Meet the Team

Bahiyyah Muhammad

Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminology

Ph.D., Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice

MA, Corrections Administration from John Jay College of Criminal Justice

BS, Administration of Justice, and a Criminology Certificate from Rutgers University

Email: Bahiyyah.Muhammad@Howard.edu

Research Website: https://www.drmuhammadexperience.com/ 

Publications: https://www.drmuhammadexperience.com/publications 

Department of Sociology and Criminology: https://sociologyandcriminology.howard.edu/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmuhammad_experience/?hl=en 

Mesi Bakari-Walton

Assistant Professor of Spanish and Afro-Latinx Cultures
Department of World Languages & Cultures

Ph.D., Howard University

M.S., Howard University
B.S., Howard University

Email: mesi.e.walton@Howard.edu
University Website: https://profiles.howard.edu/mesi-bakari-walton 

https://mesiwalton.com/ 

Sung Joon Kim

Assistant Professor of Chemistry

Ph.D., Washington University in St. Louis (Molecular Biophysics,  Physical Chemistry, Biochemistry)
B.S., Calvin College (Physics, Mathematics)

Email: Sung.Kim@howard.edu

Research Website: https://sites.google.com/view/kim-research-group/home 

Publications: Google Scholar 

Department of Chemistry: https://chemistry.howard.edu/ 

Tashawn Reagon

Sociology & Criminology

Email: hu.frsm.tf1@gmail.com

Tashawn is currently a second-year Ph.D. student in Sociology and Criminology at Howard University. During Tashawn’s first doctoral year, she was a teaching fellow and promoted to graduate course coordinator for the dual enrollment course, Principles of Criminal Justice, taught by Dr. Bahiyyah Muhammad. Prior to starting her doctoral degree at Howard, Tashawn worked at both litigation and policy driven organizations, where she gained great experience learning the legal policies and procedures that make up our legal system today. Tashawn was the Strategic Litigation paralegal at the Innocence Project (“IP”). At IP, she assisted in the identification and litigation of numerous criminal cases that had the potential or led to the establishment of new legal precedent and address some of the leading causes of wrongful conviction. As well as serving as a paralegal at IP, Tashawn sat on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (“DEI”) committee. Prior to the Innocence Project, she also worked at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, as a litigation paralegal, where she handled many high profile civil and criminal legal matters. Tashawn graduated with a B.A. from Skidmore College in 2016 with honors in Sociology and a minor in Intergroup Relations. Her undergraduate studies, both inside and outside of the classroom, focused on the intersection of mass incarceration, race, and social identity development in the U.S. As an advocate for abolition, Tashawn seeks to examine equitable solutions for vulnerable and marginalized communities impacted by the social, legal, and economic application of justice. 

Joseph Macharia

MFA Film

Email: hu.frsm.tf2@gmail.com

Joseph is a self-taught and experienced video producer and motion graphics animator with 5 years of experience located in the DMV.   Prior to moving to the east coast, Joseph was a content creator at his alma mater, California State University Fresno, where he created dynamic content with Bulldog Vision, a production department in Fresno State Athletics during a reconstruction period bringing content to today's standard.  Currently, Joseph is a graduate Film student at Howard University. Joseph's study focus in the program is cinematography, with an emphasis on creating and shooting stories within the diaspora that display the many different cultures and rich history of unheard voices. His undergraduate degree is a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Communication with a minor in journalism at California State University, Fresno.

Elisabeth Lucien

Sociology & Criminology

Email: hu.frsm.tf3@gmail.com

Elisabeth is a 2nd-year sociology Ph.D. student at Howard University. She also holds a master' degree from the University of Southern California in social work, graduating with honors. Elisabeth is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (mental health therapist). In addition, she is energetically dedicated to educating and empowering underserved populations. Elisabeth's research efforts have been focused on uplifting the Black community from a physical and mental health perspective. Her personal mission is to be a voice for social justice while motivating others to use their own voice. She supports this mission by facilitating conversations on an individual, community, and national level about cultural trauma, resilience in the black community, and mental health-related topics. Elisabeth enjoys traveling, exploring new places, and spending time with friends and family in her free time.

