DEI Partners

DEI Junior Fellows

DEI Fellows

DEI Senior Fellows

DEI APA Minority Fellow

Postgraduate Fellows

Dr. Veronique Thompson (she/her/hers)
DEI Director, Clinical (PsyD) Program

Dr. Veronique Thompson is a licensed clinical psychologist, tenured faculty member of the Wright Institute and director of clinical training at Carl B. Metoyer Center for Family Counseling in East Oakland. She received her BA in psychology from Spelman College in Atlanta and her PhD from U.C., Berkeley. Her advanced professional training has been in Narrative Therapy and Social Justice Therapy.

Dr. Thompson is originally from the East Coast. She was raised in a working-class, large extended family, in Boston. She is first-generation college, an avid dancer, a yoga enthusiast, and a plant-based eater. She lives in Oakland, in a multigenerational family home with her mother, sister, son, nephew and cat.

Her core professional interests lie within African-American and other communities of color, helping to increase positive mental health and to train others who share this commitment. She brings this same commitment to her work in the office of DEI, helping the Wright to fulfill its mission of “Educating Clinicians to [a more socially just] Society.”

Dr. Jerdine Clarke (she/her/hers)
Postgraduate Fellow

Jerdine Clarke Psy.D., graduated from the Wright Institute in 2021. She is thrilled to join The Wright Institute as a part-time Postgraduate Fellow in the Office of DEI. Dr. Clarke is an APA Minority Fellow who completed her postdoctoral hours as a Psychology Associate at Kaiser Permanente Oakland’s Child and Family Psychiatry in their Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and at Core Insights Psychological Group. She completed her doctoral internship at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in the Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Clarke’s research focuses on the impact of race and gender on commercially sexually exploited children. With a specialty in treating survivors of trauma, she offers over 25 years of experience working with complex, sexual, and racialized trauma across the lifespan. 

She is honored to return to the WI to explore and expand how the field of psychology addresses health inequity and enacts social justice. Dr. Clarke brings her passion for DEI and is excited to provide mentorship and support to students on their path as new clinicians and leaders where they will continue to challenge oppressive systems and practices.

Dr. Marriam Zarabi (she/her/hers)
Postgraduate Fellow

Marriam Zarabi, PsyD, graduated from the Wright Institute in 2021 and works for the DEI Office as a Postgraduate Fellow. Dr. Zarabi completed her postdoctoral hours at the Wright Institute Berkeley Cognitive Behavioral Clinic and the DEI Office. As a Postdoctoral Fellow, she supervised the Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Race-Based Stress, a group therapy service for clients of color experiencing racial discrimination in various contexts, including but not limited to the twin pandemics of racialized violence and Covid-19, providing culturally responsive DBT interventions. Her research, teaching and clinical focus includes addressing race-based stress, advancing health equity, and translating Western clinical interventions in service to diverse populations and in pursuit of culturally responsive care. Farsi is her first language. Serving as a DEI Fellow following the inception of the DEI Office, it is an honor to collaboratively broaden the nature and scope of working as a Clinician to Society.

DEI Senior Fellows and Fellows

Annissa Baker, MA (she/her/hers)
Fourth Year, Senior Fellow

Annissa is a fourth-year student at the Wright Institute. She was born in Hawaii and raised in the Bay Area for the majority of her life. She was raised in bicultural homes with a Mexican mother and Hawaiian father, and she will be the first person in her family to receive a doctoral degree. Her clinical experience includes working within community mental health settings and in school settings with populations ranging across the lifespan. She is passionate about social justice, serving marginalized communities impacted by systemic oppression, and exploring multiracial identities pertaining to clinical work and life experience. Annissa has participated in organizing and facilitating conversations and events for Psychologists for Social responsibility (PsySR) and she has been an advocate in the Diversity Committee at the Wright Institute. She hopes to give back to the communities that have helped to shape her post-graduation. Annissa is currently planning a wedding and writing her dissertation on the impact that becoming a grandparent has on an individual's sense of self and identity. The motivation behind this topic has been her upbringing which was lovingly shaped by her grandparents. Annissa loves spending time with her dogs, binge-watching Game of Thrones, cooking comfort food, and growing her patio garden.

