Our Team

Henry A. Willis, Ph.D. is originally from Jackson, Mississippi, and he received his B.S. in psychology from Howard University and his M.A. in clinical psychology from Columbia University. Dr. Willis received an M.A. and Ph.D. from the Clinical Psychology program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and completed an APA-accredited internship at Montefiore Hospital/Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Subsequently, he completed postdoctoral research training at Columbia University’s School of Social Work and the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice. He completed his postdoctoral clinical training working with children and adults at Madison Park Psychological Services in New York City. Dr. Willis joined the faculty of the Clinical Psychology program at the University of Maryland, College Park in 2023. He is the creator and director of the Cultural Resilience, Equity, and Technology (CREATE) Research Lab at UMD College Park. His program of research includes exploring the relationship between online and offline racial discrimination and mental health outcomes among African American youth and young adults, understanding sociocultural protective factors (i.e., racial identity) and how they impact psychopathology within African Americans, creating cultural adaptations of evidence-based treatments, and utilizing mobile-health technologies to increase access to mental health treatments for underserved populations. Dr. Willis also assists in clinical training at the HOPE Center, a free mental health clinic in Harlem, New York. 

If you are interested in learning more about current research projects and opportunities to participate in research, please contact willislab@umd.edu. 

Tida Tambedou is from Silver Spring, Maryland, and currently serves as the manager of the CREATE Lab. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Spelman College and aspires to become an attorney. Before her role at the CREATE Lab, Tida amassed research experience in areas such as suicide prevention, social-emotional learning, and gendered racism. Her current research interests include medical racism, medical negligence, maternal mortality among Black women, health disparities, and access to quality healthcare. The CREATE Lab focuses on improving mental health equity and reducing disparities in mental healthcare within African American communities. This mission resonates deeply with Tida's dedication to addressing health disparities impacting African Americans. In her role, she aims to refine her leadership skills, address the lab's needs, and advance mental health equity through research.

Marissa Williams is originally from Los Angeles, California. Born to a Black mother and White father, with a Cherokee stepfather and foster siblings from various backgrounds, making diversity a central aspect of her life. She graduated with a BA in Political Economy from UC Berkeley and an MS in Social Work from Columbia University, specializing in leadership, management, entrepreneurship, and clinical social work. Her concentration areas include psychedelic psychotherapy, international social work for refugees and migrants, and responsible AI interventions for mental health.

Marissa has combined these multifaceted interests by working with underserved communities in France and the U.S., conducting research in clinical psychedelic labs in Australia, leading human rights trainings in refugee camps in Cyprus under the UN, and engaging in clinical practice in the Netherlands and New York.

Currently, Marissa is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) therapist in New York, where she primarily utilizes CBT, ACT, DBT, EMDR, IFS, and psychedelic psychotherapy. Her work has deepened her commitment to developing culturally responsive interventions for trauma and PTSD in marginalized communities, researching cultural manifestations of trauma, designing trauma-informed programs for stigmatized groups, and assessing cultural variations in responses to trauma. She is now applying for PhD programs in Clinical Psychology to study the role of autobiographical and overgeneral memory in race-based trauma and PTSD, with the goal of culturally adapting interventions for vulnerable populations who need them most.

Bunmi Odubayo is a clinical psychology PhD student at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) and a Graduate RA in the CREATE Lab. She is primarily interested in how culture, context, and other sociocultural factors are implicated in the mental health of immigrant-origin Black youth and young adults. She's also interested in leveraging modern technology to bridge the gap between underserved youth and mental health care. Bunmi graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a BA in psychology and a minor in writing, then earned her Master's in clinical psychological sciences at UMD before returning for the PhD program. Bunmi likes to listen to audiobooks, take walks, and lift weights in her free time.

Julianna Panton  is currently pursuing a Master’s of Professional Studies in Clinical Psychological Science at the University of Maryland. She received her BS in Psychology and BA in African American Studies with a minor in Health Disparities in Society from the University of Florida. She is also a SUCCEEDS coach for the UMD ADHD program. Julianna's broad research interests include intersectionality, anti-Black racism, the mental health of Black adolescents, and marginalized communities. Similar to the CREATE Lab, she is passionate about reducing disparities in access to mental healthcare and implementing culturally relevant interventions for Black/African American communities. In her free time, Julianna loves to travel, try new restaurants, binge shows, and spend time with her family. 

Kenneth Fling is a 1st year clinical psychology PhD student in Dr. Andrea Chronis-Tuscano’s ADHD lab at UMD. Prior to attending UMD, Kenny worked for two years as a postbac research assistant in Dr. Melissa Brotman’s lab at the NIMH researching pediatric DMDD after he graduated Summa Cum Laude from Howard University with a BS in Psychology. Dr. Henry Willis serves as a secondary mentor for Kenny which has allowed him to explore his interests in qualitative methods and culturally adapted treatments. Kenny hopes to connect these methods he’s exploring in the CREATE lab to the work he does with student populations in the ADHD lab. Kenny has an overall interest in pediatric & minority psychology with a specific curiosity about which treatments work for whom, and why they work. Upon completion of his degree, Kenny hopes to continue doing both research & clinical work in academic & community settings that will benefit minority populations.

