CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership launched a research mentorship program in June 2020 aimed at helping provide Black students with opportunities to build up their resumes with research publications, in recognition that anti-Black racism impacts who gets opportunities in graduate school. Students in the research mentorship program learn more about the research and publication process as they work with CQL’s Director of Research, Carli Friedman, PhD, to write a publication about the quality of life of disabled people.
The 2025 Mentorship Program Students
There were numerous well qualified applicants for this year’s mentorship program cohort. The following students who will be taking part in the 2025 Mentorship Program demonstrated a passion for improving the quality of life of disabled people. We are eager to work with such accomplished students who will undoubtedly make a significant impact on the human services field.
Jada Augustine
I’m Jada Augustine, a speech-language pathologist and Ph.D. student in Human Development and Psychology with a focus on Special Education at UCLA and CSULA. My journey in education started over 10 years ago as a paraprofessional, and since then, I’ve dedicated my work to supporting students with disabilities especially Black and Caribbean children who are often overlooked.
I earned my Bachelor’s in Speech-Language Pathology with a minor in Child Development from CSULB and my Master’s from Howard University. I’m also the founder of Beyond the Label Advocacy and Speech Therapy, a practice I started to provide therapy and IEP support that respects culture, identity, and individual needs.
My research focuses on the preschool-to-kindergarten transition for Black autistic students in Los Angeles and Belize, and I care deeply about interrupting the school-to-prison pipeline. Outside of academics, I run a disability camp in Belize, mentor educators, and help parents navigate the special education system through a support group I started that now has over 100 members.
At the heart of it all is my love for my community, my Garifuna roots, and making sure no child is left behind because of how they learn or how they communicate.
Shdiva Black
I’m Shdiva Black, a California native now based in Maryland. I hold a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Davis, an M.A. in Developmental Psychology, and an Ed.M. in Counseling Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Years ago, I began doctoral training in clinical psychology at Emory University but had to step away due to health challenges. I’m now working toward my longstanding goal of entering a PhD program in clinical psychology.
My research lives at the intersection of mental health disparities, stigma, and structural barriers, with an emphasis on healing for people navigating multiple marginalized identities.
I’m especially interested in racial disparities in mental health—particularly how stigma, shame, and systemic inequities shape whether people seek help, get access to care, or stay engaged long-term. I’m also interested in how disability-related stigma shows up in mental health settings, especially when it intersects with race, trauma, and social disconnection.
I currently support research at the University of Maryland, College Park in the Restoring H.O.P.E. Lab, which examines how criminal legal stigma affects mental health outcomes for justice-involved individuals. At the University of Maine, I support research in the CANNA Lab, which studies barriers to mental health treatment and substance use among LGBTQ+ young adults, with attention to subgroup differences and access disparities.
This work is grounded in my lived experience and shaped by a deep commitment to empathy, healing, and justice. Through this mentorship program, I hope to deepen my research writing, expand my lens, and contribute to work that brings greater equity, humanity, and visibility to the field of mental health.
Meet The Students Selected For CQL’s 2025 Disability Research Mentorship Program