Shareefah N. Al Uqdah

Shareefah N. Al Uqdah serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Development & Psychoeducational Studies at Howard University's School of Education. She concurrently leads as Founder & CEO of Your Neighborhood Clinic, a nonprofit delivering accessible mental health services, and maintains her public presence as 'Your Neighborhood Psychologist' across social media platforms.

Her academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, Howard University (2010)
• M.A. in Psychology, North Carolina Central University (2004)
• B.A. in Psychology, North Carolina Central University (2002)

Dr. Al Uqdah's research centers on urban mental health disparities, with specialized focus on African American Muslim communities and the intergenerational effects of community violence. Her work examines implicit bias in educational systems, substance abuse prevention in adolescents, and culturally responsive grief interventions. She develops trauma-informed frameworks addressing parenting stress in high-violence environments and advocates for culturally competent mental health services through both academic research and community practice.

Analysis of her 14 publications (2006-2024) reveals consistent thematic threads: the intersection of race/religion in mental healthcare access, community violence impacts on child development, and resilience strategies for marginalized youth. Her recent work expands into social media advocacy and crisis management systems, demonstrating applied translation of research into community interventions targeting systemic inequities.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• American Psychological Association Raymond D. Fowler Award (2023) for exceptional mentorship of psychology students

Dr. Al Uqdah has secured over $2.5 million in competitive grants, including:

• HRSA General Psychology Education Grant ($660,000)
• HRSA Scholarships for Disadvantaged Individuals ($1.9 million)

These initiatives train culturally competent clinicians for underserved communities while providing full scholarships to underrepresented students in mental health professions.

Through Your Neighborhood Clinic, she operationalizes her research via direct service delivery and national workshops addressing wellness, grief processing, substance abuse, and implicit bias training for educators and community stakeholders across multiple continents.