Our Team
Jennifer Yazzie
Jennifer is a doctoral student in the Clinical-Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program at Utah State University in Logan, Utah. She is a member of the Navajo Nation and is looking to one day provide clinical services to Native communities with an emphasis on cultural sensitivity. Jennifer attended Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. She then attended the University of Alaska - Anchorage for a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology. Jennifer’s research interests revolve around the effects of historical trauma on Indigenous populations. More specifically, Jennifer’s master’s thesis is on knowledge and understanding of historical trauma among American Indian and Alaska Native college students and how they perceive the effects historical trauma has on them, their families, and their communities. Jennifer enjoys spending quality time with others, plays basketball and softball, and loves to watch true crime documentaries.
Erica Ficklin
Erica is a proud member of the Tlingit and Lakota tribes. She began the Combined Clinical and Counseling doctoral program in 2017 with an emphasis in Multicultural/Rural Psychology.
She is currently working with Dr. Melissa Tehee and is researching physical, learning, and mental health disabilities in Native American youth. She was awarded the Native American Leader Fellowship in 2017 and is working to develop disability awareness in Native Americans within the state of Utah. Erica is also a student representative for the Society of Indian Psychologists.
Erica is from Mobile, Alabama and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Alabama in December 2016. She found her passion for psychology from her mother and grandfather after learning about the mental health issues experienced by the Native American community. Her long-term career goal is to obtain an academic position so that she may conduct research with the aim to address and bring awareness to these mental health disparities, with the hopes of reducing and negating them.
Devon Isaacs
Osiyo. Devon Isaacs is a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. She grew up in rural Oklahoma and graduated with a B.A. in Psychology, summa cum laude, from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. At NSU she was inducted into the Rho Theta Sigma, Pi Gamma Mu, and Psi Chi International Honor Societies. She was also awarded the American Indian Mentorship Award from Northeastern State University’s Center for Tribal Studies. After graduation she applied for and was awarded a Post-Baccalaureate Fellowship at the Seven Generations Center of Excellence in Native American Behavioral Health at the University of North Dakota. In the summer of that year, she attended her first Society of Indian Psychologists (SIP) conference at Utah State University and fell in love with both the USU combined clinical program and SIP’s mission to promote awareness of Native American issues.
Devon is currently a doctoral student at Utah State University in the Clinical/Counseling Combined PhD program. She is a recipient of the Ford Predoctoral Fellowship, Presidential Doctoral Research (PDRF) Fellowship and the American Indian Support Project Scholarship. Her research focuses on the intersection of culture and mental health, with an emphasis on risk and protective factors for mental health. Her work in Native American Mental health and cultural competence has helped her earn the Cedar Award (APA, Division 35, Section 6) and the Toy Caldwell-Colbert Student Contributions to Service Award (APA, Division 45).
Devon has a passion for mentoring ethnic minority undergraduate students to help diversify the field of psychology. Devon’s long-term goal is to teach at the university level to address the need for Native American mental health research and to provide support to diverse students seeking careers in the social sciences. She was recently awarded the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award from the Association of American Colleges and Universities for her commitment to equity, community, and teaching and learning.
Wado.
Sallie Mack
Sallie is a doctoral student in the Combined Clinical/Counseling PhD Program. She graduated from Georgia State University with a degree in psychology and emphasis in community psychology. Following graduation, Sallie worked at the Grady Nia Project, a hospital-based program and research project under Emory University for 2.5 years. This project focused on researching culturally informed and compassion- and mindfulness-based interventions for suicidal African American women with histories of intimate partner violence. This work sparked Sallie’s interests in trauma and suicide prevention in diverse and underserved populations, health disparities, resilience, and culturally informed interventions. Sallie is passionate about holistic and integrative approaches to wellness, with a focus on the intersection of physical and mental health. She is currently researching how trauma experienced in early life affects mental and physical health outcomes in diverse populations. She is additionally passionate about cultural competency, and conducts related research and trainings with the lab.
Racheal M. Killgore
Racheal is a member of the Diné (Navajo) Nation. She is Kinyaa'áanii (The Towering House Clan) born for the White People Clan. Racheal is from Gallup, New Mexico and prior to attending graduate school she spent several years working in the anti-violence field in her community advocating for victims/survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. She is very passionate about this work and after graduate school she intends on returning to her community to provide clinical services to those who have experienced violence.
Racheal is a fellow of the American Psychological Association Minority Fellowship Program and a student-member of the Society of Indian Psychologists (SIP). She is grateful for both of these opportunities which have been invaluable to her graduate experience.
Tammie Ellington
Tammie is a doctoral student with the Combined Clinical/Counseling/School Psychology program, with an emphasis in rural and multicultural psychology. Tammie’s passion for research is focused on the unique mentorship and guidance Native American adolescents need in order to pursue and succeed in higher education. She aims to bring the reciprocity she received full circle to other students in need.
Tamara graduated magna cum laude from Southern Oregon University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a certificate in Native American Studies. Tamara is a Ronald E. McNair Scholar and a member of the Chinook Indian Nation. Tamara was born in Washington State on the outskirts of Shoalwater Bay Indian Reservation. There she developed her passion for giving back to the Native community and devoting her research interests to mending psychological and health disparities in Native populations. Tammie is a fellow in the American Psychological Association Minority Fellowship. Tammie is currently finishing her final year of her doctoral training on clinical internship working with Native Veterans.
Melissa Tehee, JD, PhD
I am honored to share in so many student’s journeys. I view my role in the Tohi lab as one who tends to the fire. This fire was created by Dr. Carolyn Barcus – who has mentored so many. I hold this space and keep it inviting and warm so students can come together whenever they need it. Everyone has gifts, and it is amazing to see what we create when we bring all of our gifts together. We bring love, pain, liberation, beauty, struggle, resilience, knowledge, and wisdom to share in radical healing and community building. I am so grateful to all of those in the Tohi community.
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