Research Team

Huynh-Nhu (Mimi) Le
Professor, Clinical/Community Psychology

Dr. Le is a professor in the Clinical Psychology PhD program in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the George Washington University. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Los Angeles, her doctoral degree at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, and her predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships at the University of California, San Francisco, and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.  Her primary area of research focuses on developing and evaluating preventive intervention trials for perinatal depression in a variety of populations and settings. She developed and co-authored the Mothers and Babies Course, an evidence-based intervention to prevent perinatal depression. Over the past two decades, she has conducted several cultural adaptations and trainings of the MBC for various populations and settings, including Spain and, most recently, sub-Saharan Africa.

Inna Goncearenco

Inna is a first-year clinical psychology doctoral student at George Washington University. Originally from Siberia, she began her career as a law clerk in criminal court while pursuing a law degree. Inna later earned a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University, where she worked in the Global Mental Health lab, focusing on perinatal stress and postpartum psychopathology among BIPOC mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also worked as a clinical research coordinator at the Mount Sinai Suicide Prevention Research Lab, where she helped develop effective approaches for identifying and treating imminent suicide risk. At GWU, Inna is committed to advocating for minoritized perinatal and postpartum populations as a researcher, clinician, and educator, focusing on developing and implementing evidence-based, cost-effective, and culturally adapted interventions for suicidal ideation and depression. 

Lauren Kobylski

Lauren is a third-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at GWU. She graduated from Boston College with an undergraduate degree in biology and women's studies. She then moved to New York City to pursue an MPH at Columbia University, where she studied sexual and reproductive health. Lauren has worked in a variety of community, academic, and hospital settings, including the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Women's Mental Health. There, she worked as a research coordinator on a variety of studies related to the treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Her research interests center around prevention and intervention strategies to support perinatal mental health. At GW, Lauren is currently completing her second-year project, which focuses on risk and protective factors for perinatal suicidality. She is also completing a clinical externship at George Mason University, where she is conducting comprehensive psychological assessments, working with individual adult and child therapy clients, and co-leading a DBT skills group.

Kiara (Anese) Barnett

Anese is a fourth-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at GWU. She graduated from the University of Vermont with an undergraduate degree in psychology. Following undergrad, Anese obtained a master's degree in community clinical mental health counseling. She has served children, families, and women in the perinatal period as a therapist throughout the DC metro area. Throughout Anese's academic and professional career, she has volunteered in research labs that have focused on resilience, health disparities within the African-American population, and parenting styles. Anese also volunteers as a peer mentor with Postpartum Support Virginia (PSVa). Her second-year project was a mixed-method study examining the role of racism in the decision-making process and emotional experiences of Black birthing women navigating prenatal care in DC. Anese is also completing an externship at Georgetown Medstar Women’s Mental Health Program, where she provides outpatient therapy and conducts groups in the Mother-baby Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). Currently, Anese is working on her dissertation focused on NICU parent mental health.

Alexandra Ramirez

Alexandra Ramirez is a second-year medical student at the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences. She graduated in 2020 from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Minor in Spanish. Her collegiate research endeavors focused on patient decision-making in MCI & Dementia patients. Upon graduation, she spent two years working as a Research Coordinator at the Johns Hopkins Multiple Sclerosis Center, where she acquired clinical retinal imaging and conducted research on cognition, dexterity, and genetic markers with the principal aim of enhancing neurological diagnostic criteria. She joined the Mothers & Babies Lab in Spring 2024 and has mainly worked on a project focusing on perinatal mental health screening within the GW Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Her current research interests include health policy, reproductive healthcare accessibility, and diagnostic frameworks. At Mothers & Babies Lab, Alexandra works on the mixed methods study examining risk and protective factors for perinatal suicidality.

 Anne-Sophie Jeanty

Anne-Sophie Jeanty is a third-year pre-med student at George Washington University, majoring in Psychological and Brain Sciences with a strong interest in mental health, particularly in the context of family and infant well-being. Her work at Total Health Medical Center as a medical assistant leverages her trilingual proficiency in English, French, and Spanish, enhancing her effectiveness in patient care. Dedicated to community service, Anne-Sophie actively volunteers at a local nonprofit organization, supporting the educational and extracurricular needs of children in the Latino community. She also expresses her creativity through writing, having published a trilingual children's book that integrates educational and cultural themes. In the Mothers and Babies lab at GWU, Anne-Sophie applies her academic interests as a research assistant. At Mothers & Babies Lab, Anne-Sophie works on the mixed methods study examining risk and protective factors for perinatal suicidality.

Alex Schroeder

Alex Schroeder is currently a second-year student at the George Washington University pursuing a double major in Psychological & Brain Sciences and Cognitive Neuroscience. She has a fervent interest in mental health, specifically mood disorders and their impact on family dynamics. While working as a clinical intern at a center focused on diagnosing and therapizing neurodiverse adolescents from low-income families, she gained tremendous skills surrounding clinical practices in abnormal psychology. Through that experience and her involvement in assisting social workers at a crisis center, she acquired valuable knowledge on the health disparities in America, strengthening her passion for reducing these inequalities and addressing the lack of resources. Furthermore, her time spent volunteering at the Children’s Bereavement Center, an organization committed to supporting grieving families, further enhanced her love for working with children and counseling others. Beyond her interests in clinical psychology, Alex adores filmmaking and fashion history, recently presenting her research on feminism in paper clothing at the GW Textile Research Day showcase. At Mothers & Babies Lab, Alex works on the mixed methods study examining risk and protective factors for perinatal suicidality.

