Lyneia Richardson

• Assistant Professor of Counseling

Despite my academic and professional achievements, one of my greatest accomplishments is being the mama of two of the most beautiful little beings. Following the birth of my first-born child, I was able to find my passion in working almost exclusively with the perinatal population. My clinical and research interests have centered around the issues of women from the African diaspora in the context of race and culture, highlighting the intersectionality of race and gender. While my research has always focused on the mental health needs of women, becoming a mother allowed me to see a more unique experience of womanhood that calls for an even more specialized approach. My clinical approach acknowledges that mothering is not an individual experience but one of community, and I strive to create that village-community experience for my clients. As a psychologist and educator, I take a similar approach to teaching by recognizing the inherit community in the educational experience. Following the African philosophy of Ubuntu, "I am because we are," I strive to create an experience of community and connectedness in the online learning community environment with my students.