Meet the Panelists for Our 12/12 Kwanzaa Event

Join us on Saturday, December 12, 2020, for a panel discussion and virtual Kwanzaa event. We have an amazing group of professionals and scholars participating. See below for information about our panelists and moderators. Click here to register for this event on Zoom.

Dr. Marva Dawkins, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist

Center for Applied Psychology and Forensic Studies
Email: [email protected] 
Website: www.capfs.net

Read Dr. Marva Dawkins' bio here
Dr. Marva Dawkins is a highly experienced clinical psychologist in the field of police and forensic psychology. Dr. Dawkins received her Ph.D. in psychology from Florida State University and is also board certified in police and public safety psychology.

Her work in police psychology began in the early 1980s. Since that time, she has conducted numerous psychological evaluations of police candidates and incumbent police officers. She has been a consultant to police departments and has presented research to the professional community in the field of police psychology.

As founder and president of The Center for Applied Psychology and Forensic Studies, she continues to be involved in training, mentoring, and program development, hoping to inspire another generation of professionals to be prepared for the challenges they will face in 21st-century law enforcement and public safety.


Dr. Charmaine Dodd, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist

South Beach Psychiatric Center
Email: [email protected]

Read Dr. Charmaine Dodd's' bio here
Dr. Charmaine Dodd, PsyD is a socially responsible practitioner. She is an advocate for social justice and is passionate about forensic psychology, these threads weave through her training and practice.
She holds a Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Adler University, formerly the Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, IL. The native New Yorker received her Bachelors in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, as such Dr. Dodd developed a strong foundation in and passion for Forensic Psychology. Her previous work experiences include conducting initial psychological assessments and fitness for duty testing of Chicago police officers and providing individual and group psychotherapy for adolescents in a correctional based setting. While in Chicago she volunteered with the National Alliance against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR). She also worked briefly with the Center for Court Innovation on a research team to develop an alternative to incarceration program for adolescent boys.

Presently she works as an associate psychologist for South Beach Psychiatric Center providing assessment and individual and group psychotherapy in their Brooklyn outpatient clinic. She is also working with the Office of Mental Health to facilitate groups for staff members to address racism within the state mental health system. In addition, for the last four years, she has been working with the Department of Health and the Cure Violence program in her hometown of Staten Island to provide grief support for individuals who have lost someone to gun violence.

Dr. Dodd is a lifelong learner. She enjoys working with survivors of trauma and has therefore recently completed TCTSY- Trauma Sensitive Yoga Therapy training. She is currently working towards completing her 200-hour RYT Yoga teacher certification with a goal to incorporate embodied yoga therapy for people who have struggled with complex trauma into her practice.


Franchon Francees
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Healing Your Almond
Email: [email protected]
Website: healingyouralmond.com

Read Franchon Francees' bio here
Franchon Francees is the founder of Healing Your Almond, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, and a Certified Trauma & Resilience and Trainer. She founded Healing Your Almond, a Wilmington, NC-based consulting group, in 2019, utilizing her expertise in both trauma and emotional intelligence to help companies address employee stress and team efficiency. Known for her authentic leadership and engaging presentations, Franchon discovered her passion for mental health in 2007.

Over the years she has held several positions including Clinical/Residential Coordinator of a 61-bed treatment facility. In 2016, Franchon moved to Wilmington, NC. She continued her clinical work in a community based mental health setting, specializing in treating those impacted by trauma. Prior to her work in mental health, Franchon was the project manager for a startup in Brooklyn, New York. She graduated from Bentley University in 2005 with a degree in business and earned a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health in 2011 from Ohio University.


Dr. Gregory I. Mack, Ph.D.
Clinical and Forensic Psychologist
Retired NYPD Detective Psychologist

Clinical, Police, & Forensic Psychological Services PLLC
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://drgimack.org/

Read Dr. Gregory Mack's bio here
Dr. Gregory I. Mack, Ph.D., SAP is a New York State Licensed Clinical and Forensic Psychologist and a Substance Abuse Professional. He is CEO of Clinical, Police, & Forensic Psychological Services PLLC and has been providing clinical treatment and forensic consultancy services for over 20 years. Dr. Mack is a retired NYPD Detective Psychologist who completed his Doctor of Philosophy degree in clinical psychology at St. John’s University. He completed his internship at NYU-Bellevue Clinical Psychology Internship Program with a specialization in Forensic Psychology at Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center.

Dr. Mack has advanced evidence-based training in the treatment of major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress; he specializes in treating people of color, first responders, military personnel/veterans, essential workers and provides safe, confidential treatment to members within the L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ community.


Read Curtis Stephen's bio here
Curtis Stephen is an award-winning New York-based journalist whose work has appeared in national media outlets including Newsweek, The Daily Beast, Newsday, and City Limits. He has also served as a media fellow with the Open Society Institute, where he wrote a national series of articles investigating wrongful convictions. In addition, he worked in television news (WNBC, CNN, and ABC News) and served as a judge for the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Emmy Awards (News & Documentary).

