Layia Ussery

Layia Ussery is a Clinical Research Student at Response to Risk

Layia Ussery is a Clinical Research Student at Response to Risk. She is a part of the Building Bridges Toward Equity in Psychosis Intervention and Careers (2B-EPIC) program. In her role, she is involved in various research, outreach, and training projects with the Response to Risk team.

Academics: Layia is pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a secondary in the History of Science at Harvard College.

Engagement and Interests: In addition to her work with Response to Risk, Layia is a research assistant at Massachusetts General Hospital, conducting neuropsychological assessments for a study investigating the cognitive consequences of intimate partner violence. She also serves as a refugee patient navigator at the Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights, where she supports data projects aimed at improving access to and implementation of mental health interventions for asylum seekers, refugees, and survivors of torture. At Harvard, Layia is a wellness educator serving the student body and a volunteer coordinator for Food Lab, an organization that delivers healthy cooking lessons to children in the community. She intends to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology with a focus on early mental health interventions for refugees and displaced people, as well as preventive research centered on resilience and insight. Outside of 2B-EPIC, she enjoys cooking, exploring dessert spots in Boston, and traveling.