Sonyia Richardson, PhD, MSW, LCSW, Director
​Sonyia Richardson, PhD, LCSW is 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.
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Margaret Phipps-Bennett, MSW, LCSWA, Lab Manager Margaret Phipps-Bennett is the lab manager for the Black Wellness Collective Lab and has worked with Dr. Richardson for approximately six years. She has her BSW and MSW degrees from UNC Charlotte. Her research interests include mental health, Black youth suicide prevention, and therapeutic interventions for the treatment of trauma. In addition to her research work, Margaret is a clinician-researcher who serves children and families primarily as a trained play therapist and an eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) provider.
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Austin Trujillo, BSW, MSW Student, Enrollment Coordinator
Austin Trujillo is the Enrollment Coordinator for the Black Wellness Collective Lab. He oversees enrollment and consent processes and ensures team members are adequately trained. Austin is pursuing an Advanced MSW Degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He is focused on mastering subjects related to suicide prevention and establishing caring connections among marginalized communities. His personal and professional experiences drive him to ensure that marginalized communities have access to culturally inclusive care.
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Nyree Beachum, BSW, MSW Student, Lead Care Coordinator
Nyree is the Lead Care Coordinator with The Black Wellness Collective Lab, gaining hands-on experience through her advanced practicum. Nyree is passionate about working with marginalized populations, particularly Black families, individuals with disabilities facing mental health challenges, and survivors of domestic violence trauma. She provides culturally adaptive care coordination through her role, ensuring that clients receive the resources they need to thrive. With extensive experience as a social worker, employment specialist, case coordinator, and teacher. Nyree brings knowledge and dedication to the field. Her commitment to social justice, equity, advocacy, and creating supportive environments for underserved communities drives her work. She is an Advanced Standing student in the MSW program at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She is a proud member of Delta Alpha Phi and Phi Alpha Honor Society…and loves to dance Salsa and teach ZUMBA.
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Javonne Green, BSW, MSW Student, Care Coordinator, Peer Support Specialist Consultant
Javonne is a Care Coordinator and Peer Support Specialist with the Black Wellness Collective Lab. Javonne is a dedicated Advanced Standing MSW student attending the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She is gaining hands-on experience through an advanced standing practicum with the Black Wellness Collective Lab. She has a passion for serving marginalized and vulnerable populations. Javonne is a Certified Peer Support Specialist and Certified Community Health Worker. She focuses on providing services to individuals with co-occurring disorders (substance use and mental health challenges), aiming to create meaningful change in their lives through compassionate care and advocacy. Her commitment to social justice and equity and her ability to address the social determinants of health needs for individuals and underserved communities drives her work and efforts.
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TJ Ewool, BSW, MSW Student, Research Assistant
TJ is a research assistant at the Black Wellness Collective Lab and assists with enrollment and study processes. TJ is a 2nd year Master of Social Work student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with experience in adolescent mental health research. After graduation, she would like to provide therapy that is grounded in Indigenous and African traditions of community care, movement, and play to children from marginalized backgrounds. She hopes to cultivate an anti-carceral approach to therapy and emphasize the importance of community care as a way to begin working toward collective and individual healing. TJ looks forward to continuing to build on the interests and skills she has learned in her program to offer tangible support to clients as part of community-driven, reciprocal research as a Black Wellness Collective team member.
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Maggie Nail, MSW Student, Research Assistant and Lab Coordinator
​​Maggie is a Research Assistant with the Black Wellness Collective Lab and assists with the coordination of study-related activities. Maggie is a 2nd year Master of Social Work student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) with a focus in direct practice. After completing her BS in Psychology at UNC-CH, Maggie worked as a Research Coordinator for 3 NIMH studies related to adolescent suicide and has volunteered 80+ hours with Crisis Text Line. Currently, Maggie interns as a student clinician and therapist at Carolina Outreach's outpatient clinic and Behavioral Health Urgent Care. She is passionate about developing interventions and increasing accessibility to mental health care for serious mental health concerns such as suicidality amongst historically oppressed adolescents and their families.
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Breasia Mason, BSW Student, Research Intern
Breasia is a 4th year Bachelor of Social Work student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She looks forward to gaining experience in research and expanding her knowledge in improving the health outcomes in communities of color. She is dedicated to understanding mental health in African American women. Ultimately Breasia looks to work in clinical social work with women postpartum. Breasia is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and spends much of her time serving her local community through global initiatives.
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Sydney Caddell, Research Intern
Sydney is a 2nd year Psychology student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is excited to contribute to research and improve mental health in the Black community. Sydney is interested in gaining experience in the treatment of mental health among Black youth and adolescents. She hopes to obtain a PhD in Clinical Psychology after she graduates from UNC and continue working with youth of color in a clinical setting. She has a passion for social justice work and is eager to serve youth of color and adolescents on an individual level as well as the community at large.
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Sanvi Kadekoppa, High School Research Assistant
Sanvi Kadekoppa has worked as a High School Research Assistant with Dr. Richardson for over three years. She is currently a senior at Marvin Ridge High School in Waxhaw, North Carolina. Following graduation, Sanvi plans to attend college and study psychology and neuroscience, with the ultimate goal of earning an MD after completing her undergraduate education. She is passionate about addressing and combating healthcare inequity.
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