Dr. Martinque Jones

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.

DOCTORAL LAB MEMBERS

Gabriella "Gabby" Gaskin-Cole, M.S.

Gabriella "Gabby" Gaskin-Cole is a 6th year student in the Counseling Psychology doctoral program. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her research interests center around the messages Black women receive from their mothers related to strength and strong Black womanhood. Additionally, she is interested in the connection between the internalization of strength messages and the impact it has on Black women's platonic and romantic relationships. Her clinical interests include working with children and adolescents in the foster care system, individuals with a history of childhood maltreatment and trauma, and historically marginalized individuals.

Dominique Doty, M.S.

Dominique Doty is a 6th year student in the Counseling Psychology, Ph.D. program. She earned her Bachelor's degree at University of California, Davis. Her research interests broadly center around identity development and identity-related concerns with people of color. Her thesis project investigated the relationship between gendered racism and psychological distress among Black women, and how gendered racial identity impacts that relationship. Her current research project seeks to explore the biracial identity development among Native American-White individuals. Clinically, she is interested in working with those who hold marginalized identities, those with a history of trauma, and Veterans.

Melissa Briones, M.A.

Melissa Briones is a 5th year in the Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology at UT-Rio Grande Valley and her Master's degree in Clinical Psychology at Sam Houston State University. She is currently working on research projects centering on the discrimination graduate students of color experience in their academic settings and the impact of marianismo on the association between discrimination and psychological distress among Latina women.

Cassandre Jean-Ceide, B.A.

Cassandre Jean-Ceide is a 3rd year in the Counseling Psychology Ph.D program. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. Her research interests broadly center what Positive Psychology looks like for Black individuals, the experiences of Black individuals, and Haitian culture.

Quanisha Whittfield, M.A.

Quanisha Whittfield is a 2nd year in the Counseling Psychology Ph.D program. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology at Baylor University and her Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Sam Houston State University. Her research interests broadly center the holistic wellness of Black women and culturally relevant intervention development using yoga and meditation to address mental and physical impacts of gendered racism.

CURRENT UNDERGRADUATE & POST-BACCALAUREATE LAB MEMBERS

Alia Jones

Alia Jones is a 4th year undergraduate student with a major in Psychology and a minor in Counseling. After graduating, she plans to pursue a master's degree in social work and eventually become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Her research interests currently include black psychology, the strong black woman schema, mental health, and colorism.

Laila Gardner

Laila Gardner is a 4th year undergraduate student in the psychology program. After graduating, she hopes to purse a dance therapy degree to become a Licensed Dance Movement Therapist (LDMT) and conduct her practice oversees. Her research interests include the affect of self-discrepancies on mental health among college aged individuals, black women's mental health, and somatic therapies.

Bahia Ramirez

Bahia Ramirez is a 4th year student in the Psychology undergraduate program. She is currently working on research projects centered around colorism, Strong Black Womanhood and mental health outcomes. She is passionate about the intersectionality of gender and race, racial trauma, and Black mental health advocacy.

Lani Ahmed

Lani Ahmed is currently a 3rd year double majoring and Psychology and History at the University of North Texas. She has consistently made the Dean's list since her start at UNT occasionally the President's List. Lani belongs to a team of peer mentors that help guide freshman and transfer students during their first year at UNT. She joined the McNair team at the beginning of 2022 to pursue her research on the link between one's ethnic background and their mental health. In her free time, Lani likes to read, play with cats, design things, and spend time with friends. She plans on continuing her research once she attends graduate school and her postdoctoral program. Lani plans on getting a master's degree in counseling and eventually a P.h.D in psychology with a concentration in social psychology, and envisions being a clinical psychologist in the future.

Dolores Clay

Adaora Okoye