CLINIC LEADERSHIP
Malaika Edwards, Ph.D., LCMHC (she/her/hers)
Director, Assistant Professor, and Licensed Counselor
Malaika Edwards is a doctoral candidate in Counseling and Counselor Education at North Carolina State University. She is also a licensed clinical mental health counselor in North Carolina with experience conducting therapy and clinical assessments in medical, private, and community mental health settings. She earned her Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology from Northeastern University in Boston, MA, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies with a double major in Political Science from University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her professional aims are to acknowledge the importance of cultural identity, anti-oppression, multivocality, advocacy, and social justice, in the classroom, clinically, and in individuals’ lived experience. Ultimately, she remains intentional about using her role to support individual and collective growth, empowerment, and liberation, while encouraging movement from theory to personal and social action. Malaika remains grateful for opportunities to laugh with family and friends, spend time outdoors with her dog, and travel to new places.
Kevin Eason, M.A., LCMHCA, NCC (he/him/his)
Assistant Director and Licensed Counselor
Kevin is a founding member of the Eagle Counseling, Consultation, and Research Clinic and currently serves as the Assistant Director. He has a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from North Carolina Central University and is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA) and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). Kevin is also a Certified Grief-Informed Professional (CGP) and a Certified Trauma-Informed Professional (CTP). He has worked within the non-profit sector for 25 years, focusing on increasing access to mental health services, human rights, civil liberties, and equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives.
Kevin has over ten years of experience working in mental health. He began his career working in crisis management with numerous Assertive Community Treatment Teams around the state of North Carolina and providing care for individuals dually diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness and substance use disorders. He particularly enjoys working with marginalized & marginalized individuals/communities and those interested in exploring their identity. Kevin is grounded in Radical Love & Acceptance and liberation. Throughout his career, he has remained passionate about helping close gaps in care and supporting people throughout their journey to be unapologetically their full, authentic selves. As a social justice advocate, Kevin is committed to dismantling white supremacy culture and the foundations of racism & oppression that many of our institutions are built upon. Kevin enjoys spending time with his husband, two sons, and Great Danes.
Dr. Helen Lupton-Smith (she/her/hers)
Faculty Liaison
Dr. Lupton-Smith is an Associate Professor in the Counselor Education Program at North Carolina Central University. She received her Ph.D. in Counselor Education from North Carolina State University. Before coming to North Carolina Central University, Dr. Lupton-Smith was a faculty member in the Counseling Program at North Carolina A&T State University and then the Counselor Education program at NC State University. While at NCSU, Dr. Lupton-Smith served as Co-Director of the Community, Counseling, Education, and Research Center (CCERC), NCSU program’s community counseling center where counseling services are provided to underserved populations who can’t afford services as well as training experiences for graduate counseling students. Dr. Lupton-Smith has counseling experience in both school and agency settings with teens and adults. Her interests are around supervision and teaching strategies that facilitate the development of counselors in training as well as a counseling model that promotes access, engagement, and wellness of underserved community members.
STUDENT COUNSELORS
Tiffany Bastian (she/her/hers)
Student Counselor
Tiffany Bastian is a Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate student at North Carolina Central University. She received her bachelor’s degree in biology from The College of Saint Benedict, an all-women college in St. Joseph, Minnesota. Being from The Bahamas, Tiffany has a unique perspective. She understands firsthand some of the challenges that one can face, as she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at nine years old. Tiffany knows how challenging it can be to balance work life, school life, and family life with a chronic illness in the mix. She understands how difficult it can be to take the first step towards asking for help and commends each client and emphasizes a collaborative counseling approach. Tiffany prioritizes Individualized techniques and coping skills to ensure that each client is given the specialized care they need. Tiffany enjoys listening to music, reading, and spending time with her puppy, Milo!
Brittany Bowman
Student Counselor
Brittany Bowman is a graduate student at North Carolina Central University, pursuing her Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Before finding a passion in mental health, she completed her Bachelors and Master’s degree in criminal justice at North Carolina Central University. While building her career in Corrections and Probation/ Parole services, Brittany found that there is a strong correlation between mental health, substance abuse, and crime. When she was a probation officer for the state of NC, she realized that her middle-woman initiative was quite different from other probation officers because she really pushed for rehabilitation more than recidivism. Brittany utilized evidence-based practices to collaboratively find treatments and rehabilitation for clients. She considers her experience diverse and approach regarding counseling open to the many treatment initiatives. Counseling services with Brittany are aimed to correlate evidence-based treatments and cognitive behavioral approaches with clients. When there is free time, Brittany is passionate about self- care strategies, keeping an open mind for new opportunities, and pottery.