Belén Mora-Navarro, MA (she/her/hers/ella)
Fourth Year, Senior Fellow

Belén is a first-generation, bilingual, Mexican American graduate student from Oakland California. She is passionate about increasing representation in the field of psychology and the use of therapy as an instrumental part of overall health wellness and healing. As a Diversity Equity and Inclusion Senior Fellow, Belén advocates for the continued needs of underrepresented graduate students through her work with La Consulta Clínica, a student-created and facilitated independent study for Latinx identifying and Spanish-speaking students at the Wright Institute, and the annual Latinx Psychological Wellness Series to promote belonging and community. Having served as a mentor for the last two years with The Wright Institute Pipeline to Advanced Degrees program run by Wright Institute faculty member Dr. Anastasia Kim, Belén continues to participate through outreach, visiting schools across the San Francisco Bay Area to promote the internship to first-gen college and BIPOC students. Belén is currently working on applying for predoctoral internship, completing her dissertation on Child Marriage and Latin American women's experience of adolescence, and presenting at the National Latinx Psychological Association conference later this year. In her spare time, Belén enjoys tending to her many plants, binging Grey's Anatomy, and researching skincare for melanated skin.

Sabrina Mohamed Rafi, MA (she/her/hers)
Fourth Year, Senior Fellow

Sabrina is a fourth-year clinical psychology doctoral student at the Wright Institute. She is a 1.5-generation Muslim Malaysian immigrant and first-generation college student who received her B.S. in Psychology, with an emphasis in Biology, and minor in Religious Studies from the University of California, Davis. She was also a research assistant for the Infant Sibling Study at the UC Davis MIND Institute during this time. She maintains her interest in working with youth, as she provided therapy sessions with K-12 students at a public charter school, conducted neuropsychological assessments with elementary school students, led adolescent groups at an intensive outpatient program and inpatient psychiatric unit, and provided autism/cognitive/developmental assessments at a community mental health neurodevelopmental clinic during her time at the Wright. Sabrina advocated for the creation of the prayer and meditation room on campus to establish a safe space for Muslims to practice their religious rights and to promote the practice of mindfulness throughout the day. She also helps lead the SouthWest Asia and North Africa- Muslim (SWANA-M) student group, which encourages the exploration of intersecting identities, especially with regard to the conflation of religion and culture, processing the oppression experienced, and finding consultation and support in the community amidst xenophobic concerns that arise. Her dissertation focuses on the experience of psychiatric symptoms in Palestinian youth after the war on Gaza in 2014. Sabrina is grateful for every opportunity to advocate for marginalized communities and wishes to continue DEI work in all facets of her career.

Sophia Sandhu, MA, MEd
Fourth Year, Senior Fellow

Sophia Sandhu is a fourth-year doctoral student in Clinical Psychology at the Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. Raised by Punjabi immigrants, she is the first in her family to receive degrees in higher education. Sophia received her B.S. in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and her M.Ed. in Child Studies with a special emphasis on Poverty and Intervention from Vanderbilt University. Prior to attending the Wright, she worked at the University of California, Davis M.I.N.D Institute as a research assistant. Sophia’s clinical training has focused on providing trauma-informed care to communities with disabilities and communities of color. Her dissertation seeks to explore how clients have experienced remote EMDR, particularly their experiences of emotional safety and the therapeutic relationship. Sophia is passionate about uplifting marginalized voices, utilizing rest and community as forms of resistance, and fast cars.

Clara Möller, MSc, MA (she/her/hers)
Fourth Year, Fellow

Clara is a fourth-year doctoral candidate at the Wright Institute. Her clinical experience includes working with patients across the lifespan in community mental health clinics and school systems. She also received training in neurofeedback and has a passion for exploring holistic healing that considers the connection of mind, body, and spirit. She works part-time at a biohacking center focused on helping individuals heal using alternative technologies. Her dissertation research is focused on exploring and understanding the experiences of students who identify as living with a disability in a clinical psychology PsyD training program and more specifically in supervision. She is dedicated to being a part of creating an inclusive, culturally humble, and supportive learning environment for all.

