welcome to C.H.A.R.J.

Dr. Rachael D. Goodman, LPC, is an Associate Professor and Academic Program Co-Coordinator in the Counseling Program at George Mason University. Her work focuses on trauma, stress, and resilience/resistance through a social justice lens, with emphasis on historical and systemic trauma, immigrant and refugee communities, and disaster response. She provides trauma counseling, consultation, professional development, and family support interventions. She leads the CHARJ team in engaged, community-driven research and loves mentoring students to pursue their passions and make lasting positive impacts in their communities. She maintains a private practice in Virginia and Washington, DC, emphasizing integrative somatic parts work and EMDR.  

Maribel is a Japanese-Peruvian kindergarten teacher. She worked for 15 years teaching kindergarten and pre-K in English and Spanish in Peru. Then, she worked for 5 years in a Dual Immersion Program (English-Spanish) in North Carolina. During those years, she collaborated with families to support students' academic and social success. She holds a Master’s degree in Family-Educational Counseling. Additionally, she has completed studies in TESOL and Learning Disabilities, and she is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Multicultural and Multilingual Education at George Mason University. Maribel works as a Graduate Research Assistant with “Amigas de la Comunidad” and other Participatory Action Research projects. She is a passionate advocate for family engagement and cultural awareness. After completing her doctoral program, she aims to continue working with diverse communities, advocating for the needs of multicultural families. 

Gözde Şensoy Murt continues as a research affiliate with the CHARJ team and GMU after serving as a Fulbright Dissertation Research Fellow under Dr. Goodman's supervision (2025-2026). She is a a doctoral candidate in Guidance and Psychological Counseling at Middle East Technical University (METU), Türkiye. She holds a research assistant position at the same institution. She has contributed to a national-level trauma-informed and disaster-response project in Türkiye, focusing on psychosocial support, school-based interventions, and community resilience following large-scale crises. She also She has contributed to other research projects, published in peer-reviewed journals on psychosocial support and trauma interventions in school settings. Her academic work centers on intergenerational trauma, resilience, and meaning-making, with particular attention to women and families navigating adverse life experiences and cumulative adversity. Methodologically, her work draws on advance qualitative and quantitative methodology. In parallel with her academic work, Gözde is a practicing psychological counselor and is completing advanced training and supervision in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) through the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT) in Türkiye. Her work aims to integrate psychological counseling practices with academic research.   

Leonela Jabbour Yammine completed her research practicum with the CHARJ team during her senior year at Thomas Jefferson High School. After graduating, she continues to serve on the CHARJ and to focus on community-based Latino immigrant mental health projects. Her work in policy and participatory research aims to advance equitable and culturally grounded care. Leonela, now in her first year of college, continues to serve as a member of the CHARJ team!

Academic Background

Alejandra Salazar Salame is a Ph.D. student in Education at George Mason University’s College of Education and Human Development. She also holds an M.S.Ed. in Elementary Education from the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, a graduate certificate in Gifted Education from William & Mary, and a B.A. in Hispanic Studies and German Literature from Oberlin College. She is an experienced Spanish dual language educator with over a decade of experience working in U.S. public schools as a classroom teacher and curriculum-writer.

Research Interests

Her research interests are focused on developing collaborative partnerships that work towards the creation of equitable access to K-12 academic programming for socially, culturally, and economically diverse students. 

Yana Baranwal is a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School and a research assistant with George Mason University and the C.H.A.R.J. team. Her research interests are focused on children's psychology and mental health, but she also has experience with research in epidemiology, genetics, and neuroscience. 

 Lisa G. Dornan is a second-generation Italian-American Ph.D student and the first member of her family to pursue a Ph.D. She holds a Master in Teaching degree in Early Childhood and Primary General and Special Education from the University of Virginia. She previously taught PreK, kindergarten, and first grade with diverse populations in Norway, Sweden, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, as well as in the United States. Lisa has devoted her life to making education accessible to all children during her nearly 20-year career. While teaching, Lisa volunteered on various school committees, developing workshops for parents to engage their children in meaningful social emotional and educational activities to promote family connections as well as develop essential emergent educational skills. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D at George Mason University in Literacies, Multilingual/Multicultural, and Early Childhood Education. Her goal after graduation is to work in teacher preparation programs as well as continue to advocate for children and families from diverse backgrounds.