About Us
Join Our Study
Make a Difference
Your participation is helpful in advancing our understanding of the role of Black faith communities. By taking our survey, you can contribute to shaping policies and interventions that support the well-being of Black individuals and adolescents. If you are interested in this study and would like to see if you qualify, please fill out our screener survey.
The NC/SC Black Church Study Team
Dr. Pamela Martin
Principal Investigator
Pamela Martin is a Professor in the Department of Psychology, Clinical-Community Program, and African
American Studies Department at the
University of South Carolina. She is the Director, African American Faith Communities Project. Dr. Martin's research focuses on how Black churches help families, especially youth.
Dr. Marketa Burnett
Co-Principal Investigator
Marketa Burnett is an Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Sciences and Africana Studies at the University of Connecticut. Her research has examined how Black parents (residential and non-residential) actively contribute to the positive development of their children and their ability to thrive using cultural assets and strategies such as religion.
Tiera Cleveland
Graduate Scholar
Tiera Cleveland is a 3rd year Ph.D. student at USC. She graduated from Baylor University in 2022 earning a BS in Psychology. While at Baylor University, she was a scholar-athlete in Track and Field. She is interested in resiliency, religious factors, and racial socialization as cultural strength-based coping assets among Black populations.
Devin Weeks
Post-Baccalaureate Scholar
Devin is recent graduate of the University of South Carolina where he recieved his B.S. in Psychology in 2023. He currently works at a psychology private practice in Columbia, SC. His research interests focuses on racial-stress, coping mechanisms, and how race related messages are conveyed in the black church.
Kanyisile Barrett
Undergraduate Scholar
Kanyisile Barrett is an undergraduate student from Charleston, South Carolina, majoring in African American Studies with a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of South Carolina. She plans to pursue a Ph.D., focusing her research on the untold stories of Black women and girls across the African diaspora. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, and exploring the outdoors.
Rachel Garrett
Undergraduate Scholar
My name is Rachel Garrett, and I am from Ayden, North Carolina. I attend North Carolina Central University, where I am pursuing a B.A. in Psychology. My career goal is to become a clinical psychologist. I am particularly interested in understanding and addressing the impact of intergenerational trauma within Black communities. I aim to develop interventions that draw upon the cultural and spiritual support systems of the Black church, exploring innovative pathways for healing and resilience
Kai White
Undergraduate Scholar
Kai White is a first-year undergraduate student from Raleigh, North Carolina, currently majoring in psychology at North Carolina Central University. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in counseling psychology and become a child psychologist. Her research interests include examining how race-related trauma affects the development of African American children. In her free time, Kai enjoys listening to music and spending time with friends and family.
©Copyright. All rights reserved.
We need your consent to load the translations
We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details in the privacy policy and accept the service to view the translations.