Office Details
Education
Ph.D., Morgan State University
M.A., Western Kentucky University
B.A., Western Kentucky University
I have always been passionate about helping others. When I was younger, it was the simple things, like a nice gesture to make someone smile. As I grew older, I realized I had the capacity to make a difference in a more profound way. My passion to make the world a better place drove me to college to acquire knowledge and skills to do what I enjoy best—helping others. As a first-generation college student, my journey entailed a vast amount of anxiety but my passion to improve the lives of those around me was even greater.
As a licensed clinician with more than fifteen years in the human services field, I have gained invaluable experiences working with various populations in settings such as schools, inpatient and outpatient facilities, foster care, prison, and a domestic violence shelter. The more time I spent in the field, the more cognizant I became about the social injustices affecting the quality of life for the individuals I served. As a result, I wanted to learn more about the historical and cultural contexts of social policy to advocate for disadvantaged populations, which eventually led to me pursuing a Ph.D. in Social Work.
My research focuses on improving the quality of life for others, particularly in minority and at-risk populations, who are often excluded from research and public policy initiatives. Within this population, my research aims to promote positive mental health, positive youth development, in addition to social justice. My professional experiences in the field have greatly influenced my research interests in decreasing mental health disparities and augmenting social justice. Through my work, I strive to continue to make a difference, not only though my research by influencing social policy, but also through my teaching.
As an educator, I believe it is important for future human service workers to be prepared to competently and confidently address challenges in today’s society. A major part of that is being available to students to provide guidance and encouragement. I’m excited to be a part of the UBalt family and have an opportunity to share my knowledge, skills, and experiences with students to enhance transformative learning in the Human Services Administration program.
Mental Health
Positive Youth Development
Social Justice
Minorities and At-Risk Populations
Models of Effective Helping; Family System Dynamics; Social Research Methods; Community Substance Abuse; Social Problems; Community Mental Health; Adolescents in the 21st Century; Fundraising and Grant Writing; Human Services Management
Refereed Journal Articles
Mushonga, D. (2024). The Black-White paradox of mental health in college students. Children and Youth Services Review.
Chen, Z., Guarv, R., DeVylder, J., Mushonga, D., Fedina, L., Mason, M., & Amen, Z. (2024). Young adults in pandemic financial hardship: Implications of the social determinants of mental health. Social Work in Mental Health.
Chen, Z., Sinha, G. R., DeVylder, J., Mushonga, D., Mason, M., Fedina, L., & Amen, Z. (2024). Young adults in pandemic financial hardship: implications of the social determinants of mental health. Social Work in Mental Health. 22(5), 698-714.
Bessaha, M., Mushonga, D., Fedina, L., & DeVylder, J. (2023). Association between loneliness, mental health symptoms, and treatment use among emerging adults. Health & Social Work.
Henneberger, A., Rose, B., Mushonga, D., Nam, B., & Preston, A. (2022). Expanding the understanding of school concentrated disadvantage using free and reduced-price meals data: Links to college and labor market outcomes in Maryland. Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk.
Mushonga, D., Uretsky, M., Rose, B., & Henneberger, A. (2022). Linking homelessness in secondary school to postsecondary and early labor market outcomes in Maryland using a continuum of risk framework. Applied Developmental Science.
Henneberger, A. K., & Mushonga, D. (2021). Peer selection as a mechanism for preventing adolescent substance use: Current approaches and future directions. Children and Youth Services Review. 120. 105725.
Mushonga, D., & Henneberger, A. K. (2020). Protective factors associated with positive mental health in traditional and nontraditional Black students. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. 90(1), 147-160.
Mushonga, D. (2020). The glass is half full: The need to promote positive mental health in Black college students. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy. 1--14.
Mushonga, D., Rasheem, S., & Anderson, D. (2020). And Still I Rise: Resilience Factors Contributing to Posttraumatic Growth in African American Women. Journal of Black Psychology. 47(2-3), 151--176.
Mushonga, D., Fedina, L., & Bessaha, M. L. (2020). College student perceptions of institutional responses to sexual assault reporting and general help-seeking intentions. Journal of American College Health. 1-7.
Henneberger, A. K., Mushonga, D., & Preston, A. M. (2020). Peer influence and adolescent substance use: A systematic review of dynamic social network research. Adolescent Research Review. 6. 57-73.
Non-Refereed Journal Articles
Bessaha, M., Mushonga, D., Fedina, L., & DeVylder, J. (2023). Association between Loneliness, Mental Health Symptoms, and Treatment Use among Emerging Adults. Health & Social Work. 48(2), 133-142.
Research Report
Rose, B., Henneberger, A., Mushonga, D., Uretsky, M., & Preston, A. (2021). Distinguishing the roles of poverty and homelessness in long-term academic and workforce outcomes.
Mushonga, D., & Henneberger, A. Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood, "The Black-White Paradox of Mental Health among College-Attending, Emerging Adults," (2021).
Mushonga, D. Psychology Colloquium, "Resilience factors associated with posttraumatic growth in African American female survivors of intimate partner violence," (2021).
Mushonga, D., & Henneberger, A. Society for Social Work and Research, "The Black-White Paradox of Mental Health in College Students," (2021).
Mushonga, D. Human Behavior & the Social Environment Course, "Understanding Theory and Research in Social Work," (2020).
Rose, B., Henneberger, A., & Mushonga, D. American Educational Research Association, "Adolescent poverty and the economic value of degree attainment," (2020).
Mushonga, D. Social Work Education & Pedagogy Seminar, "Seeking and Securing a Postdoctoral Fellowship or Tenure-Track Position in Academia," (2020).
Parents Magazine: Interview on posttraumatic growth and strategies for promoting growth following racial trauma. https://www.parents.com/kindred/trauma-doesnt-have-to-break-you-post-traumatic-growth-is-real-heres-how-to-harness-it/ (2022).