mEET THE wETHRIVE LAB!
temilola salami, ph.d.
wETHRIve lab dIRECTOR
Dr. Temilola Salami is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Prairie View A&M University, where she directs The Health and Resilience Initiative for Vulnerable and Excluded Groups (weTHRIVE) lab. Dr. Salami earned her M.S. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Georgia, and completed a pre-doctoral clinical psychology internship at the Medical University of South Carolina. Following her doctoral studies, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine/Ben Taub Hospital, where she honed her skills in providing care for individuals who have experienced trauma and discrimination.
Dr. Salami's research program through the weTHRIVE lab is centered around reducing health disparities and promoting positive health outcomes among underserved and marginalized populations. Dr. Salami's research focuses on understanding the biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to health disparities, particularly among high-risk populations. She has a strong interest in working with first responders, racially/ethnically minoritized populations, and victims of human trafficking. These groups are often exposed to a wide range of stressful experiences and may face numerous barriers in accessing and utilizing healthcare services. Dr. Salami's research is therefore aimed at developing effective interventions to improve the health and well-being of these populations.
Her work in the weTHRIVE lab is particularly noteworthy for its emphasis on community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches, which engage community members and stakeholders as equal partners in the research process. This allows her to better understand the unique needs and experiences of the communities she works with, and to develop interventions that are culturally sensitive, relevant, and effective. Overall, Dr. Salami's work has important implications for improving the health and well-being of some of the most vulnerable and marginalized members of society.
Dr. Salami's research program through the weTHRIVE lab is centered around reducing health disparities and promoting positive health outcomes among underserved and marginalized populations. Dr. Salami's research focuses on understanding the biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to health disparities, particularly among high-risk populations. She has a strong interest in working with first responders, racially/ethnically minoritized populations, and victims of human trafficking. These groups are often exposed to a wide range of stressful experiences and may face numerous barriers in accessing and utilizing healthcare services. Dr. Salami's research is therefore aimed at developing effective interventions to improve the health and well-being of these populations.
Her work in the weTHRIVE lab is particularly noteworthy for its emphasis on community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches, which engage community members and stakeholders as equal partners in the research process. This allows her to better understand the unique needs and experiences of the communities she works with, and to develop interventions that are culturally sensitive, relevant, and effective. Overall, Dr. Salami's work has important implications for improving the health and well-being of some of the most vulnerable and marginalized members of society.
graduate research assistants
Tiah k. stewart
Tiah K. Stewart is a graduate student in the Clinical Adolescent Psychology doctoral program at Prairie View A&M University, expected to graduate in 2025. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Alcorn State University in Lorman, MS. Her current thesis explores the effect of institutional racism on alcohol use when moderated by religious coping. Tiah's primary research interests include racial/ethnic minority populations, human trafficking populations, risk/resilience factors, trauma, and abnormal psychopathology.
Rabeea Baloch
Rabeea Baloch is a Second-Year Doctoral student in the Adolescent Clinical Psychology doctoral program at Prairie View A&M. She received her bachelor’s degree in commerce and business accounting, a master’s degree in computer science, and a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Her primary research interests include adverse childhood experiences, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), intimate partner violence, and the role of resilience in the minority population. She is a licensed Professional Counselor in Idaho, a Licensed chemical dependency counselor LCDC in Texas, and a licensed professional counselor associate (LPC-Associate) in Texas. Rabeea is an EMDR and C-BIT trained clinician and owns her private practice where she helps her clients heal from PTSD, domestic violence, and intimate partner violence in addition to helping them with addiction, depression, and anxiety.
cayla hari
Cayla Hari is a doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology program at Sam Houston State University. She is expected to graduate in 2025. She received her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and Spanish from the University of Mississippi in 2018 and her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from Sam Houston State University in 2021. Cayla’s research interests include understanding biopsychosocial risk and resilience factors that contribute to the development of mental health disorders, such as PTSD, particularly among victims of human trafficking and historically marginalized populations. She is also interested in factors associated with the intersection of human trafficking and the healthcare and hospitality industries.
renae johnson
Renae Johnson is a graduate student in the Clinical Psychology doctoral program specializing in Adolescents. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Limestone College and Master of Public Administration from the University of Arizona. Her primary research interests include psychopathology in minority populations, and its relationship with stress, trauma, socioeconomic status, and family systems. Currently, she has an established nonprofit organization, focused on helping youth and their families find hope, healing and purpose beyond trauma. The primary objective of the organization is to disrupt the school to prison pipeline by providing emotion regulation skills to students struggling with externalized behaviors.
CASIAH EVANS
Casiah Evans is a graduate psychology student in the Clinical Psychology PHD program at Prairie View A&M University, expected to graduate in 2027. Casiah has attended the wethrivelab since Fall of 2022. She has a research interest in the connections between juvenile delinquency and mental illness; probability that juvenile offenders will re-offend as adults, and also how the mishandling of minor school offenses relates to juvenile offending/adult re-offences. She also wants to do research on how proper counseling can affect juvenile delinquency. Casiah is also currently active in internships and other psychology jobs as well.
Undergraduate Research assistants
Samantha is a junior psychology major and is expected to graduate in May 2025. After receiving her B.S. in Psychology, she plans to pursue a Doctorate in clinical psychology. Her interests include the racial disparity regarding research and treatment of those with eating disorders, as well as the prevalence of PTSD in the African American community among the youth, adolescent, and adult population.
akilah mosley
Akilah Mosley is a senior psychology major at Prairie View A&M University, set to graduate with her B.S. in psychology spring of 2024. Akilah aspires to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Serious Mental Illness (SMI) or trauma. Then will work with veterans as a psychologist through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
jANE AMBE
Jane Ambe is a junior at Prairie View A&M University, majoring in biology on the pre-med track with a double minor in chemistry and psychology. She plans to attend medical upon graduation to pursue her MD degree. She is passionate about reformation in health equity and research centered around the disparities present in medicine. As an inspiring physician, she has made strides to learn more about integrating mental health practices in healthcare. Her ultimate goal is to be an advocate for change.
Julescia Calegon
Julescia is currently a junior psychology major, as well as a first-generation student at the luxurious Prairie View A&M University and is expected to graduate in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Julescia aspires to become a Counseling Psychologist with a specialty of children while also pursuing having a non-profit in hopes of spreading a perspective of having grace/understanding for one another. Her interests include positive psychology, behaviorism and healing generational trauma.
Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith is a Senior Psychology major with a minor in Biology, at Prairie View A&M University, she is expected to graduate in May of 2024. She plans to further her education and enter a Developmental Psychology Ph.D. program with a concentration in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience. Her current research interests are trauma within minority groups, mental health in adolescents, and health disparities within underserved communities.
Spirit Fraizier
Spirit is a graduate of Prairie View A&M University. She graduated from Cowley Community College with an associate degree in liberal arts while simultaneously getting her high school diploma in 2020. Her goal is to become a clinical psychologist in the future.