Meet The Research Team

Dr. Tamara Nelson – Director, Resilience, Equity, and Community Mental Health Research Program 

Tamara Nelson, PhD, MPH is the director of the Resilience, Equity, and Community Health Research Program and an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Rutgers University in Camden, New Jersey. Her research explores how contextual and cultural factors are associated with mental health and treatment-seeking among racial and ethnic groups in general and African American and Black women in particular. She also focuses on examining and understanding resilience, equity, and community mental health to address mental health disparities in three areas: (1) context, culture, and mental health; (2) help-seeking processes, and (3) perinatal mental health and relational support. Dr. Nelson’s scholarship is interdisciplinary and includes quantitative and qualitative research methodologies to address mental health disparities.

 

Penny Telesford, MA – Graduate Research Assistant

Penny Telesford is a second-year Ph.D. student in Prevention Science at Rutgers University. She received her bachelor’s in psychology with a minor in English literature at Mercy College; and received her master’s in Mental Health Counseling at Mercy College. As a student, Penny worked for Residential Life as a Resident Assistant and Resident Director. In addition, she co-created and co-ran the Wellness Program at her college. Penny has also interned as a Group/Individual/Youth Therapist at a Substance Abuse Clinic in New Rochelle, NY. Upon graduating, Penny worked as an individual therapist for a non-profit in New York City. Penny’s research interest focuses on addressing racial inequity and reducing the gap found within the community. Additionally, she wants to explore topics that would reduce mental health stigma in the Black/African/Caribbean community. Her areas of expertise include mental health and counseling. Outside of school, Penny spends most of her time attending concerts, traveling to new places, listening to music, collecting vinyl records and pop funkos, playing video games, spending time with loved ones, watching anime and dramas, and attending conventions.

 

Andrea M. Sellers, BA  – Graduate Research Assistant

 

Chareina Johnson, BA – Graduate Research Assistant

Chareina Johnson is pursuing a master’s degree in psychology at Rutgers University Camden. She received her BA in Psychology, with a minor in Disability Studies, from Hofstra University in December 2022. Chareina is a current member of Phi Beta Kappa, America’s most prestigious honor society, Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology, and the Graduate Student Organization. In her free time, Chareina enjoys exercising, volunteering at her church, and going to Broadway musicals. Her research interests include discrimination, prejudice, and stereotype threat. Specifically, she is interested in how social interactions, social systems (criminal justice, education, and health), and intersectionality impact marginalized communities. Chareina plans to pursue a doctoral program (PhD) in Social Psychology.

 

 

Nonny Maphoka Mbathane, BA (2024) – Undergraduate Research Assistant 

Nonny Maphoka Mbathane is an International Student from Johannesburg South Africa, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree at Rutgers University Camden as a double major in Psychology and Gender Studies with a minor in Childhood Studies. She is the current Secretary of TRIOTA, the Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies Honor Society. Furthermore, Nonny is a Teaching Assistant for the Gender Studies Department and is the Resident Assistant for Campus housing and res – life. Nonny’s research interests include the aging-out population in the foster care system, and how they can be supported as they navigate adulthood and are able to sustain their lives. Further research interests include Black joy and pleasure, pre-colonial African Psychology and restoring the integrity of Black childhoods and communities. Nonny plans to pursue a doctoral program (PhD) in counseling psychology as she is passionate about Black Childhoods, African history and practices, social justice, and dreaming ourselves free.

 

Olivia Bull, BA (2024) – Undergraduate Research Assistant

Olivia Bull is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree at Rutgers University Camden as a double major in Psychology and Childhood Studies. Olivia is currently part of the softball team at Rutgers Camden. Her research interests include cultural psychology, mental health help-seeking, and the destigmatization of mental health within marginalized communities. Overall, Olivia is passionate about mental health services within Black communities and is particularly interested in working with Black children and adolescents. Olivia plans to pursue a master’s degree in clinical psychology. In her free time, she enjoys learning about other cultures by traveling and reading. She enjoys listening to music and dancing.

 

 

 

Mariah Cherry, BA (2024) – Undergraduate Research Assistant 

Mariah is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree at Rutgers University Camden with a double major in Psychology and Childhood studies, and a minor in English. She is the current vice president of Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology. Her interests include help-seeking, health disparities, coping mechanisms, and stigmatization of mental illnesses among minoritized and adolescent groups. She is curious about access to early-age mental health treatment, especially among the African-American community. She is deeply committed to addressing the physical and mental health of minoritized communities and is passionate about health equity. Mariah plans to pursue a doctoral program (PhD) in counseling psychology, as she is passionate about mental health treatment seeking and accessibility amongst minority communities.

 

 

Lab Alumni 

1. Samrawit Binyam Gebretensay, BA
2. Nataly Lopez, BA
3. Mackenzie L. Keith, BA
4. Bruce Harrison, BA