News Brief
Published March 25, 2025
BY DANIELLE LEGARE
GSE alumna receives prestigious award for championing social justice, advocacy in psychology
Monica J. Johnson, a 2020 graduate of the University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education’s counseling psychology and school psychology PhD program, recently received the Early Career Social Justice Advocacy Award from the American Psychological Association (APA) Division 17’s Early Career Professionals Committee.
The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to social justice work that significantly impacts practice, research and scholarship in counseling psychology. It honors efforts to support marginalized and oppressed groups and to drive systemic change in the field.
“It just feels so good to be recognized for something that I love doing,” Johnson said. “I love researching mental health, specifically on Black women, Black femme, Black issues and concerns. Part of what I think went into receiving this award is my work with APA Division 17—specifically, I was working with a lot of amazing people on dismantling anti-Black racism.”
Monica Johnson, GSE alumna.
An unexpected academic path
After earning her undergraduate degree in psychology, Johnson found herself uncertain about her next steps. “I knew I wanted to do something in psychology, but I wasn’t sure how to get into grad school,” she said.
She turned to a book she found online that listed counseling and clinical psychology programs—and UB stood out for its emphasis on multicultural issues and the financial support it offered. She applied, got accepted, was awarded an Arthur A. Schomburg fellowship and got to work.
According to Johnson, her time at UB—and especially her work with her advisor, Amy Reynolds, professor and chair of GSE’s Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology—played a pivotal role in her personal and professional development.
“Dr. Reynolds really saw something in me and really nurtured me through my time at UB. She challenged me,” she said.
Johnson also formed supportive relationships with other students. “It was really helpful to build deep connections with the other Black women in the program,” she said. “There weren’t a lot of us, but spending time together is still such a good memory.”
Another standout memory: her dissertation work on the strong Black woman phenomenon.
Presenting her proposal is an experience she still holds close. “Having this project that I was really proud of and getting to talk to people about it and be the expert in the room at that moment was really fun. It was a point of accomplishment,” she said. “I realized, ‘Wow. You know what you’re doing. These people agree that you know what you’re doing, and they’re confident in your abilities.’”
Well-deserved recognition
Johnson is currently a staff psychologist at Princeton University’s Counseling and Psychological Services and an adjunct professor at GSE.
In addition, she has recently taken on a new role as an APA Council Representative. She was elected to this position alongside Reynolds.
“Monica has an incredible commitment to multicultural and social justice work, which is deeply tied to her worldview. She focuses not only on addressing these issues in her clinical work but also on advocating for systemic change to improve access to mental health services for marginalized communities,” Reynolds said. “She was an outstanding doctoral student, always supportive of her peers and has already made meaningful contributions to the field through her leadership with Division 17.”
As part of her new responsibilities, she will have an opportunity to meet with Congress to advocate for critical issues in the field.
“I never imagined I would have the chance to do something like this. It’s a rare opportunity for us to engage directly and advocate for important issues within our field. I’m grateful that Amy will be there with me—having a familiar face makes the experience even more meaningful while I’m still learning the ropes,” she said.
“I know this is a moment to use my voice to address critical topics in psychology. There’s so much happening in the world and in our profession, and I’m eager to continue growing and finding ways to contribute.”
Tuesday News Briefs feature the stories of the Graduate School of Education faculty, students and alumni who are engaged in their communities and making an impact through their hard work, dedication and research initiatives. If you have a story to share, please email us with the details for consideration as a future news feature.