Esther Mou (she/her/hers)
Third Year, DEI Fellow

Esther Mou is a 3rd-year PsyD student at the Wright Institute whose main interests include supporting the healing of marginalized folx in communities of color, supporting the mental wellness of immigrant and international students, and working to destigmatize mental health issues in East Asian communities. She identifies as Taiwanese-American herself, and is passionate about having reflective conversations about AAPI identity, AAPI discrimination, and the collective healing of the AAPI community through a compassionate and multicultural lens. She is currently undergoing clinical training at Contra Costa Child and Adolescent services, and loves working with families and children in the community mental health setting. Esther is also an avid foodie, a connoisseur of boba milk tea, and a proud momma of two cats.

Guadalupe Espinoza (she/her/hers)
Third Year, DEI Fellow

Guadalupe Espinoza is a graduate student at the Wright Institute in Berkeley pursuing a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology. She received her B.S in psychology from the University of La Verne in 2017. Her clinical training has been in different public schools in Oakland, California. Currently, Guadalupe is receiving her practicum training at Mills College at Northeastern University. She is currently a mentor for The Wright Institute Psychology Internship Program, which is run by a Wright Institute faculty member, Dr. Anastasia Kim. Guadalupe is interested in working with marginalized communities and advocating for their needs in and out of the clinical setting.

Priscilla Martin (she/her/hers)
Third Year, DEI Fellow

Priscilla is a third-year doctoral candidate at the Wright Institute. She identifies as second-generation Mexican American and is bilingual and bicultural. Clinically she is interested in working with Latinx Spanish-speaking individuals from marginalized communities. Her clinical experience includes working with adolescents and adults in academic and community mental health settings. Priscilla's current practicum placement is with Instituto Familiar de la Raza. Her dissertation research focuses on the affects of language, acculturation, and ethnic identity on the therapeutic alliance.

Simeen Shaikh, MA, LPCC (she/her/hers)
Fourth Year, Fellow

Simeen is a fourth year doctoral candidate in the clinical psychology program at the Wright Institute. She has clinical experience working with individuals across the lifespan in community health settings. Simeen is interested in improving access to mental health services for marginalized communities impacted by systemic inequality, immigration, and oppression. Her dissertation topic explores spiritually integrated psychotherapy.

Sredha Shine (she/her/hers)
Third Year, Fellow

Sredha Shine is currently in her third year in the clinical psychology doctoral program at The Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. Sredha’s identities as an immigrant and South Indian woman drive her passion to make mental health more accessible to marginalized populations and work towards reducing the shame and stigma of mental health diagnoses prevalent in many communities. As part of her clinical training at the Wright Institute, she is currently working with children and families at Kaiser Oakland’s ASD track. In her free time, Sredha enjoys spending time with her loved ones, watching TV shows, and eating yummy food.

DEI Junior Fellows

Brenda Rios
First Year, Junior Fellow

Brenda Rios is currently a first year clinical student at the Wright Institute. Brenda is a first generation Mexican-American who aims to work with the Latine community. She also plans to work with children and adolescents. She is bilingual, speaking both Spanish and English. She hopes to provide her services in Spanish to help build a bridge with the Latine community. She is currently placed in the School-Based Clinic and is excited to be working with middle schoolers. Her professional goals are to one day have her own private practice where she will offer her services in both English and Spanish to the younger population. After gaining experience, she hopes to later split her time as a professor who teaches psychology to undergraduates.

Anthony Ramirez
First Year, Junior Fellow

I am a first-year doctorate Junior Fellow at the Wright Institute, and have been in California since the beginning of my undergrad. My clinical experience commenced early in my undergrad and included working with clients diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, varying in age and level on the spectrum. My research focus will include LatinX cultural factors in the validity of assessments and treatments for ASD in terms of misdiagnosis and accuracy of language.

Alma Karina Riggs (she/her/hers/ella)
First Year, Junior Fellow

Alma is a bilingual Mexican immigrant. She was raised in Mexico and immigrated to South Texas at nine years old. Alma’s interest in the human experience began in early childhood when she found books by Sigmund Freud on her grandmother’s bookshelf. She knew then that there is a profound drive to analyze the relationship with self and others even with a limited grasp on the language used in Freud’s books. She continued developing her curiosity by receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology with honors from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas. As a DEI junior fellow, Alma aims to contribute to cultural awareness and humility at the Wright Institute through mentorship and working alongside other DEI fellows. Currently, she is training as a student clinician at the WI Recovery Clinic offering psychotherapy to underserved adult populations with co-occurring addiction and mental health issues.

