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Diversity Committee

The Diversity Committee is a group of people engaged in critical conversations about multicultural issues within ourselves, within the group, and in the community around us. Our mission is to equip individuals for educating, mentoring, serving, and actively engaging in opportunities that challenge stereotyped beliefs and create an atmosphere of openness, curiosity, inspiration, responsibility and concern for others.

The Diversity Committee was formed out of a need to engage University of Memphis graduate students in active dialogue on diversity issues. It has been many things over the years including a space for students to examine their own views, biases, and assumptions with support from peers, as well as a resource within the department to spearhead multicultural activities. The Diversity Committee aims to illuminate multiculturalism through explicit conversation within the campus community and active service to the community. Through our mission we also hope to be an integral catalyst for the training of internationally competent professionals steeped in the knowledge of social justice issues.

The Diversity Committee is housed in the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Research. Membership is open to any University of Memphis graduate student who is committed to the mission stated above regardless of their department. Please feel free to join us at a meeting or contact the committee officers for more information!

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Upcoming Events

 

Meet the Diversity Committee 2023

Diversity Committee Executive Board

Alexandria Littlejohn, President (She/her/hers)
heilmann@memphis.edu

a_littlejohn

     Alexandria Littlejohn is a Memphis native and a second-year Counseling Psychology Doctoral Student. She recently graduated with her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Memphis. While obtaining her master's degree, she served a two-year term as the Master's President Elect and Co-President for the Kappa Zeta Chapter of the international honor society, Chi Sigma Iota. Prior to receiving her master's degree, Alexandria completed her Bachelor of Liberal Studies in Counseling and Psychology at The University of Memphis. She has a passion for diversity, social justice, and advocacy, which is reflected in her research interests. In her free time, Alexandria enjoys spending time with her partner and their rescue animals, traveling, and spending time outdoors.

 

 

 

Swathi Prabhu, Vice President (She/her/hers)

swathi

     Swathi received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Sexuality Studies from UNC Chapel Hill. She completed her Master’s degree in Professional School Counseling at Appalachian State University. Her professional experiences have been in a variety of settings including community mental health, middle and high school, and – more recently – higher education. Prior to attending UofM, Swathi served as the Assistant Director of Mental Health & Bystander Initiatives at Virginia Tech. She developed and oversaw programs that focused on emotional wellness skill-building, suicide prevention, peer and group support, and sexual violence prevention. Her professional interests include multicultural counseling, sexuality and working with LGBTQ+ populations, college student well-being, and resilience / strengths-based approaches to health promotion.

 

 

 

 

 

Sam Raines, Secretary (He/him/his)

sam raines     Sam Raines is a first-year Counseling Psychology Ph.D. student. Sam recently graduated with his Master’s in College Student Personnel from University of Tennessee – Knoxville and previously earned his Bachelor’s in Psychology from University of Memphis – Lambuth. His research interests include enhancing our ability to dialogue with those with whom we disagree, as well as better understanding conspiracy thinking and its correlating factors. When he isn’t actively working on school, Sam enjoys writing, hiking, and playing music.

 

 

 

 

 

Taylor Johnson-Murry, MS - Event Coordinator (She/her/hers)

taylor

     Taylor Johnson-Murry is in her first year of the Counselor Education and Supervision PhD program. She graduated in December of 2021 with her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from The University of Memphis. Prior to her master’s degree, she completed her Bachelor of Professional Studies in Disability Studies and Rehabilitation Services. Taylor is currently employed as a therapist at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center in their student counseling center where she is working towards her LPC-MHSP licensure. As a first generation graduate, Taylor feels passionate about providing support and advocacy for the next generation of mental health providers, advocates, and leaders. She has a passion for advocacy, physician empathy competencies and patient outcomes, and health care disparities in under supported communities. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her partner and their wonderfully perfect dog, Ziggy, experiencing new events and places around the city, and catching up on whatever show she is invested in at the time

 

 

Ivys Morales, CPSY First-Year Rep (She/her/hers)

ivys

     Ivys Morales is a first-year Doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology PhD program and will be serving as First-year CPSY Representative to the Diversity Committee for the 2022-2023 school year. She is from Newark, New Jersey, and completed her BA in Psychology and MA in Clinical Psychology with a Concentration in Forensic Psychology from Montclair State University. Her research interests include competency to stand trial, forensic assessments, correctional treatment, and systemic bias within the criminal justice system. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, watching horror movies, and hanging out with friends and family.

 

Brittany Young,Treasurer (She/her/hers)
byoung3@memphis.edu

Brittany YOung

     Brittany Young is a Counseling Psychology Doctoral Student. She recently graduated with her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Memphis. Brittany is currently a graduate assistant in the Disability Resources for Students (DRS) office which focuses on a social justice model to create an inclusive and equitable space for all UofM students with disabilities and chronic health conditions. Brittany has a passion for diversity, inclusion, and the intersectionality of Black and Brown individuals. In her free time, Brittany enjoys yoga, spending time at local coffee shops, and taking long walks.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Chrisann Schiro-Geist, Faculty Advisor (She/her/hers)

crisann

 

Chelsea Liddell Program Manager, Student Inclusion, Office of Multicultural Affairs(She/her/hers)
cdlddell@memphis.edu

Chelsea Liddell

    Chelsea Liddell is originally from Paragould, Arkansas, and completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Music, as well as her Master of Science in Psychology, at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Arkansas. During her time at Arkansas Tech, she focused on issues within the LGBTQ+ community, and continues that focus in a lot of her work today. She has 7 years of experience teaching psychology in the community college and university setting. Currently, she is the Program Manager for Student Inclusion in the Office of Multicultural Affairs where she advises several student organizations, develops and conducts diversity and inclusion programming and training, and assists with other programming produced by the office.

 

If you are a graduate student in the CEPR department and interested in serving on the Diversity Committee Executive Board, please contact us at UofMDiversity@gmail.com. We are currently looking to fill the following positions:

  • Treasurer
  • Marketing Chair – Social Media
  • Marketing Chair – General Outreach
  • CEPR Counseling Master’s Representative
  • Social Work Representative
  • Psychology Representative

 

Previous events include:

 

  • White Fragility Discussion in Academia

  • Community Conversation and Dialogue 

  • Unity Walk Against Gun Violence 

  • Working with religious LGBTQ populations, Dr. Tyler Lefevor, Rhodes College

  • Attended Midsouth Pride Festival as a group, downtown Memphis

  • Working with immigrant populations, Angela Rusk, M.A., Exchange Club/Kindred Place

  • Counselors in Living Color, Black History Month Event, U of M

  • St. Jude Marathon Volunteers: Spirit Stations

 

Prospective members can email Alexandria Heilmann Littlejohn (heilmann@memphis.edu), look at our Diversity Committee Facebook page, or look for the Diversity Committee emails that come out over the CEPR listserv for more information.