MEET THE TEAM
We are an interdisciplinary group led by Dr. Sonyia Richardson, working across research, clinical, and community settings to generate solutions that fit people’s lives.
Sonyia Richardson, PhD, MSW, LCSW — John A. Tate Early Career Distinguished Fellow for Children in Need, Assistant Professor
Sonyia Richardson, PhD, LCSW is a John A. Tate Early Career Distinguished Fellow for Children in Need and an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work and Department of Psychiatry at UNC. Dr. Richardson is a dedicated health equity scholar whose research focuses on identifying and removing barriers (practical, systemic, organizational, and cultural) to mental health treatment for Black youth and developing interventions to support their persistence in mental health treatment. As a community-engaged researcher and clinician with over 20+ years of experience, she has extensive expertise in generating knowledge to enhance wellness among diverse populations and creating interventions that tend to their specific cultural needs. Dr. Richardson has been awarded funding as a principal investigator of a NIMH R34 feasibility study testing a culturally adapted care coordination suicide detection and intervention model for Black youth. Dr. Richardson graduated with a B.A. in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, an M.S.W. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Ph.D. in education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Margaret Phipps-Bennett, MSW, LCSW, RPT™, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™
Margaret is the Lab Manager for the Richardson Wellness Lab and has worked with Dr. Sonyia Richardson for approximately six years. Margaret earned a B.S.W. and an M.S.W. from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and now works with the lab and as a mental health therapist in Charlotte, NC. Margaret is a clinician-researcher who focuses on Black youth suicide prevention, menstrual equity, and therapeutic interventions for neurodivergent children and adolescents affected by trauma.
As a community-engaged researcher and clinician, Margaret brings experience working with children, adolescents, families, and community-based organizations. Her clinical expertise includes trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate interventions for youth experiencing complex trauma, neurodivergence, and intersecting identities.
Savannah Robinson, Graduate Research Assistant
Savannah Robinson is a Graduate Research Assistant for The Richardson Wellness Lab, where she primarily supports enrollment coordination for the Caring Connections study. She is currently in her second year of the UNC Masters of Social Work program, pursuing direct practice, with the hopes of working in adolescent mental health. Her research interests include disparities in mental health treatment, care solutions for underserved populations, and treatment retention for low-income populations.
Enel Garcia, Graduate research Assistant
Enel is a second-year Master of Social Work (MSW) student on the Community, Management, and Policy Practice track. In school, Enel is pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership, as well as serving as one of the Graduate Research Assistants for the Caring Connections study. A double Tar Heel, and a Marching Tar Heel alum, Enel graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2021 with a Bachelor's in Psychology and a Minor in Sociology, Specializing in U.S. Health and Society. Enel has experience working with Texas’ Adult Protective Services, Goodwill Central Texas, Stericycle Inc. and providing ABA therapy as a behavior technician to children with autism. Having a wide array of experiences with different systems, and having witnessed the inaccessibility of the U.S. healthcare system on people that are marginalized, Enel is committed to providing services to Latine, LGBTQIA2S+, BIPOC youth and other underserved constituents of North Carolina; whether it's by providing therapy as an LCSW-A, advocacy work, representation, or better connecting Alamance County constituents to resources in the area.
Amaya Hicks, Graduate Program Assistant
Amaya is a Master of Social Work student in the Direct Practice concentration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and is from Durham, North Carolina. She is currently certified in Mental Health First Aid and serves on the North Carolina Black Youth Wellness Advisory Board. After completing her MSW, she aims to contribute to the field of social work and improve mental health within the black community. Amaya hopes to gain experience working with mental health issues that affect black young adults, suicide prevention, and behavioral disorders.
Chloe Searles, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Chloe Searles is a undergraduate student in her first uear at UNC- Chapel Hil. She serves as a research intern for the Richardson Wellness Collective Lab and mainly works for the Caring Connections study. She has had an ongoing interest in behavioral analysis and a passion for understanding risk factors associated with criminology. Her goals are to double major in psychology and neuroscience and learn more about the world of social work. After college, Chloe would like to pursue a career in forensic psychology, specifically focusing on offering support to those who have been harmed by the criminal justice system. Issues surrounding Black wellness are of interest to Chloe because of her awareness of resilience in the Black community.
Zaina Dajani, Highschool Research Assistant
Zaina Dajani is a high school research assistant for the Richardson Wellness Lab. She is a senior at Levine Middle College in Charlotte, North Carolina. She plans to graduate high school with her associates in science and arts. After high school, she plans to attend college and major in health sciences or neuroscience to then earn her MD. She is committed to improve access to healthcare to underserved communities and aspires to one day open a free clinic.
Jordan Cruz, Highschool Research Assistant
Jordan Cruz is a high school senior at Levine Middle College High School and a research assistant for the Richardson Wellness Lab. She plans to graduate this year, earning her Associate in Science and Associate in Arts degrees alongside her high school diploma. Afterward, Jordan plans to attend a four-year college to major in either Health Sciences or Biology, with the ultimate goal of earning an MD and pursuing a career in reconstructive surgery. She hopes to use these experiences to eventually work for Doctors Without Borders (MSF), as she is driven by a passion for providing care to communities affected by conflict and natural disasters.