Meet The Team

Dr. Wingate joined the OSU faculty in 2006. She is currently the only Black female Full Professor on the OSU campus. She regularly teaches Black Psychology and Positive Psychology. ​

Dr. Wingate is accepting students in Fall 2025.

Vanessa is a Clinical Psychology doctoral student from Southern California and an HBCU alum (Go Rattlers)! Vanessa is invested in combining African/Black Psychology and African American Studies to better understand and identify culturally specific methods for healing.

vanessa.oliphant@okstate.edu

Funke is a Clinical Psychology doctoral student from Nigeria. She received her MA in Community Psychology – Clinical Services from the University of New Haven, Connecticut. Her research interests are in exploring the risk and protective factors that can be found within Black and African American communities that can be used to mitigate suicidality and other mental health disorders amongst the population.

olufunke.benson@okstate.edu

Kennedy is a Clinical Psychology doctoral student from Atlanta, GA and she is an alumna from The College of Wooster.  Her research primarily focuses on culturally sensitive interventions for Black women and Black queer individuals facing mental health challenges.

kennedy.pope@okstate.edu