Oluwatobi (Tobi) Aderotoye

Chemistry (MS program)

Email: hu.frsm.tf4@gmail.com

Oluwatobi “Tobi” Aderotoye is a first-generation Nigerian-American passionate about science, intercultural education, and advocacy. Growing up between Washington, DC, and Prince George’s County, MD, she developed her value of education and equity for people of color. Entering college, she explored various fields of her passions that focused on creating a more equitable world. During her sophomore year of college, while studying abroad at the University of Ghana when she led her first social campaign against mob or “jungle” justice with the group Ododow – an initiative to allow for proper judicial processes for those accused of crimes rather than public execution at the hands of civilians. Her experience in Ghana shaped her mindset on how she wanted to impact the world.  After earning her bachelor’s degrees in Chemistry and Political Science, she was selected as a Teach for America Corps Member, where she taught high school chemistry in Memphis, TN, for two years. During this period, Tobi collaborated with local leaders to advocate for more quality educational standards and safer learning environments for the school communities she served. In the classroom, she pushed her students to reach their zenith while connecting them with different opportunities to advocate for themselves and their communities and explore their interests. Upon completing her corps commitment, she returned to Howard University, where she is earning a Master of Science in Chemistry. Her current research focuses on solid lipid nanoparticles and metabolomics, which she aspires to use to allow more people to become more autonomous over their health outcomes. She hopes to combine her love for science and advocacy in a career focused on mixing culturally relevant research, policy, and effective science communication in order to improve our society’s policies and work on life-changing research and creations. 

Llarance Turner

Nutritional Sciences (PhD program)

Email: hu.frsm.tf5@gmail.com

Llarance Turner is a PhD student in Nutritional Sciences at Howard University, where he recently served as a course instructor for “Introduction to Nutrition, in the Nutritional Sciences Department. LLarance obtained a Master of Science in Health and Human Performance from Texas Southern University, and received a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, Dietetics, and Hospitality from Lamar University. LLarance’s research centers around the science of using a plant-based eating regimen to mitigate multiple chronic diseases.

Llarance is a certified strength and conditioning coach (CSCS) as conferred by the National Strength & Conditioning Association. While at Texas Southern University he served as a graduate assistant in strength and conditioning and was tasked with the responsibility of developing and implementing strength and training plans for women’s athletics under the guidance of head strength Coach Seroka. LLarance Turner also served a short stint at the University of Houston as an assistant strength and conditioning coach.  Llarance holds certification in USAW Level 1 weightlifting via the USA Weightlifting Association. Additionally, he has held certifications as a NASM certified personal trainer, AFPA Sports Nutritionist, and certified food-manager as conferred by the State of Texas.  

Kashari Henry

Microbiology (PhD program)

Email: hu.frsm.tf6@gmail.com

Kashari Henry is a second-generation HBCU scholar from Wilmington, Delaware. Prior to her education at Howard, she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Comparative Women’s Studies from Spelman College. Before graduating in 2022, she served as president of both Afrekete and Gifted Girls of Grace Inc. while becoming a WELS Scholar, interning, and volunteering. During her internship at Emory University, she was named a co-author in later published research. This opportunity sparked her interest in pursuing her Ph.D. in Microbiology and ultimately led to her interest in the microbiome. This summer, she gave back to her community by becoming a First Grade teacher for FAME Inc. STEMulate Change. Through her passion for reaching and giving back, she can’t wait to meet the first-year students at Howard this fall!

Jasmyne Brown

Communication Sciences and Disorders (MS program)
Email: hu.frsm.tf7@gmail.com

Jasmyne Brown is a second-year Master's student pursuing an M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She has attended Howard University since 2019 as a student in the Five-Year Accelerated Master's Program. She currently works as a graduate clinician giving speech and language services to children and adults with various disorders. Jasmyne is passionate about providing speech and language services to lower-income African-American children and plans to become a Speech Pathologist within the public school system. In addition to her master's degree, Jasmyne plans to pursue a Ph.D. with the goal of conducting research on the relationship between communication and autism within underdeveloped Black communities. 

