My path to counseling and psychology emerged from deeply personal roots—my family’s experiences with chronic illness, disability, and their adjustments immigrating to the United States from Europe. Navigating acculturative stress, language barriers, stigmatizing ecological systems, and workplace discrimination shaped not only my personal development but also my professional mission. These experiences oriented me to the voices and struggles of individuals who have been marginalized by various societal systems, pushing me toward a career in counseling and psychology.
As the first in my extended family to pursue graduate education, I earned my Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University at Albany, State University of New York. This foundational training deepened my understanding of the psychosocial and vocational dimensions of chronic illness and disability (CID). My professional journey then led me to explore the intersections of career development and CID within lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) communities—a critically underserved population in both clinical settings and applied social science research. Recognizing this significant gap in our field, I pursued doctoral studies to address these inequities.
Since earning my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology in 2012, I have served as a tenured professor of counseling and psychology at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. My scholarly contributions include over 70 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and encyclopedia entries. My research portfolio, teaching philosophy, and professional service are unified by a commitment to quality counseling and psychological care, particularly in advancing understanding and support for diverse LGBTQ and CID populations.
Through my work, I continue to bridge theory and practice, research and advocacy, always guided by the principle that effective mental health care must be inclusive, culturally responsive, and actively engaged in dismantling systemic barriers to wellbeing. I am a certified rehabilitation counselor and a licensed psychologist in the state of Georgia