will allow Marium to lead Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT) groups with refugee parents while providing necessary resources such as play kits and child care to reduce the burden on participating parents.

Ana Julia Valenzuela (she/her) – Pasadena, Texas

Ana Julia Valenzuela is a graduate of Walden University, the University of Houston Clearlake, and San Jacinto College Central. She is currently a doctoral student in the counselor education and supervision program at Walden University.

Ana Identifies as Afrolatina/Afrocaribeña. She was born in the Dominican Republic and migrated to Pasadena, Texas, at 15. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S), a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) in Texas, and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). Her research interest focuses on evaluating and developing culturally sensitive interventions for individuals experiencing complex trauma across generations, access barriers to mental health services for marginalized communities experiencing complex trauma, and the implications of transgenerational trauma among women of color, especially as it relates to the presentation of impostor syndrome. She has worked in the mental health field for over 17 years, holding different clinical and leadership roles in various community mental health agencies. She is the Executive Director of a group of private practices with five offices across the greater Houston area and servicing four school districts. Having been born in the Dominican Republic, she is passionate about creating opportunities to access mental health services, providing education in a way that her community can understand, and demystifying mental illness. This fellowship will allow Ana to access avenues to grow her knowledge and access to increase advocacy and development of programs to serve her community and continue to develop her leadership and clinical skills.