Our Team
Sojeong Nam, Ph.D., LMHC, NCC is an Assistant Professor of Counselor Education in the Department of Individual, Family, and Community Education at The University of New Mexico. Dr. Nam has received a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from The University of Iowa. Her professional and scholarly pursuits are centered around investigating mental health disparities, depression and suicidality in youth, and psychometric properties of tools in counseling and counselor education.
Michael Lovato, MA, LMHC, NCC, Doctoral Student in Counselor Education and Supervision at The University of New Mexico. Michael uses a multicultural and social justice framework to understand and bring awareness of disparities among the underserved and underrepresented populations. His research interests include Multicultural Counselor Education Training, Dynamics in Supervision, and LGBTQIA+ Military/Veteran issues within Counseling.
Rahab Njihia (Ray), M.S., is an international development expert who has worked in various community development areas including social housing, food (in)security, and education, through projects which seek to empower and partner with local communities. Community-based approach to local issues as well as adaptation of indigenous knowledge are strategies that Ray strongly believes in.
Ray has a master’s degree in environmental studies with specialization in food security, gender, and enterprise development (York University, Canada). She also has a bachelor’s degree in international development and social Anthropology (University of Toronto, Canada).
In the Fall of 2023, Ray joined the master’s program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of New Mexico where she is currently attending full time studies. Her goal is to gain an in-depth understanding of mental health counseling theory, research methods, and evidence-based practices. She aspires to engage in research that can influence mental health policies, interventions, and the overall direction of the field.
Ali Cissey Usman is a master’s student in counseling at the University of New Mexico. Ali Cissey has a strong passion for research, especially research studies around substance use, school-related problems, reintegration, and aligning treatment plans to meet the needs of diverse ethnic populations.
Ali joined the Disparity Lab because he is looking forward to deepening his understanding of the scientific research process as well as collaborating with others in designing and formulating research studies around diversities.
Sarah Youssof, M.D., M.S., worked as a neurologist before switching career paths. She became interested in the intersection of neurology and psychiatry which led her to join the master’s program in counseling at the University of New Mexico in 2022, on the clinical mental health track. Sarah was initially motivated to study medicine because of a desire to address healthcare disparities in the medical system, and she is excited to join Dr. Nam’s disparity lab where she can pursue work on this issue.
