Fayth M. Parks is a licensed psychologist, professor, and mental health researcher. She
holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and is recognized for her extensive work and
research in mental health care, health disparities, stigma-related beliefs, and
traditional healing practices. Her work encompasses an interdisciplinary approach
combining psychology, public health, and cultural studies to provide a more inclusive
understanding of mental health care and holistic well-being. Dr. Parks finds power in
storytelling, narrative inquiry, phenomenology, and arts-based and ethnographic research.
She uses the power of storytelling in her multimedia and documentary film projects. Dr. Parks is
interested in spiritual leadership, transformational leadership, relational leadership, strength-
based leadership, and social justice. She is a board member of the National Association for
Rural Mental Health and the Susie King Taylor Center for Jubilee.
- PhD, Counseling Psychology, 1996
Department of Educational Psychology (APA-accredited)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - MS, Student Personnel Services & Counseling, 1980
Upsala College, East Orange, NJ - BA, Psychology, 1977
Upsala College, East Orange, NJ
- Teaching is an inspiring yet challenging practice. I believe my knowledge, skills, and disposition as a teacher, mentor, and clinical supervisor create the atmosphere for learning. I believe in the ability of all students to learn and adjust my teaching practice to connect with diverse learning styles and delivery methods.
- Smallwood, S.W. & Parks, F.M. (in press). The more things change, the more they stay the same: HIV myths and misinformation in the rural United States. Health, Promotion, Practice.
- Parks, F.M., Felzien, G.S., & Jue, S. (Eds.). (2017). HIV/AIDS in Rural Communities: Research, Education, and Advocacy. New York: Springer Publishing.
- Parks, F.M. & Smallwood, S.W. (2021). Courtesy stigma and self-care practices among rural HIV/AIDS healthcare providers. Journal of HIV/AIDS and Social Services, DOI:10.1080/15381501.2021.1922116
- Slocumb, T., Quasie-Woode, D., & Parks, F. (Fall 2020). Commentary on suicide prevention: The role we play. In J. Telfair (Ed.), Eagles Talking About the Public’s Health. Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University. Retrieved from https://jphcoph.georgiasouthern.edu/opr/etaph/
- Wang, S. & Parks, F.M. (Eds.) (2018, March). Past, present, and future of HIV/AIDS science and practice in psychology. Psychology and AIDS Exchange Newsletter. Retrieved from
http://www.apa.org/pi/aids/resources/exchange/index.aspx - Parks, F.M. (2018). Ways culturally relevant and responsive healing and coping strategies support the success of African American children. Being Black is not a risk factor: Statistics and strength-based solutions in the State of Georgia. Silver Spring, MD: National Black Child Development Institute. Retrieved from https://www.nbcdi.org/beingblack
- Parks, F.M. (2016). Commandment keeper church: Zora Neale Hurston. Film Essay. National Film Preservation Board, Library of Congress. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/2BV6ABw
- (2022, October 11) We Live By Stories. TCC Group: Solutions for Social Impact [Virtual]
- (2021, February 22)Harnessing the Power of Cultural Strengths in Healthcare Practice. 7th Annual Diversity, Inclusivity, and Cultural Awareness Forum, College of Health Sciences, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD
- (2020, September 30) HIV/AIDS Pandemics: What you need to know from history. Pandemics: Lessons from History, History Department, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=1581689875347021&ref=watch_permalink - (2020, September) Mental health impact of COVID-19, The Common Good,WRUU 107.5 FM, Savannah, GA https://www.wruu.org/broadcasts/19921
- (2019, June) My love-hate relationship with the South [Video file]. TEDxSavannah https://youtu.be/xlQBLGlPzq
- (2019, March) HIV and Rural Healthcare. Turning Research into Prevention (TRIP), National Center for HIV/AIDS Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA - (2018, December). World AIDS Day Brown Bag [Webcast]. HIV/AIDS, Behavioral Health and Rural Healthcare. Health Disparities Office, American Psychological Association, Washington, DC
- (2018, November) Scientific briefing: HIV/AIDS and Rural Healthcare, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of AIDS Research (OAR), Rockville, MD
- (2017, December)World AIDS Day [Webcast]. Discussion following the screening of documentary film Wilhemina’s War. Film highlights issues of HIV/AIDS in rural South Carolina. Sponsors: Health Disparities Office, Office on Children, Youth & Families, State Advocacy Office, Women’s Programs Office, Office on Ethnic Minority Affairs, and Office on Socioeconomic Status, American Psychological Association, Washington, DC
- (2017, November) APA Practice Organization. (Producer). Featured guest. Psychology, HIV/AIDS and Opportunities in Integrated Care [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from http://www.apapracticecentral.org/business/podcasts/hiv-aids.aspx
- (2017, October) Closing Keynote [Webcast]. Making a way out of no way: Cultural strengths, health disparities, and postpartum families, GOLD Perinatal Online Conference, Vancouver, BC
- (2017, September) Featured interview. Culture, healing, and postpartum mental health [Video file], GOLD Perinatal Online Conference. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/L-LPpsCoNNU
- (2017, July) Opening Keynote, Making a way out of no way: Cultural strengths, health disparities, and postpartum families, Postpartum Support International Conference, Philadelphia, PA
- (2016, October) Connecting humanity through the art of storytelling [Video file]. TEDxGeorgiaSouthernU Retrieved from https://youtu.be/jpoHCJf4-Vk
- (2015, January) How culture connects to healing and recovery [Video file]. TEDx Augusta Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9Tkb879dsY
- Member, Adhoc LIWP Conference Planning Committee, 2021
- Candidate, Committee on Rural Health, 2019
- Chair, Committee on Psychology and AIDS (COPA), 2017
- Chair-elect, Committee on Psychology and AIDS (COPA), 2016
- Member, Committee on Psychology and AIDS (COPA), 2015-2017
- Advocate, APA Public Interest Directorate’s Capitol Hill Lobbying Day, 2015
- Member, Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology (LIWP), 2010
- Nominee, APA Public Interest/Individual Cultural Diversity Seat, Commission on Accreditation (CoA), 2007
- Candidate, Member-at-Large (African American slate), Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity, & Race, Division 45, 2007
- Member, Task Force for Multicultural Training 2005-2007
APA Professional Association Activities
- Licensed Psychologist, South Carolina #783
- 2023- present International Leadership Association (ILA)
- HOPE Trainer, HIV Office for Psychology Education (HOPE)
American Psychological Association, 2010-2014 - 2019-present Georgia Psychological Association (GPA)
- 1997-present American Psychological Association (APA)
Division 17 Society of Counseling Psychology
Division 35 Society for the Psychology of Women
Division 45 Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity, & Race - 2010-2011 Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA)
- 2004- 2006 National Clearinghouse for Leadership Programs (NCLP)
- 1998-2007 Georgia Licensed Professional Counselor Association (GLPCA)
- 2002-2006 Georgia College Personnel Association (GCPA)