The Team
Who We Are
Dr. Joniesha Hickson
Chair
Ida Bell Hickson and John T. Gaston’s granddaughter. Nancy’s daughter. Jasmine and Nicholas’ baby sister. Dr. Joniesha Hickson is a recent graduate of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, where she earned her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology. A proud Jersey City native and dedicated community organizer, she has served in multiple roles with organizations such as the Association of Black Psychologists, Inc., Dear Black Prophets, Co., and the D.C. Psychological Association.
Through her leadership, Dr. Hickson has developed and co-facilitated numerous workshops focused on racial trauma and its impact on mental health in Black communities, training mental health workers, professionals, and community members alike. She is also the CEO and founding member of Dear Black Prophets, Co., a D.C.-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization grounded in the pedagogy and praxis of the Black Panther Party.
202-656-0348
Dr. Munazza Abraham
Vice Chair
Dr. Munazza Abraham completed her dual-track PhD in Clinical and Community Psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She is currently a licensed psychologist in the state of Maryland. Dr. Munazza is also a spoken word poet, performing wellness and justice-centered poetry before famous artists and activists including Nikki Giovani (Rest in Power), KRS-ONE, David Banner, and Jasmine Mans. Dr. Munazza is the author of Dear Vagina… Forgive Me, a series of poems, confessions, and affirmations on a woman’s journey towards self. She is also the co-author of Our Doctoral Journey: A Collection of Black Women’s Journeys Volume I, and currently working on Volume II. For over 10 years, Dr. Munazza’s artistry, research, clinical work, and consultancy — spanning nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and government agencies — have all supported the equitable wellness of Black communities.
Additionally, Dr. Munazza is the founder of In SABAA Wealth & Wellness, LLC where she provides psychological, consultation, and training services. She is currently accepting clients for group therapy with a focus on anti-oppressive, African-Centered Psychotherapy for collective healing and thriving.
Therapy and consultation interest forms as well as books for purchase are available at www.drmunazza.com.
Oluwatimilein Bamgbola, MA, LGPC
Scribe
Oluwatimilein Bamgbola is serving as the Scribe for the 2025 to 2027 term for DC ABPsi’s Executive Board. Oluwatimilein has been a member of DC ABPsi since June 2024 and a member of the national ABPsi since December 2015. Oluwatimilein is a third-year doctoral student at Howard University’s Counseling Psychology program, researching on transgender/gender diverse young adults of color. Oluwatimilein has also been working as a licensed graduate professional counselor for 2 years at Aya Behavioral Health, a Black-owned group practice in Washington, DC and Maryland which predominantly serves Black and Brown populations. Furthermore, Oluwatimilein has served the community as a grass-root organizer with a focus on housing and labor rights.
Dr. Samuel Gordan
Treasurer
Dr. Gordon is Assistant Director of Psychology at the MedStar National Rehabilitation Network and has a small private practice and has been committed to providing psychotherapy services to inner-city residents of the Washington, DC area since 1983. Born in Panama and raised in the South Bronx and Harlem communities of New York City in the 1960s, Dr. Gordon's interest in the mental health of urban residents and the heroin epidemic began during the related radical destruction of his home neighborhoods in the late sixties and early seventies. He served 4 years in the US Navy as a hospital corpsman. After receiving his degree from the City College of New York, he pursued graduate training in clinical and community psychology at the University of Maryland to acquire skills in the prevention and treatment of mental and emotional disorders, with a particular emphasis on urban dwellers, silence and humanity.
Dr. Pearis Jean
Wellness Coordinator
Dr. Pearis Jean is an assistant professor of psychology at Towson University and licensed psychologist in Maryland. She received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Florida in 2023. Dr. Jean co-leads the R.E.G.A.L. Collective, which is an interdisciplinary research lab focused on Black wellness. Her research focuses on the development of individual and community-level interventions to support the wellness of survivors of trauma with a focus on the Black community. She currently teaches Psychology of the Black Experience, Applied Theories of Counseling, and Introduction to Research Methods. Dr. Jean is also the author of the psychoeducational workbook, Strategically Navigating Anti-Black Racism in Professional Spaces: A Practical Guide for Black People Responding to Racism in the Workplace.
VACANT
Community Service Coordinator
We are currently seeking a Community Service Coordinator to join our leadership team!
This role is dedicated to organizing and leading quarterly (or more frequent) community outreach initiatives focused on serving and uplifting Black communities in the DC area.
If you’re passionate about direct service, grassroots engagement, and bringing our mission to life through hands-on community care — we want to hear from you!
📩 Interested or know someone who might be?
Email: dc@abpsi.org
Let’s build together. ✊🏾
