The Team
Who We Are
Cirecie A. West-Olatunji, Ph. D.
Co-Founder
Cirecie A. West-Olatunji currently serves as the CEO of CRESTSprogram, LLC. Dr. West-Olatunji is the founding director of the Center for Traumatic Stress Research (CTSR). She is also a past president of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD). In addition, she has served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development (JMCD). Nationally, Dr. West-Olatunji has initiated several clinical research projects focusing on culture-centered community collaborations designed to address issues rooted in systemic oppression, such as transgenerational trauma and traumatic stress. Cirecie West-Olatunji has conducted commissioned research under the auspices of the National Science Foundation, the ACA Foundation, the Kellogg Foundation, the Federal Witness Assistance Program, the Spencer Foundation, the American Educational Research Association, and the African-American Success Foundation. Her publications include two co-authored books, numerous book chapters, and over 60 articles in peer-reviewed journals. In addition to national presentations, Dr. West-Olatunji has delivered research papers in Eastern and Western Europe, the Pacific Rim, Africa, and the Americas.
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Additionally, she provided consultation in a PBS initiative to create a children's television show focusing on diversity through KCET-TV in Los Angeles, CA ("Puzzle Place"). Dr. West-Olatunji has also provided consultation to the Center for American Education in Singapore and to the Buraku Liberation Organization in Japan to enhance their early childhood and counseling initiatives. Cirecie has coordinated disaster mental health outreach projects in post-Katrina New Orleans, Southern Africa, and Haiti. Cirecie West-Olatunji is also a fellow in the American Counseling Association.
Constance West, Ph. D.
Co-Founder
Dr. Constance West is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with 20+ years of professional experience. Her specialties include: Disaster Mental Health, Health Clinical Psychology (primarily, related to HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases), and Juvenile Forensic Psychology. More specifically, Dr. West has considerable experience in the following areas: stress and coping with acute and chronic stressors (such as, natural disasters, chronic and/or infectious diseases) and the promotion of equity (with respect to race and ethnicity) across medical, mental health, juvenile court, and educational settings.
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Over the course of Dr. West’s professional career, she has worked in government, medical, mental health, court, research, and educational settings, including: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , Atlanta Veterans Administration Medical Center (Atlanta VAMC), the Fulton County Juvenile Court (FCJC), the Grady Infectious Disease Program (Grady IDP), and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Currently, Dr. West operates a private practice (Sankofa Services, LLC; located in Stone Mountain, Georgia).
Dr. Ebony White
Research Fellow
Dr. Ebony White is a counselor, advocate, activist, speaker, trainer, researcher, and mental health expert. She is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Counseling and Family Therapy Department at Drexel University. She has devoted her career to supporting under-resourced, under-served, culturally rich and resilient individuals, families, and communities. Dr. Ebony has been quoted in numerous news outlets including Newsweek, Medium, the Philadelphia Inquirer, PopSugar and the New York Times. She has been a guest expert on CBS News and Fox 29 News in Philadelphia and was featured on TVC News Nigeria. Furthermore, she has done trauma work in Croix des Bouquets, Haiti, provided training to leaders in the healthcare system in Gombe State and Abuja, Nigeria, and created a mental health course for students in Tarkwa, Ghana.
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Dr. Ebony is the recipient of several awards including the Community Service Award from the NJ State Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs and the Carver Youth and Family Center in 2018 and the Dr. Judy Lewis Counselor for Social Justice award from the American Counseling Association. She gave a TEDx talk, titled “You Don’t Get to Name Me,” discussing the experience of holding intersectional privileged and subjugated identities. More important than her educational achievements and awards are her identities as a daughter, granddaughter, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, godmother, and niece. She lives by Ubuntu, “I am because we are, and because we are, I am.”
Jonae Bond
Graphic Designer
Jonae Bond is a multi-creative with a diverse skill set encompassing brand design, product photography, videography, creative direction, and web design. Her expertise lies in the realms of branding, marketing, content creation, website development, and social media advertising.
At the helm of Truly Elevated Agency Inc, a company she founded, Jonae is dedicated to elevating brands through compelling branding, visual storytelling, and strategic marketing solutions. Her mission is to help businesses transform their brand identity and market presence.
A distinguished alumna of Xavier University of Louisiana, Jonae graduated Summa Cum Laude, earning an Honors degree in Marketing Communication.
Kimberlee Bow
Graduate Assistant
Kimberlee Bow is a Graduate Assistant with CRESTSprogram and a Masters's level Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Registered Dance/Movement Therapist (R-DMT), and current doctoral student at the University of Arizona Global Campus. As a student, she is a member of the Tau Upsilon Alpha National Organization for Human Services Honor Society, past President of the Human Services Club, current Secretary for the Community for Asian Pacific Students & Allies (CAPSA) Club, and a student leader in the student lead social justice initiative.
A passionate, dedicated, and devoted professional, she has experience ranging from clinical to director-level work and nonprofit program and board leadership. Currently, she is also the owner and founder of AbunDANCE Somatic Center. In addition to her professional experience, she is a passionate volunteer, volunteering with organizations such as the Veterans Administration, Alzheimer's Association, the Red Cross, and National Jewish Health. She is actively involved in rural suicide prevention work as her passion for people and their communities is always in her heart.
Dehjah Vaughn
Southern Education Leadership Institute (SELI) Fellow
Dehjah Vaughn is an educator, podcaster, PhD candidate at Clark Atlanta University, a thought-provoking speaker, and a creative writer. Her work is centered around promoting Black consciousness and entrepreneurship, aiming to shift the narrative through highlighting the exceptional achievements of our brothers and sisters across the Diaspora. Dehjah’s ambition is to reveal facets of Black liberation by employing research analytics, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, and written expression. She contends that it is crucial to recognize the influence of political psychology on Black individuals, asserting that such an understanding will furnish essential tools for comprehensive mental and emotional upliftment.
