Staff

Riddhi Sandil, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Practice and Program Coordinator of the Ed.M. Program in Psychological Counseling at Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. Sandil received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Iowa in 2008 and has been continually licensed as a Psychologist since 2009. Dr. Sandil's scholarly interests are influenced by multiculturalism and social advocacy. Her research and clinical interests include minority stress, LGBTQ issues in counseling, counseling expectations of South Asian populations and complex trauma and its impact on women's well being. Additionally, Dr. Sandil serves on the boards of the Association of Women, Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council, and is the co-found of the Sexuality, Women and Gender Project.

As Co-Director of the Winter Roundtable, Dr. Sandil is excited to continue with the social justice commitment of the field of Counseling Psychology!

Gregory J. Payton, Ph.D. is a Lecturer in the Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology of Teachers College, Columbia University.  Dr. Payton received his Master of Education degree from Harvard University in Human Development and Psychology and completed his doctorate at Teachers College, Columbia University in Counseling Psychology.  Dr. Payton’s clinical, teaching and research interests include the following: Identity development, Risk and Resiliency within LGBTQ populations; HIV/AIDS Stigma and Access to Care; Health Disparities among Marginalized Populations; Multicultural Competency; and Evidence-Based Practice. Additionally, Dr. Payton has written on issues of substance abuse, harm reduction and gay/lesbian parenting.  Dr. Payton is also a licensed psychologist in private practice in New York City.   

As Co-Director of the Winter Roundtable, Dr. Payton is excited to connect scholars, practitioners and students in the fields of education and psychology while advancing the values of multicultural competency and social justice.  

Charlene Araba Bernasko is a diasporic Ghanaian Torontonian, currently a second year international student pursuing her Masters Degree in both Education and Counseling Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University.

She is an African feminist, anti-violence advocate, community educator, and equity and social justice advocate. She completed her undergraduate degree double majoring in Global Studies and Women Studies and further pursued her Social Services Worker program, graduating with honors and becoming a registered social service worker with the Ontario College of Social Service Workers and Social Workers. Charlene is a lifelong learner, and with a decade of experience working with multiple community groups in the Greater Toronto Area on the impact of violence in the community and with survivors of violence and marginalized and vulnerable population groups has allowed her to further explore the ways in which education and the arts is a transformative tool and means of social justice making.

Her research interest includes intergenerational transmission of trauma and mental illness - the effect of colonization in shaping one’s sense of identity and (dis)connection and (un)belongingness and how this impacts one’s mental health and psychosocial well-being; polytheism and mental health: the relationship between religious faith/practices and mental health well-being; and the mental health of the international/foreign student/worker: the oppressive cycle of migration and immigration.

Her works, interests and passions are rooted in the intersectionalities of her identity and life experiences as a diasporic Black African immigrant woman, and she is largely influenced by her belief and faith in the Divine, her West African roots, and her human experiences of daily struggles with barriers and limitations of race, gender, class and immigration and her thriving survival.

She aspires to pursue her doctorate degree that encompases education, race, religion and psychology and is determined to push beyond the barriers and limits to attain this. She is a closeted storyteller and an avid writer of poems and short stories that focuses on themes of racism, blackness, spirituality and faith and disconnection and unbelonging. In another life Charlene would have chosen to be a storyteller, comedian and a food critic due to her love for writing, exploring food and humor.

As a co-coordinator of the Winter Roundtable, Charlene is excited to be a part of a scholarly platform that brings together a community of learners and educators in discussing, sharing and learning from each other while simultaneously encouraging each other in the various ways in which we continue to RISE UP in working towards systemic and social change.