Malaika Edwards, MS, LCMHC (she/her)
Clinic Coordinator
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 (he/him)
Graduate Assistant
Kevin worked as part of the original Clinic development team and is currently serving as the Graduate Assistant for Eagle Counseling Clinic. He is in his third year of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at North Carolina Central University and intends to pursue the Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS) credential. He has worked within the non-profit sector for nearly 25 years, focusing on increasing access to mental health services, human rights, civil liberties, and equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives. Kevin began his career at 15 when he started a non-profit organization focused on the fair and just treatment of all people. From there, he worked with numerous Assertive Community Treatment Teams (ACTT) and provided care for individuals dually diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness and substance use disorders. Most recently, he spent a decade in senior leadership with the nation’s largest civil liberties organization before deciding to return to graduate school to once again pursue his calling of working in mental health. Throughout his career and in the Counseling Program, Kevin has remained passionate about helping close gaps in care that often occur for minoritized individuals and communities. 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 three (!!) Great Danes.
Victoria (Tori) Brown (she/her)
Student Counselor
Tori earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice from Appalachian State University. She is currently on the Clinical Mental Health Counseling track at North Carolina Central University, with hopes of pursuing licensure in addictions counseling. Her goal is to work with underserved populations, including active military and veterans. She is a newly trained Brainspotter and would love to use those skills to help improve the emotional and mental wellbeing of her clients. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time on her family farm and vacationing at any beach. She looks forward to serving the Durham community, and beyond, through counseling and outreach opportunities.
April Fjeld (she/her)
Student Counselor
April is majoring in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and looks forward to graduating in May 2023 from the Counseling Program at North Carolina Central University. April spent nearly 20 years in education, mostly as an elementary teacher. As an undergraduate, she attended University of North Carolina at Greensboro, followed by earning her Master of Education degree from Elon University. She is licensed in five teaching areas and has a passion for working with neurodiverse students, hoping to provide support with achieving academic success. When not busy with school work, April enjoys spending time with her husband of 19 years and her four children.
Nisha Umesh (she/her)
Student Counselor
Nisha is a graduate student at North Carolina Central University, pursuing her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2018 with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and Women and Gender Studies. She values empowering her clients and collaborating with them in the therapeutic space. She strives to work through a lens of intersectionality, understanding the personal stories and sociopolitical identities of her clients. Her theoretical interests include psychodynamic therapy, trauma-informed therapy, and narrative therapy. Nisha has always felt fulfilled when helping those around her. She hopes to make an impact in her community by uplifting silenced voices and providing space for untold stories. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going to dance classes, and listening to music.