Anthony Patrick
First Year, Junior Fellow

My name is Anthony Patrick, and I am a first year doctoral student at the Wright Institute. My previous experience involves clients in various settings including: incarcerated juveniles and adults, the foster care system and both the public and nonpublic school systems. I am deeply committed to working with clients who have experienced childhood trauma and truly enjoy assisting clients who are underserved and considered high-risk groups (racial and ethnic minority groups and poverty groups). In my free time, especially the weekends, I enjoy relaxing, catching up on my reading, spending time with my children and being surrounded by my family which includes me experimenting with new food dishes!

DEI Partners

Jacqueline Duong (she/her/hers)
Third Year, Partner

Jacqueline Duong has a wealth of experience in working with children and in studying psychology. She is particularly interested in working with neurodiverse child and adolescent populations. Jacqueline graduated from Santa Clara University with a BS in Psychology with a Minor in Dance as well as an MA in Counseling. Jacqueline is trained in delivering the following treatment modalities: dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), creative dance, applied behavioral analysis (ABA), Floortime, interpersonal psychotherapy, and social skills training. Today, Jacqueline is working towards a PsyD in Clinical Psychology with a focus in Child Assessment at the Wright Institute. She currently works as a neuropsychological assessor at Stanford's Brain Development Lab and as a psychology trainee at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, rock climbing, painting, crocheting, cooking, and taking care of her plants. She is thrilled to partner with the DEI Office!

Zackary Simon
First Year, Partner

As an African American male who is the first in his family to pursue a doctorate degree, Zack's passion is working with children, adolescents, college-age individuals, and families. Having worked with many low-income BIPOC and immigrants for most of his career, Zack brings firsthand professional experience working with trauma, grief, and anxiety. What is unique about Zack is his creativity, thoughtfulness, and openness to learning. These qualities are evident in his hobby as a breakdancer and his engagement in clinical psychology. His area of research aims to address the childhood trauma in African American fathers. As he engages with each individual, he values bringing the best out of them with empathy, compassion, and acceptance.

McKayla Roberts
First Year, Partner

McKayla is a DEI partner, co-leader for WI Black Student Union, and a 2nd year student. McKayla currently serves as a Psychological Associate at StarVista, assisting children, adolescents, and adults navigating many life’s challenges. In her future, she hopes to establish a reentry program for African Americans that encompasses culturally relevant tools for reentering communities and families.

Negar Azadbadi
Fifth Year, Partner

Negar is the Wright institute's DEI office partner. She is in her fifth year at the Wright, and while providing mentorship and clinical services at the Wright Institute Recovery clinic, she is involved in the SWANA-M program. Negar moved to the United States from Iran in 2009 to pursue higher education. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of California in Berkeley, majoring in psychology. Her areas of interest are immigrant identity, psychedelics, and women's rights. Before moving to the United States, she was an active member of a women's rights group in Tehran.

APA MFP Fellow

Yves-Yvette Young (she/her/hers)

Yves-Yvette Young, MPH, is a second-year doctoral student in Clinical Psychology at The Wright Institute in Berkeley, California. She received her B.S. in Psychology with a minor in public health sciences from Xavier University of Louisiana and her MPH in maternal and child health from UC Berkeley School of Public Health. Prior to pursuing her doctorate, she worked as a researcher where her work focused on documenting the impact of policies on women’s reproductive health and highlighting disparities in reproductive health care in domestic and global settings.

After working in research for over five years, she realized that she had a desire to be a direct service provider who would work directly in the community. Her clinical interests are in perinatal, infant, and early childhood mental health within the Black community. She is committed to working within underserved communities; with those who face the most barriers to accessing high quality, equitable, and culturally competent mental health care. Post-graduation, she plans to develop and evaluate innovative evidence-based mental health interventions for BIPOC women and their children.