Kyesha Isadore

Dr. Kyesha Isadore is an Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education. She holds a Ph.D. in Counselor Education & Supervision (Pennsylvania State University, 2022), an M.Ed. in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling (Pennsylvania State University, 2019), and a B.S. in Psychology (Louisiana State University, 2017). Her research focuses on intersectionality's impact on mental health, particularly for racially/ethnically minoritized individuals with disabilities. She employs mixed-methods approaches to study therapeutic outcomes, multicultural counseling competencies, and systemic barriers affecting marginalized populations.

Her work emphasizes understanding how race/ism, gender, and disability intersect to influence mental health and psychosocial outcomes. Key areas include improving counseling efficacy for Black and international students with disabilities, addressing stigma through disability pride initiatives, and exploring HIV health literacy in substance use treatment settings. Her research also addresses syndemic effects of incarceration and the role of rehabilitation counselors in public health.

Recent publications (2020-2025) investigate cultural adaptation in counseling, microaffirmations for queer POC, and longitudinal outcomes for college students with disabilities. Methodological strengths include longitudinal analysis, qualitative narrative studies, and large-scale effectiveness trials. Her educational background in counselor training and clinical rehabilitation positions her to bridge academic research with practical interventions in mental health systems.