Meet The Team

Dr. Wingate joined the OSU faculty in 2006. She is a proud alumna of the Florida State University, and she completed her predoctoral internship at the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Tallahassee, FL. She is currently the only Black female Full Professor on the OSU campus, and she wears that badge of honor with pride. She previously served as the Director of the Africana Studies Program, and is currently and affiliated faculty member. She regularly teaches Black Psychology, Positive Psychology and Issues in Clinical Psychology. ​

Dr. Wingate is accepting students in Fall 2025 (update for 2026 coming soon).

Google Scholar

OSU Website

laricka.wingate@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

Kyrah is a Clinical Psychology Doctoral student. She received her MA in Psychological Science from California State University, San Bernardino. She is a first-generation college student and is proud to be paving a way for students just like her. Her research interests include behavioral/substance addiction, psychological flexibility/ inflexibility, as well as risk and protective factors surrounding Black and African American communities. 

kyrah.frank@okstate.edu

Myahkia is a 1st year Clinical Psychology Doctoral student. She received her BA in Psychology with a minor in African American Studies from The University of Memphis. Her research explores how racial identity, intersectionality, critical consciousness, intergenerational trauma, and systemic oppression shape psychological and social well-being among Black Americans. She seeks to examine the dissonance between maladaptive and adaptive coping mechanisms, as well as resistance to oppressive systems, by exploring how this tension shapes resilience, self-perception, and collective empowerment. Myahkia is committed to dismantling mental health stigmas and promoting radical healing and liberation throughout Black communities. In her spare time, she enjoys writing poetry, crocheting, painting, reading, and spending time in nature!