Jessica Hassoun is originally from San Diego, California. She is currently a research assistant in Dr. Henry Willis’s CREATE Lab. She is a first year undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Psychology at the University of Maryland. Her involvement in the CREATE Lab allows her the opportunity to explore her research interests, including risk and protective factors encountered by people of color, cultural adaptations of therapeutic approaches, biases in counseling, the effects of prejudice/discrimination, and therapeutic outcomes. In the future she hopes to continue participating in research, eventually branching out into anxiety disorders and other areas of psychopathology. She also hopes to attend graduate school and pursue a PhD. Career-wise, Jessica plans to work as a clinical psychologist with a focus on adolescents, and possibly continue to conduct research at a University.

Tatiana Sandoval has extensive experience working with youth and emerging adults in non-profit and K-12 school settings. A proud first-generation alumni of the University of Maryland, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and participated in the FIRE (First Year Innovation & Research Experience) program. Currently, Tatiana is a Graduate Assistant at the Feller Center and is pursuing a Master of Professional Studies in Clinical Psychological Science at the University of Maryland. Her research and professional interests are rooted in serving racially diverse populations, youth, and families. This aligns seamlessly with the mission of the CREATE Lab, where Tatiana aims to contribute meaningful insights and practices that promote mental health access and support to the community.

Timothy Simmons is a clinical psychology PhD student at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) and a Graduate RA in the CREATE Lab. He is primarily interested in Understanding the impact of sociocultural protective factors, such as racial identity, ethnic-racial socialization, and spirituality, on the health outcomes of individuals within the African Diaspora. He is also interested in utilizing policy and media platforms for widespread dissemination of research findings. Timothy graduated from the University of South Carolina, with a BA in Psychology & Women and Gender Studies. Timothy likes to read books, practice yoga, and collect vinyls in his spare time. 

Meghan Ceribo is currently in the Master's of Professional Sciences program in Clinical Psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is a research assistant for the CREATE Lab and the Program Coordinator for the Sleep and Wearables for Operational Readiness and Defense (SWORD) lab at the Geneva Foundation, in collaboration with Walter Reed and the Uniformed Services University. Meghan’s research interests include mental health disparities, trauma and mood disorders, and barriers to higher education and healthcare among underrepresented populations. Meghan earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), where she researched learning and behavior in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and explored diversity initiatives and the experiences of underrepresented minorities in higher education. Her undergraduate thesis focused on developing assessments to understand barriers to graduate education for these populations and used these findings to develop a workshop series for underrepresented students at UMBC. Meghan’s interests align with the CREATE Lab’s mission to promote culturally responsive, equitable research. She is passionate about bridging the gap between research and clinical practice to highlight the need for evidence-based, culturally competent interventions. Her career goals include pursuing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology to advance this work through research and practice. In addition to her academic work, Meghan has experience working with various underrepresented and vulnerable populations, such as children with ASD, active-duty service members, veterans, minority undergraduate students, and homeless populations, shaping her interest in addressing systemic inequities in mental health services.

Susitna Voduru is a Research Assistant and dual-enrolled high school student at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) with a passion for the intersection of youth mental health, emerging technologies, and policy. Her research interests focus on how digital environments impact adolescent well-being and civic engagement. She has explored these interests through roles such as a Research Fellow at Ballotpedia, a Student Commissioner on the Fairfax County Student Human Rights Commission, and a former Virginia House Page. Her work aligns with the CREATE Lab’s mission by examining the role of technology in shaping youth experiences and informing policies that promote positive mental health outcomes. Through her role as a Research Assistant, she aims to contribute to evidence-based solutions that bridge technological advancements with youth well-being.

Kynnedi Giles-Watkins is a Research Assistant from Cleveland, Ohio. She is a third-year undergraduate student pursuing her B.S in Psychology at Howard University in Washington, DC. Kynnedi's research interests' include studying the effects of structural racism on African Americans and other marginalized communities in the United States, focusing on how the production of mass media can influence structural racism. Upon graduating from Howard University, Kynnedi hopes to pursue a Ph.D in Sociology or Social Psychology. Kynnedi's research and academic aspirations aligns with the CREATE Lab's goals of providing racial equity to African Americans across the country and strives to contribute to this effort through her work.

Cayleah A. Anders is from Baltimore, Maryland. She is currently a research assistant in Dr. Henry Willis’s CREATE lab. She is a senior undergraduate at Frostburg State University, majoring in psychology. She is interested in exploring mental health within underrepresented populations, with a focus on intersectionality and how racism-related stress contributes to psychological distress. She hopes to investigate how experiences of discrimination impact outcomes such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and suicide risk. Additionally, she is curious about identifying protective factors that may buffer against mental health symptoms and is interested in developing and evaluating prevention strategies to support the psychological well-being of marginalized communities. After earning her bachelors, Cayleah hopes to attend graduate school to pursue her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a focus in children and adolescents.

Lushmere Menard is a research assistant from Brooklyn, New York. She is currently a senior in the combined BA/MA in Psychology Research at CUNY City College. Lushmere's research interests are in how cultural and social frameworks of race, gender, and identity influence how people perceive, experience, and respond to stigma. She is also interested in research at the intersection of gender studies, Black studies, and social psychology. Upon graduating from City College, she hopes to pursue a Ph.D in Social Psychology. In her free time, Lushmere enjoys painting, dancing, and writing poetry.