Miriam Hagan

Nutritional Sciences (PhD program)

Email: hu.frsm.tf8@gmail.com

Miriam is a PhD student in Nutritional Sciences at Howard University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Technology and a master’s degree in Project Management. She is also a PMP Professional. Miriam has over 10 years work experience in diverse roles in the food, health, transportation, education, and Biotechnology industry. Before this summer, she conducted systematic reviews for four scientific papers she authored on the effect of calcium fortified dairy products on bone health in the elderly population; effect of seaweed on the microbiome; vitamins status; and reproduction. Two of these publication was accepted for publication in scientific journals. She has also done over ten presentations in line with sharing expertise around nutrition and health. During this summer, Miriam volunteered to mentor high school students in the I.N.V.E.N.T mentorship program. Miriam wishes to advance her career in the Nutrition, Food, and Health industry. Her current research interest is on the effects of seaweed intake on gut microbiome, vitamin status, reproduction, and gene expression.

Catherine Saunders

English (PhD program)

Website: https://catherinecsaunders.weebly.com 

Email: hu.frsm.tf9@gmail.com

Catherine C. Saunders is a PhD Candidate in African American Literature from Queens, New York. Her project examines black interiority across four matrices: sound, gender, cultural geography, and memory in Toni Morrison’s novels. She was previously a Just Julian Fellow (22-23) where she developed and prepared a chapter for publication in an upcoming book on teaching at historically black institutions. Additionally, she is currently preparing a chapter for publication in the upcoming Routledge companion to Toni Morrison (2024). She plans to defend her dissertation in December 2023 and bring her return to the institution that began her collegiate career full circle. 

Hannah Stevenson

Counseling Psychology (PhD program)

Email: hu.frsm.tf10@gmail.com

Hannah Stevenson is a third year doctoral student from Northern California. Prior to beginning her doctoral training in the counseling psychology program here at Howard, she graduated Cum Laude from Saint Mary’s College of California in 2021, earning her Bachelor’s of Science in Personality Psychology with a minor in Anthropology. Since starting at Howard, Hannah has worked with Dr. Jean Bailey, Dr. Katherine Picho, and Dr. Kyndra Middleton on various research projects focused on substance education in middle schools, emotion regulation in STEM college students of color, and educational outcomes and school mobility in foster care students, respectively. She has also worked as a teaching assistant in the Department of Human Development and Psychoeducational Studies with both Dr. Jean Bailey and Dr. Hakim Rashid. Hannah’s research interests center the inextricable relationship between culture and psychology, currently focusing specifically on the impact of phenotypic privilege and internalized anti-blackness on experiences of racial group belonging in Black/White biracial people. This is her first year serving as a Teaching Fellow for Freshman Seminar. 

Tahj Butler

Nutritional Science  (MS program)

Email: hu.frsm.tf11@gmail.com

Tahj Butler is a second-year student pursuing a Masters Degree in Nutritional Science. His research interests are in nutrigenomics and food disparities. During his undergraduate studies, Tahj attended Howard University where he majored in Biology and minored in Chemistry and Psychology, and received his Bachelor's degree in 2021. Tahj recently worked closely with Howard’s Graduate School assisting the Georgetown-Howard Center for Medical Humanities and Health Justice. Tahj also worked in the Enrollment Management department at the University and has a strong commitment to the success and education of Howard students. His passions include music, photography and cinematography, and enjoys travel and adventure.

Aicha Kaba

Microbiology (PhD program)

Email: hu.frsm.tf12@gmail.com

Aicha Kaba is a graduate of Michigan State University. She is currently a PhD student in the Microbiology department at Howard interested in the field of cancer research.  She aspires to find the connection between bacteria and cancer.  Aicha enjoys reading and she is a huge fan of music.  She speaks 3 languages and her favorite food is french fries.