Elizabeth Okundaye

Elizabeth Okundaye is a fourth-year medical student at George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, with an interest in Global Health and Psychiatry as her future career. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she worked as a medical scribe for an OB/GYN, where she developed an interest in perinatal mental health and suicidality. She also served in the Peace Corps Senegal, working with a women’s group towards financial empowerment and a youth group on health education. She continues to explore her interests in the intersection of Global Mental Health and Women’s Mental Health. At Mothers & Babies Lab, Elizabeth works on the mixed methods study examining risk and protective factors for perinatal suicidality.

Juliana Isaac

Juliana Isaac is a second-year pre-med student at the George Washington University pursuing a major in Cellular and Molecular concentration Biology, with double minors in Psychological & Brain Sciences and Biophysics. She has a strong passion for research focused on exploring the complexities of maternal mental health. With over two years of experience volunteering as an EMT with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, she has gained firsthand knowledge and skills in emergency medical care. Her role as a medical assistant has further enriched her clinical expertise. In addition to her medical interests, she actively works with Leaving the Jar, an organization committed to combating human trafficking. Dedicated to women's health, domestic violence prevention, and child advocacy, she is eager to apply her diverse background and passion for research to contribute meaningfully to advancements in healthcare. At Mothers & Babies Lab, Juliana works on the mixed methods study examining risk and protective factors for perinatal suicidality.

Kamiya Bridges

Kamiya Bridges is currently a second year medical student at Howard University College of Medicine. She is originally from Charlotte, North Carolina and graduated from Winston-Salem State University. She is passionate about women’s health, reproductive rights and research regarding disorders of the female reproductive tract. Before attending medical school, she completed a post-baccalaureate program at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Here, her research involved the gene RUNX1 and focused on its association with ovarian pathologies and genetic alterations that may be involved in the development of ovarian cancer. As a medical student at Howard and a member of the Howard University Student Society for OBGYN, she also participates in the Teen Promise program. The Teen Promise Project is an initiative to combat rising teen pregnancy rates by providing sexual education for middle school-aged girls in DC. Outside of school, she enjoys hanging out with friends, doing DIY projects, sewing, and spending time at home with her cat. At Mothers & Babies Lab, Kamiya works on the mixed methods study examining risk and protective factors for perinatal suicidality.

Naimah Saleem

Naimah Saleem, LPC, PMH-C, is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Dance/Movement Therapist with over eight years of experience in the behavioral health field. Naimah is currently a Perinatal Behavioral Specialist on a PCORI-funded project. She holds a Perinatal Mental Health Certification from Postpartum Support International and has completed perinatal-specific EMDR training. Naimah received her Master of Science from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, in Dance/Movement Therapy and her Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling and Wellness from New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development. She has facilitated individual and group therapy in various settings, including schools, inpatient psychiatry, partial hospitalization programs, hospitals, and community-based behavioral health agencies in Washington, DC and New York. Naimah is passionate about fostering healing and ending mental health stigma in the African-American community. She is honored to continue empowering, educating, and supporting the perinatal population through research and clinical practice. At GW, Naimah is a research assistant on the mixed methods study focusing on risk and protective factors for perinatal suicidality.

Sophia Dalal

Sophia Dalal is a second-year pre-med student at George Washington University, majoring in Psychological and Brain Sciences with a minor in bioinformatics. Sophia has a strong interest in mental health, particularly with an interest in trauma and pediatric care. She has dedicated herself as a Research Assistant for the last three summers at Mclean Hospital in Belmont, MA, which allowed her to enhance her skills in data collection and clinical skills with patients with schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorders from the ages of 10 to 38. Sophia is also a captain of her Bollywood dance team at George Washington University, where she gets to leverage her teamwork and creative skills with her peers. Sophia's dedication to community service is shown through volunteering at local schools in the DC area, tutoring middle school teachers, and creating curriculums for math and science topics. At Mothers & Babies Lab, Sophia works on the mixed methods study examining risk and protective factors for perinatal suicidality..

Cat Thong

Cat Thong is a UVA 24 alum who graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science and a concentration in Linguistics. She is currently in her gap year and has worked in Dr. Fillip Lonke’s Complexities of Bilingualism Lab at the UVA School of Education. Cat started her clinical work at UVA Hospital as a CNA on 6 West, a neuro inpatient unit. Through that experience, she grew a profound curiosity for understanding patient psychiatry and its connection to healthcare philosophy. After graduation, she began her work at INOVA Loudoun as a clinical technician on 51 North, a cardiology step-down unit. Now, she is working to further her love and interest in psychiatry through assisting in the GW Mothers and Babies lab on the mixed methods study focusing on risk and protective factors for perinatal suicidality. Cat is aiming to apply for medical school in the coming year!