VCU College of Health Professions

Mindfulness-Based Group Intervention to Overcome Imposter Syndrome

This study focuses on first-generation college students at VCU, testing the effectiveness of a telehealth mindfulness group in reducing imposter syndrome, fostering self-compassion, and boosting academic confidence.

Bridging Trauma and Resilience: Community-Grounded Pathways to Healing

This project is a multi-study research initiative that explores how displaced communities experience, understand, and heal from trauma in culturally meaningful ways. Using community-based participatory action research (CBPAR), the project engages internally displaced persons, community leaders, and service providers as co-researchers to uncover lived experiences of collective trauma and the cultural strengths that support healing. This approach ensures that the voices of those most affected directly guide both the research process and the design of interventions.

Building on these insights, the project includes two additional studies: an assessment of culturally responsive trauma interventions and a pre-post evaluation of Narrative Exposure Group Therapy. Together, these studies examine how cultural traditions, spiritual practices, and community relationships can be integrated with evidence-based methods to create practical, sustainable approaches to healing. By bridging biological, psychological, and cultural perspectives, this work generates knowledge that not only advances the science of trauma recovery but also provides communities with practical, contextually grounded pathways to resilience.

Integrating Genomic, Phenotypic, and Socioecological Predictors of Resilience and Mental Health in Autism: Toward Culturally Responsive, Evidence-Informed Models

This project is a large research study that uses existing data from the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI), one of the world’s leading resources on autism. By analyzing secondary data from more than 25,000 individuals—including many from immigrant and underrepresented communities—the project combines genetic information with details about family life, culture, and community. Using advanced analytic tools, it examines how biology and environment work together to influence resilience, mental health, and everyday outcomes for people with autism. By focusing on diversity and context, this project fills significant gaps in autism research and provides valuable insights that can lead to more inclusive and culturally responsive support for individuals and their families.

Transitioning to Adulthood for Immigrant Youth with Autism

This project explores how immigrant youth with autism access and use services as they transition into adulthood. We combine a detailed landscape analysis with targeted interventions for parents and service providers to improve service navigation, cultural responsiveness, and long-term outcomes.

Call to Participate: Research on Transitioning Care and Service for Immigrant Youth with Autism

We are currently seeking participants to take part in a 60-minute virtual interview and brief survey. Are you

• A young adult with autism from an immigrant family?
• An immigrant family member or caregiver of a young adult with autism?
• Service provider (therapist, counselor, social worker, educator) supporting immigrant youth with autism?

Sign up to participate.

2025

• Zeleke, W.A., Wondie, Y., Mekonen, M.M. et al.  (2025).The collective narrative of trauma and healing among internally displaced individuals in Ethiopia: a community-based participatory action research inquiry. BMC Psychiatry 25, 705. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07043-4
• Dababnah, S., Zeleke, W. A., Chung, Y*, Antwi Adje*i, R., Dixon, P., & Salomone, E. (2025). Outcomes of the World Health Organization’s Caregiver Skills Training Program for Eritrean and Ethiopian parents of autistic children in the United States. Autism, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613251351345
• Zeleke, W. A., Dagnew, M., Wondie, Y., Hailu, T., Holmes, C., Mekonen, M. M., Eshete, B. * T., & Nenko, G. (2025). Assessment of Cultural and Contextual Factors in Trauma-Informed Interventions for Internally Displaced People in Ethiopia: A Community-Based Participatory Action Research. Trauma Care, 5(1), 4. https://doi.org/10.3390/traumacare5010004
• Zeleke, W. (2025). A Glimpse into the Intersectionality of Individual and Collective Trauma and Resilience: The Inner Dialogue of a Reflective Practitioner. Ethiopian Journal of Behavioral Studies, V. 8, N.3
• Zeleke, W. Wendie, Y. Hailu, T., Mekonnen, M.(2025). Effectiveness of Narrative Exposure Group Therapy to Treat Post-traumatic Stress Among Internally Displaced Women in Ethiopia: A Pre-Post-Intervention Study. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy
• Zeleke, W. A., Dababnah, S., Dixon, P., Adere, A., Reinhold, Y., … Hagos, S. (2024). Adaptation of the Caregiver Skills Training program for Ethiopian and Eritrean immigrant families of autistic children in the US. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/20473869.2024.2414135
• Holmes C, Zeleke W, Sampath S, * Kimbrough T. “Hanging on by a Thread”: The Lived Experience of Parents of Children with Medical Complexity. Children. 2024; 11(10):1258. https://doi.org/10.3390/children11101258
• Tadesse, H*., Desie, Y., Zeleke, W. A., & Habtamu, K. (2024). Challenges of transition to adolescence among children with autism spectrum disorder: an exploratory qualitative study of parents’ and teachers’ perspectives. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 29(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2024.2436058
• Zeleke, W. & Torky, J*. (In press). Parent-Meditated Autism intervention: Current practice and future direction in Ed. Marco Carotenuto, Exploring the Latest Research Findings and New Understandings in Autism Spectrum Disorder from Childhood to Adulthood (book Chapter)