Danielle Woods
Corporal Officer
LGBTQ Liaison
Chief’s Neighborhood Liaison Unit

Detroit Police Department
Email: [email protected]

Read Danielle Woods' bio here
Danielle Woods is a Detroit native and twenty-year veteran with the Detroit Police Department. She is currently assigned to the Chief’s Neighborhood Liaison unit where she coordinates and oversees the operations of the Citizen Radio Patrol and Volunteer Angels detail along with Citywide Events that contribute to the building and continued relationship of Detroit Police and community. Officer Woods was appointed as the first LGBT Liaison Officer for the police department in 2013. She formulated the first LGBT Advisory Board Committee under the appointment of Chief James E. Craig and is a driving force in the LGBT community in her efforts of “Bridging the Gap” between law enforcement and the LGBT community.

Officer Woods has not limited her career to only patrol calls. She became a “Field Training Officer” while working at the 9th Precinct, offering her knowledge and experience to new officers as they join the ranks; conducted undercover operations at the Vice and Narcotic units; performed administrative duties, and never ceasing to obtain training to enhance her duties. She has a great rapport with the community as a whole and does very well in organizing community programs and projects. She is a recent graduate of Cleary University where she obtained her degree in Business Administration.


Moderators

Dr. Jamila Codrington
Program Planning and Development Committee Chair
NYABPsi Past-President
Counseling Psychologist

Asili Services, Inc.
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://drjamila.com

Read Dr. Jamila Codrington's bio here
Dr. Codrington is the founder and CEO of Asili Services, Inc., which provides strength-based and culturally-relevant therapeutic, educational, and consultation services and empowers communities through raising awareness of mental health and social justice issues. She maintains a private practice in Brooklyn, NY, is a clinical supervisor with 17 years of service at Astor Services for Children and Families, and an Adjunct Professor at New York Theological Seminary.

Dr. Codrington is a Past President of the New York Association of Black Psychologists and has served on the Board of Directors for over 10 years. She earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of Maryland at College Park and received specialized postdoctoral training in the evaluation and treatment of court-involved/high-risk youth. As an acknowledgment of her service and impact, Dr. Codrington was awarded the 2010-2011 distinguished Bobby E. Wright Award by the Association of Black Psychologists for her exemplary commitment to community service and empowerment. She also received the 2014 Healer/Warrior Award at the Association of Black Psychologists Annual Convention by the Eastern Region. The award was given in recognition of Dr. Codrington’s outstanding professional work and advocacy on behalf of African ancestry families and children. Dr. Codrington also received the 2019 Malcolm X Black Unity Award from the National Association of Kawaida Organizations (New York Chapter) and the International African Arts Festival for her service in community mental health, artistic development, and organization and institution building.

Through public forums, consultation, guest lectures, radio interviews, and organizational partnerships, Dr. Codrington has addressed a wide array of mental health, education, and social justice issues affecting individuals and communities of color. She has publications in numerous professional journals including the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, Dreaming, and Cultural Studies of Science Education, as well as a book chapter in Helping Beyond the 50-Minute Hour: Therapists Involved in Meaningful Social Action, and the Association of Black Psychologists’ position paper on Special Education and the Mis-education of African American Children.


Dr.Denise Hinds-Zaami
Legislative and Social Action Committee Chair
NYABPsi Past-President
Licensed Social Worker & Psychotherapist

Email: [email protected]

Read Dr. Denise Hinds-Zaami's' bio here
Dr. Denise Hinds-Zaami is a Licensed Psychological Associate, a licensed Social Worker, and a Licensed Psychotherapist. Her most recent position as a Psychologist has been with New York State’s Broome Developmental Disabilities Services in Oneonta, New York. She currently chairs the Legislative and Social Action Committee of The New York Association of Black Psychologists and is on their Board of Directors.  In the past she was twice elected president of The New York Association of Black Psychologists and is a lifetime member of The National Association of Black Psychologists.

A native of Brooklyn, New York, Dr. Hinds-Zaami earned her graduate degrees at Columbia University in New York City, The University of Texas at Austin, and Seton Hall University in New Jersey.  She studied Health Psychology at The University Without Walls, and Social Psychology at the Instituto Joaquim Nabuco in Recife, Brazil.  Throughout her career,

Dr. Hinds-Zaami has taught Psychology and Social Work at many colleges and universities. She has also been a Private Practitioner of Psychotherapeutic Intervention for a number of years; an author; and, a world traveler. Dr. Hinds-Zaami presented in 2012 at the International Congress of Psychologists in Cape Town, South Africa, on Psychological Constructs of Healing and Survival from Africa and Its Diaspora. Her most recent presentation was on October 18, 2020, at the convention of the New York State Psychological Association, where she presented on Underlying Forces Contributing to Gun Violence in Black Communities.


Click here to register for this event on Zoom.