Dr. Joshua Parmenter (they/he) is an assistant professor at University of Missouri and the director of the Equity Lab. Their program of research uses an intersectional framework to quantitatively and qualitatively examine how experiences of inequity and protective factors influence mental health outcomes among those with multiple marginalized intersecting identities, such as LGBTQ+ Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Their research not only seeks to inform psychotherapy, but also ways psychologists can transform oppressive social structures and racist policies that perpetuate health disparities among LGBTQ+ people of color. Dr. Parmenter strongly believes in self-care and practices it by playing volleyball, swimming, traveling, socializing with ”chosen family” and their partner, and spending time with their dog (beware… she is sassier than Dr. Parmenter).

Duy (he/him) is a first-year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at Mizzou. Duy received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Truman State University. His research interests center on the intersectionality between spirituality, religion, systems of oppression, and QT-BIPOC populations. In his free time, Duy enjoys watching TV shows, reading books, being outdoors, and hanging out with his friends!

A native woman of Cherokee and Irish descent, Tessi Ynada Muskrat (she/her) is a Counseling Psychology PhD student and researcher at the University of Missouri. Co-founder of the international Purity Culture Research Collective (PCRC), Tessi’s research centers the voices of those who have experienced sexual and gender-based trauma in religious contexts. Her upcoming projects will examine the impact of purity culture's gender binary on trans and nonbinary persons, and the ways in which post-purity culture adults achieve empowerment through healing from oppressive systems in religious spaces. When she's not studying or researching, Tessi enjoys snuggling her cats, watching trees dance in the wind, and playing complex tabletop board games with friends.

Dejah (she/her) is a first-year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at Mizzou. Her research interests center on the intersection of queer, positive, and social psychologies. Specifically, she is interested in studying LGBTQ+ relationships and resilience. In her downtime, she loves to play video games, find new spots downtown and have game nights where Dejah and her wife cook for their friends!

Kymbriona Taylor (she/her) is originally from Chicago and is a 4th year doctoral candidate. She completed her bachelor’s in psychology ​ ​and master’s in education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign​, where she also competed for the varsity track and field team. Her populations of interests in research include student-athletes, BIPOC emerging adults, and Black Deaf and hard of hearing folks. Her clinical interests include race-related stress, multicultural counseling, and neurodevelopment assessments. She enjoys hot yoga, traveling, and spending time with loved ones.

Jamie (she/her) is a Master's student in counseling psychology at Mizzou and received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Kansas State University. Her research interests include the study of identities as well as the telling of life narratives. In her free time, Jamie enjoys cuddling with her dog, laying out in her hammock, and exploring different coffee shops! One way she practice self-care is by being intentional about doing something enjoyable for herself each week, no matter what that looks like. Whether it's reading empowering poetry or meeting a good friend for dinner, Jamie makes time to show up for herself as much as she shows up for everyone else.

Tiara (she/her) is originally from Mississippi and is currently a doctoral candidate in the counseling psychology program at Mizzou. Tiara is passionate about examining and improving clinical training to promote more affirming, culturally relevant clinical services to marginalized populations, with emphasis on those experiencing racial trauma and other intersectional forms of oppression. Her additional research interests include sociocultural determinants of mental health and perpetuates of mental health disparities for Black Americans. Some of Tiara’s hobbies include reading, traveling, singing, and eating delicious meals.

Charles (he/him) is a doctoral candidate at the University of Missouri-Columbia and is a native to the Springfield, Missouri area. He is currently completing his doctoral internship at University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Mental Health Services. His dissertation focuses on the perceptions and experiences of sexual risk among men who have sex with men. Charles utilizes an integrative approach that includes perspectives from Feminist and Person-Centered modalities and enjoys training clinicians and mentoring students. Personally, Charles loves spending time with his chihuahua and friends. He listens to LOTS of music (top 2% of listeners in the US according to spotify), and watches anime. He likes to express himself through art and other creative outlets.