2024

• Zeleke, W. A., Dababnah, S., Dixon, P., Adere, A., Reinhold, Y., … Hagos, S. (2024). Adaptation of the Caregiver Skills Training program for Ethiopian and Eritrean immigrant families of autistic children in the US. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/20473869.2024.2414135
• Holmes C, Zeleke W, Sampath S, Kimbrough T. “Hanging on by a Thread”: The Lived Experience of Parents of Children with Medical Complexity. Children. 2024; 11(10):1258. https://doi.org/10.3390/children11101258
• Reid, C. Zeleke, W Diaz, D., Snigh, S*. & Torky, J(*. (December 2024) In In Between Cultural Identity: An intersection approach to working with people “between cultures (Keynote presentation) presented at the 26th annual Collaboration Conference. Norfolk, VA
• Holmes, C. M., Kimbrough, T., Sampath, S. *, & Zeleke, W. (September 2024). “We live in survival mode.” Parenting with a medically complex child. Pediatric Complex Care Conference, fall 2024, Arlington, VA
• Zeleke, W., Dababneh, S, & Dixon, P.  (August, 2024). Adaptation of CST for Ethiopian and Eritrean Immigrant Caregivers of Autistic Children in the US. Paper presented at the 17th International Association of Scientific Study of Intellectual and developmental disabilities ( IASSIDD) conference. Chicago, USA
• Ride, C. & Zeleke, W. (March, 2024). In-Between Cultural Identity: A Disability-Informed Intersectional Model. Paper presented at American Rehabilitation Counseling Association (ARCA) Pre-Conference Symposium of the American Counseling Association Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA
• Zeleke, W. (March, 2024). Contemplative Practice in Teaching Mental Health Counseling Courses. Paper presented at the Annual Contemplative Practices for Higher Education Conference. Lexington, KY
• Zeleke, W. ( 2024). Autism Spectrum Disorders in Ethiopia: Current Challenges and Interventions. Paper presented at the International Society for Autism Research Annual Conference. Melbourne, Australia
• Zeleke, W., Dababneh, S. & Dixon, P. (2024). Lessons Learned from the Adaptation and Implementation Process of the Caregiver Skill Training Program to Immigrant Families of Children with ASD in the US. Paper presented at the International Society for Autism Research Annual Conference. Melbourne, Australia

2023

• Wondie, Y., Zeleke, W.A. & Melesse, M (2023)In between the lines of the narrative map: Phenomenological analysis of war rape victims in Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. PLOS https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289106

2022

• Zeleke, W., & Lopez, L. (2022). Racial, Ethnic, and Immigration Intolerance: A Framework for Understanding Violence and Trauma. Trauma Counseling: Theories and Interventions for Managing Trauma, Stress, Crisis, and Disaster, 267. 

