Meet the Team
research Team
Tiara C. Willie, PhD, MA
Principal Investigator. Dr. Willie is a social epidemiologist and a Bloomberg Assistant Professor of American Health in the Department of Mental Health at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Willie received her PhD in Epidemiology & Public Health from Yale University, and her MA in Women’s Studies from Southern Connecticut State University.
Fun Fact: Dr. Willie was a girl scout her entire adolescence.
Saisri Gussenhoven, MSPH, BA
Saisri Gussenhoven graduated from Johns Hopkins, where she earned her B.A. in Public Health Studies and her MSPH in International Health. Her research interests include child and adolescent and global mental health, gender-based violence, humanitarian health, and adverse childhood experiences and trauma
Fun Fact: Saisri has gone to school on 4 different continents.
Quasheba Allen, MPH, PMP®
Quasheba, They/Them, is a Healthy Relationship Coach for the M.A.T.C.H. Study. They received their BA in Sociology from Howard University and their MPH in Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences from Emory University Rollins School of Public Health. Quasheba brings experience in health promotion, health communication, and participatory research. They have supported public health interventions working within communities living with HIV/AIDS, substance use disorders, mental health conditions, and survivorship experiences. Quasheba is passionate about community advocacy, arts/humanities in health, and health justice.
Fun Fact: Quasheba loves to write, dance, and draw!
TyKera Marrow
Dr. TyKera Marrow is a licensed psychologist with an impassioned clinical interest in women’s and maternal mental health. Dr. Marrow is committed to dismantling oppressive structures and systems that perpetuate harm in historically disenfranchised communities. Her research and clinical work frequently interrogate ecological concerns that uphold determinants of health and exacerbate symptoms within marginalized groups, particularly for Black women. Dr. Marrow advocates for racial and social justice, holistic clinical care, and health equity to benefit women and the community at large.
In her non-clinical time, she enjoys trying new foods, traveling, and spending lots of time with her son.
Dominique Shabazz
Dr. Dominique Shabazz, DSW, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker
and therapist who provides culturally responsive, trauma-informed
mental health care to women navigating stress, identity,
relationships, and life transitions. She is the founder of Bespoke
Therapy, a private practice centered on supporting Muslim women and
women of color through strengths-based, integrative, and reflective
therapeutic approaches.
Dr. Shabazz’s clinical work is grounded in evidence-based practice
while honoring the cultural, spiritual, and lived experiences clients
bring into the therapy space. She emphasizes safety, insight,
emotional regulation, and sustainable coping, helping clients
reconnect with themselves, clarify boundaries, and move toward greater
balance and wellbeing.
In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Shabazz serves in higher
education as a social work professor and practicum leader, where she
trains future clinicians in ethical practice, self-reflection, and
culturally responsive care. Her academic work continually informs her
therapeutic approach, ensuring her clinical practice remains
thoughtful, current, and deeply rooted in professional excellence.
Aalliyah Ferreira, B.A.
Aalliyah is a Research Assistant in the M.O.C.H.A. Lab at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She came to Baltimore to earn her Master’s in Health, Behavior and Society. Previously, she earned her B.A. in Psychology, with a minor in Exercise Science, from the University of Maine – Orono. She looks forward to stepping into the new role, adding to her research experience in clinical psychology and suicide prevention in children.
Saron Shara, MPH, B.S.
Saron Shara is a Research Assistant in the M.O.C.H.A. Lab at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She earned her B.S. in Public Health from George Washington University and her MPH in Global Health from New York University. Her research interests include racial and health equity, infectious diseases, and health systems strengthening.
Kaavya Mahadevan Iyer
Kaavya is a Research Assistant in the M.O.C.H.A. Lab at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She’s currently enrolled in MS Biotechnology Program. She is motivated to transform research into meaningful, actionable change that directly benefits communities. Her interest lies in women’s health & translational science.
Community partners
Sisters Together and Reaching, Inc (STAR)
STAR is a non-profit, community-based organization that works to address inequities in healthcare services to Black women and families living with HIV/AIDS in Baltimore City. For the purposes of the MATCH study, STAR will host the support group activities and provide aid to the peer navigators.
Chase Brexton Health Care
Chase Brexton provides quality health care services throughout central Maryland. The MATCH study works mainly with their OB/GYN team, which provides routine gynecological care, and the Infectious Disease team, which provides HIV testing, and ongoing care and treatment.
The John G. Bartlett Specialty Clinic
The John G. Bartlett Specialty clinic offers specialized gynecologic services. The MATCH study team works mainly with their HIV Women’s Health program which provides preventative care, as well as comprehensive care to women living with HIV/AIDS.