THE TEAM

 
Current Students:

Ayla (she/her/hers) entered the Counseling Psychology doctoral program at the University of Louisville in Fall 2021. She earned her BA in psychology from Northwestern University and her MFA in poetry from Boston University. Ayla’s undergraduate research focused on personality and health care utilization behaviors, and her current research interests include social determinants of health as they relate to counseling practice and physical and mental health outcomes. For fun, she enjoys spending time with family and friends (including her program cohort), running in Cherokee Park, rowing on the Ohio River, and playing the flute.

Deanna (she/her)  joined the Counseling Psychology program at the University of Louisville in Fall 2023. She earned her BA in Psychology from Southeastern Louisiana University and an MA in Forensic Psychology from the University of North Dakota. Deanna has a background in case management and victim advocacy both at higher education institutions and non-profit organizations in New Orleans, LA. Her focus is on dismantling pathways of criminalization entrenched within our health systems and investing in healing justice interventions, specifically for Black girls, women, and femmes.

Fei Bi (she/her/hers) joined the Counseling Psychology doctoral program at the University of Louisville in Fall 2021. She immigrated to the U.S. in 2017 and went on to earn her BA in Psychology and Dance from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in 2019. Fei Bi's research and academic interests center around healing and resistance through decolonial and liberatory cultural practices. As a student clinician, she enjoys working with children, adolescents, and immigrants who need support navigating life stressors, systemic barriers, and/or trauma. Fei Bi finds meaning in being involved in state and national professional associations where she can advocate and support the needs of her community. In her free time, Fei Bi enjoys learning and sharing hula alongside her hula family at Hui Kaululehua, cooking and eating delicious food, and spending time with her loved ones and three fur babies.

Heba (she/her/hers) is a first-year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at the University of Louisville. She earned her B.S. in Psychology and M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Louisville. Heba’s prior experience included the Resilient Families Project and Homeless Evaluation Team with Dr. Lora Haynes (Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at UofL) and the Social Inequities in Health Lab with Dr. Amanda Mitchell (Department of Counseling & Human Development at UofL). Her current research interest focuses on the intersection of racial/ethnic and religious disparities in health, including physical and mental health status, service accessibility, quality of care, and service outcomes for marginalized and minoritized populations. For fun, Heba enjoys reading, music, spending time with her family and friends, and the seasonal visit to a haunted house. 

Millicent Cahoon is a fifth-year student in the Counseling Psychology program, committed to advancing social justice and decolonized practices within the field of mental health. As a Black queer woman, her research focuses on dismantling oppressive systems and promoting equity and inclusion within therapeutic settings. Millicent aspires to teach at the university level, where she can empower the next generation of counselors with the knowledge and tools to serve diverse communities effectively. In addition to her academic ambitions, she plans to establish a private practice dedicated to providing compassionate and culturally responsive care to clients from marginalized backgrounds. For fun, Millicent enjoys playing with her two fur babies and attending concerts!

Miranda (she/her/hers) is a non-traditional first-generation Ph.D. student studying counseling psychology at the University of Louisville. Miranda’s current research focuses on identifying and addressing barriers to mental health and wellness in disenfranchised communities. She aims to drive systemic change and reimagine mental health care through a multi-cultural, feminist, and liberation psychology lens. By centering diverse perspectives and often utilizing a person-centered approach, Miranda seeks to create more inclusive and effective well-being methodologies. Miranda is a member of the American Psychological Association (divisions 1, 17, 35, 56, and APAGS) and the Kentucky Psychological Association, where she serves on the KPAGS Committee. Miranda is committed to a career combining research, community engagement, advocacy, and education to promote equity and the empowerment of all individuals. Miranda enjoys reading, spending time with her husband and their two children in her free time, and curling up for a nice nap with her animals.

Alumni:

Callie, MEd in Counseling Psychology, 2022
Hailey, MEd in Counseling Psychology, 2022, Volunteers of America
Hannah, PhD in Counseling Psychology, 2024
Xio, 2023