2021

• Koester, L. S., & Zeleke, W. A. (2021). Editorial: Mental health and well-being among African children: Implications of Western approaches to counseling and treatment. Frontiers in Sociology, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2021.727587
• Zeleke, W. A., Hughes, T. L., & Kanyongo, G. (2021). Assessing the effectiveness of professional development training on autism and culturally responsive practice for educators and practitioners in Ethiopia. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.583674

2020

• Zeleke, W. A., Hughes, T. L., & Drozda, N. (2020). Home–school collaboration to promote mind-body health. In C. Maykel & M. A. Bray (Eds.), Promoting mind-body health in schools: Interventions for mental health professionals (pp. 11–26). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000157-002
• Hughes, T. L., Quinn, C., Tiberi, A., & Zeleke, W. A. (2020). Developing a framework to increase access to mental health services for children with special needs in Ethiopia. Frontiers in Sociology, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2020.583931 

2019

• Zeleke, Waganesh, Hughes, T., & Drozda, N. (2019). Childhood in Africa: Health and Wellness in Body, Mind, Soul, and Spirit. New Perspectives on African Childhood:. Constructions, Histories, Representations and Understandings. 
• Zeleke, W.A., Hughes, T.L. & Drozda, N. Disparities in Diagnosis and Service Access for Minority Children with ASD in the United States. J Autism Dev Disord 49, 4320–4331 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04131-9
• Zeleke, W.A., Nichols, L.M. & Wondie, Y. Mental Health in Ethiopia: an Exploratory Study of Counseling Alignment with Culture. Int J Adv Counselling 41, 214–229 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-018-9368-5

2018

• Zeleke, W. A., Hughes, T., & Chitiyo, M. (2018). The path to an autism spectrum disorders diagnosis in Ethiopia: Parent perspective. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 88(3), 316–327. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000249
• Zeleke, W.A., Koester, L.S. & Lock, G. Parents’ Understanding of Adopted Children’s Ways of Being, Belonging, and Becoming. J Child Fam Stud 27, 1428–1439 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-017-0995-y
• Zeleke, W. A., Karayiğit, C., & Myers‐Brooks, K. (2018). Using self‐regulated learning strategies to develop students’ multicultural counseling competency. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 46(1), 40–57. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmcd.12091 
• Park, M., Chitiyo, M., Huh, C., & Zeleke, W. (2018). An assessment of perceived antecedents to attitudes of college students towards children with autism. Journal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1254194

2017

• Zeleke, W. A., Chitiyo, M., & Hughes, T. L. (2017). Autism service providers report: Behavioral and educational interventions used in Ethiopia. International Journal of School & Educational Psychology, 6(3), 176–187. https://doi.org/10.1080/21683603.2016.1278568
• Minaye, Abebaw, & Zeleke, Waganesh A.. (2017). Attitude, Risk Perception and Readiness of Ethiopian Potential Migrants and Returnees Towards Unsafe Migration. African Human Mobility Review, 3(1), 702-731. Retrieved September 30, 2024, from http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2410-79722017000100003&lng=en&tlng=en.
• Habtamu, K., Minaye, A. & Zeleke, W.A. Prevalence and associated factors of common mental disorders among Ethiopian migrant returnees from the Middle East and South Africa. BMC Psychiatry 17, 144 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1310-6
• Huang, A. X., Hughes, T. L., Sutton, L. R., Lawrence, M., Chen, X., Ji, Z., & Zeleke, W. (2017). Understanding the self in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD): A Review of Literature. Frontiers in Psychology, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01422

2016

• Yakubova, G., & Zeleke, W. A. (2016). A Problem-Solving Intervention Using iPads to Improve Transition-Related Task Performance of Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Special Education Technology, 31(2), 77-86. https://doi.org/10.1177/0162643416650023
• Zeleke, W. (2016). Children with Autism in Ethiopia: Diagnosis, Laws, and Educational and Behavioral Intervention. Journal of the International Association of Special Education, 16(1), 64–72.