Janazia Dixon (she/her/hers)
Student Counselor
Janazia Dixon is a Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate student at North Carolina Central University. Regarding her view of therapeutic change, Janazia operates as from a strengths-based perspective. She was raised in Eastern North Carolina and attended Carolina Wesleyan University as a student-athlete. At CWU, Janazia received her bachelor’s in criminal justice and a minor in psychology. After graduating, she led therapeutic groups for children and adolescents struggling with behavioral health, taught high school courses, counseled youth involved in the justice system, and advocated for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. As a counselor, she believes that troubles can lead to triumph, endurance, character, and hope.
Kirsten Reberg-Horton (she/her/hers)
Student Counselor
Kirsten Reberg-Horton is a fourth-year graduate student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at North Carolina Central University. As a certified therapeutic horticulturist and having spent 20+ years as a landscape designer, Kirsten is passionate about the benefits of nature and gardening for our well-being. With an undergraduate degree in Studio Art, she brings the creative arts with her to counseling. For the past year and a half, Kirsten has been leading a therapeutic gardening group at the Farm at Penny Lane, a project of UNC that serves mental health clients with alternative therapies to supplement their other services. She is a parent of three children ages 9-19, with her two oldest coming to her family through transracial adoption. Kirsten is passionate about anti-racism, economic justice, LGBTQ+ equality, and valuing and supporting neurodiversity. She has been married for 30 years and enjoys working with parents, individuals, couples, and families. Kirsten brings an integrative approach to counseling with particular emphasis on the strengths and autonomy of her clients.
Felix Sebera (he/him/his)
Student Counselor
Felix is a graduate student at North Carolina Central University pursuing a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. As an undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he experienced a prolonged battle with depression that significantly impacted his life. Fortunately, with the support of his family, friends, and mental health resources, he regained control of his life and graduated with a degree in sociology. After college, he spent six years mentoring students at his alma mater and developed a passion for helping others achieve greater wellness. He knows that each client's journey is unique and uses active listening and intersectionality to see from their perspective. He values the transformative power of welcoming and non-judgmental spaces and strives to create a safe and supportive therapeutic environment where clients can freely explore their concerns. Felix is a spiritual person who encourages clients to explore and utilize their spiritual resources on their path to improved wellness. His therapeutic approach combines elements of person-centered, feminist, narrative, and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Jailyn Weaver (she/her/hers)
Student Counselor
Jailyn "Jai" Weaver is a counselor in training at North Carolina Central University, pursuing a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She received a Bachelor’s in Psychology from NCCU, as well - double eagle pride! As a counselor, her therapeutic approach integrates client-centered, solution-focused, Cognitive-Behavioral, mindfulness-based, and trauma-informed theories and techniques. Jai is dedicated to creating a supportive and collaborative environment for clients, particularly under-represented populations, children, adolescents, and those who have experienced trauma. Jai has experience as a Registered Behavior Technician, working with children with autism. Working as a RBT has deepened her expertise and passion for serving younger populations. In her free time, she enjoys self-care, spending time with loved ones, and exploring nature.
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TEAM
Trent Stamer (he/him/his)
Graduate Assistant & Research Assistant
Trent Stamer is currently enrolled in NCCU’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. His interests within the field of counseling concern Existentialism, Multiculturalism, Rural Mental Health, Systems therapy, and many others. During the 2023/2024 academic year, Trent worked as a graduate assistant in the School of Education’s academic department where he became involved with a number of different studies at NCCU. Most notably, he is currently working alongside Dr. Lupton-Smith and Dr. Beckwith on the first study conducted at the ECCRC. In 2023, Trent graduated from Illinois College with a degree in psychology and art & design. At IC, he spent a considerable amount of time involved in multiple studies surrounding the topics of Perfectionism, COVID-19, and emotional regulation. Additionally, during his summers in undergrad, he worked as a Special Education Teacher’s Aide at Triad High School. At Triad, his daily responsibilities included checking-in with disabled students regarding their mental health, developmental needs, and home life, as well as assisting in their learning process. Trent recently moved to Durham, NC in August of 2023 from rural southern Illinois where he was raised.
