Doctoral student receives 2017 NAACP Image Award

Jasmine Jenkins, a second-year doctoral student in the department of counseling and human development services, was recently honored with a 2017 Image Award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

The purpose of NAACP's Image Award is to recognize students, faculty and community members who have shown exemplary commitment to social justice, diversity and equality in the Athens-Clark County community. The theme of the award this year was "Persevering to Honor Our Legacy."

"It is an honor to win the NAACP Image Award, as I understand the significant impact that the organization has had in fighting for civil rights for African-Americans," said Jenkins, who will graduate with a doctoral degree in counseling psychology in 2019. "Winning the award encourages me to continue working towards equity and justice within the juvenile (in)justice system."

Jenkins is passionate about mitigating the school-to-prison pipeline, which disproportionately funnels primarily black and brown children from the classroom to prison cells. As a result, a majority of her clinical work is focused on helping black youth.

While her dissertation research focuses on evaluating racial identity and behavior in incarcerated black youth, Jenkins' is also interested in multicultural counseling interventions, the Black Lives Matter movement and social media trauma.

As a graduate of Spelman College in Atlanta, Jenkins received a Feeder Assistantship from the UGA Graduate School and is currently a clinician for youth on probation in Athens, Georgia. She is completing her advanced practicum at the Metro Regional Youth Detention Center in Atlanta, and holds various leadership positions in Division 17 and 45 in the American Psychological Association.

"The counseling psychology field values social justice, advocacy and multiculturalism," said Jenkins. "This led to my desire to enter the PhD program in counseling psychology at the University of Georgia."

UGA's NAACP chapter is comprised of student leaders who work, not only for the advancement of people of color, but also for people and organizations throughout the campus.