2015

• Zeleke, W., & Minaye, A. Kygana 3 (2015) Mental Health and Somatic Distress among Ethiopian Migrant Returnees from the Middle East. Int J Ment Health Psychiatry 1: 2. doi: http://dx. Doi. org/10.4172/ijmhp, 1000106, 2.
• Minaye, A., & Zeleke, W. (2015). Re-conceptualizing human trafficking: The experiences of Ethiopian returnee migrants. Journal of Trafficking, Organized Crime and Security, 1(1), 9–23. 
• Sommers-Flanagan, J., Polanchek, S., Zeleke, W. A., Hood, M. H. E., & Shaw, S. L. (2015). Effectiveness of Solution-Focused Consultations on Parent Stress and Competence. The Family Journal, 23(1), 49-55. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480714555696
• Sommers-Flanagan, J., Zeleke, W. A., & Hood, M. H. E. (2015). (PDF) clinical interview. The Encyclopedia of Clinical Psychology. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319336218_Clinical_Interview

• Zeleke, W., Wondie, Y,  Mekonne, M. & Hailu, T (2025). Assessment of Cultural and Contextual Factors in Trauma-Informed Interventions for Internally Displaced People in Ethiopia: A Community-Based Participatory Action Research paper submitted to the International Society for Trauma and Stress Study ( ISTSS) 41st Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD.
• Zeleke, W., Sampath, S., Hawley, C.(2025). Strength in Recovery. Paper accepted to be presented at the Virginia Counseling Association annual conference in November 2025, Virginia Beach, VA
• Zeleke, W., Holmes, C., Mengesit, D. Wondie, Y., Hailu, T., & Melesse, M. (2025, June). Exploring Trauma and Collective Healing Among Internally Displaced Persons in Ethiopia: A Community-Based Participatory Study. Paper to be presented at the 18th Biennial conference of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, taking place between 12th and 15th June 2025. Tbilisi, Georgia
• Zeleke, W., Wondie, Y., Hailu, T., & Melesse, M. (2025, June). Using Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) for Internally Displaced Ethiopian Women: Addressing Trauma in Resource-Limited Settings. Paper to be presented at the 18th Biennial conference of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, taking place between 12th and 15th June 2025. Tbilisi, Georgia
• Asfaw, ED., & Zeleke, W.  (2025, May). Enhancing Sexual and Reproductive Health Support for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Ethiopia: A Culturally Tailored Multi-Intervention Model. Paper to be presented at the International Society for Autism Research Annual Meeting (INSAR 2025)., Seattle, WA: Top-Rated Abstracts at INSAR 2025
• Torky, J. *, Long, S. * and Zeleke, W. Understanding the Transitional Care Need and Experience of Immigrant youth with Autism: A Systematic Literature Review. Poster presented at VCU Graduate Research Conference.

Jihad Torky
Past Master's Research Student
torkyjm@vcu.edu

Jihad Torky is a recent graduate of the Virginia Commonwealth University in the Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling Program. She was also a Counseling Intern at YWCA Richmond working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Jihad believes that mental health support is a vital factor for social change and justice, and intends to apply this in their professional work. Topics of interest include trauma (including intergenerational trauma), abuse and neglect, development, as well as racial trauma and liberation. Her interests focus on children and adolescents, parents, marginalized and minoritized communities, as well as immigrants and children of immigrants.

Sunday Wright
Past Undergraduate Research Assistant
wrightsl2@vcu.edu

Sunday Wright is an undergraduate student at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a dual degree student majoring in biology and bioinformatics with a concentration in biological/genomic sciences and a double minor in chemistry and psychology on a research and thesis track. She serves on executive boards for four different student organizations and is a Resident Assistant on campus. She actively engages in various research on campus through the East Marshall Street Well Project in the Health and Humanities Lab and Team RIA in the Department of Epidemiology. Post-graduation, she plans to pursue graduate education with the hope of continuing to help marginalized communities.