Who we are

Krista Mehari, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and assistant professor of psychology at the University of South Alabama.
The goal of her research is to promote the safety and
​well-being of youth who grow up in overburdened, underresourced communities. She partners with youth, parents, and community stakeholders to work towards the shared goal of strong, supportive communities in which every child has the opportunity and resources to reach their potential. She has published peer-reviewed articles on violence prevention, cyberbullying, and the impact of stress on people’s development. 

Marie Chastang, PhD, is the community enrichment coordinator of the United Methodist Inner City Mission in Mobile, Alabama. The goal of her work is to build healthy communities in which each child is known, supported, and valued. She has served the community in Mobile in many ways, including as a health services administrator in the Health Department, as a counselor in several different settings, and as an informal but constant support to overwhelmed parents. She is a mother and grandmother ​who hopes that each generation will have more equity, access, and opportunities.

Anne Jeffrey

Anne Jeffrey, PhD, is an assistant professor of philosophy at Baylor University. She previously worked at the University of South Alabama and the University of Notre Dame, and earned her PhD at Georgetown University. She researches moral reasoning and character and is generally interested in how we can help each other become better people and build strong communities. The goal of her research is to help people make decisions that are good for them and good for the people around them.  

Joseph Currier, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and an associate professor of psychology at the University of South Alabama. The goal of his research is to help people build healthy lives by treating trauma and integrating spirituality
into mental health treatment. He has published over 100
peer-reviewed articles in these areas of research. Dr. Currier has also co-authored two books with American Psychological Association Press, entitled Trauma, Meaning, and Spirituality: Translating Research into Clinical Practice and Addressing Moral Injury in Clinical Practice. He is an editorial board member with several journals, including Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, Traumatology, and Death Studies.
​He also has three children who make his world a better place.