• Dr. Jones' program of research principally seeks to challenge, clarify and correct the narrative concerning risk and resilience for Black youth and their families. He strives to better understand the interplay between race-related risk (e.g., racial discrimination, racism-related stress) and protective factors (e.g., racial identity, racial socialization, Africentricity) that influence Black youth psychological wellbeing. To that end, his investigations seek to move beyond understanding that racial/ethnic factors are protective, to unearthing the mechanisms and processes that explain how this protection is achieved. He employs both quantitative and qualitative methodologies—including utilizing mixed methods—and his strengths-based approach is grounded in cultural ecological models, acknowledging the role of individual and broader contextual (e.g., microsystem, macrosystem) factors. Lastly, as a scientist-practitioner, his research endeavors to answer these questions in the service of identifying avenues for prevention and intervention efforts.

  • Fatima Nayani graduated from George Mason University in 2020 with a B.S. in Psychology, concentrating in Clinical Psychology. Since then, she's earned her M.S. in Psychological Sciences from William & Mary, where they gained research experience in cross-cultural psychology. Further in their career, Fatima hopes to aid in increasing accessibility to culturally-competent mental health interventions for underserved communities globally, with the goal of achieving global equity in mental healthcare.

  • Ashley holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Christopher Newport University, a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications from West Virginia University, and is currently completing a Master of Science in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University with an anticipated graduation of May 2024. Upon graduation, Ashley plans to pursue counseling licensure and hopes to work alongside public school systems to provide person-centered, trauma-informed care to teenagers and young adults.

Graduate Team

Post-Baccalaureate Team

Undergraduate Team

Alumni Members

  • Keyona Allen, Ph.D.

    Graduate Team

  • Sultan Hubbard, Ph.D.

    Graduate Team

  • Myonni Alexander

    Undergraduate RA

  • Walter Anyanwu

    Undergraduate RA

  • Jayla Gills

    Undergraduate RA

  • Jamie Hill

    Undergraduate RA

  • Kalei Leao

    Undergraduate RA

  • Isaiah Lewis

    Undergraduate RA

  • Mia Milligan

    Undergraduate RA

  • Chandler Smith

    Undergraduate RA

  • Taila Wille

    Undergraduate RA