Erica Russell

Erica R. Russell is an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department at Norfolk State University. She is a Licensed Psychologist, and she is certified by the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. Erica obtained her B.S. in Psychology from Old Dominion University (Norfolk, VA) where she minored in African American Studies and Criminal Justice. She received her M.A., as well as her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology with a subspecialty in Clinical Child and Family from Howard University (Washington, DC). She currently serves as the Principal Investigator for the FACE IT Initiative, a project that grew from an HBCU Center for Excellence in Behavioral Health mini-grant award.

Her varied research interests include first-generation college students and graduates—promoting understanding and support for their unique experiences; prevention and intervention for populations placed at-risk; fostering resilience; and mental health/wellness and help-seeking among traditionally underserved populations. Additional interests include the strong Black woman archetype and intergenerational relationships. The important role, relevance, and contribution of HBCUs serve as the backdrop for investigating these interests.

Erica is a Virginia native who supports the use of self as a change agent. She believes that relevance is key to engagement. As such, she values the infusion of popular culture and mentorship within the learning environment. She enjoys time spent with family and close friends. In work and life in general, she seeks to answer the call to “leave things better than she found them.”