Keynote Speaker Biography
Dr. Barbara Agyeman Prempeh, a native of Ghana, West Africa, received her Psy.D. in Clinical and School Psychology from Kean University, MA in Educational Psychology from Kean University, MA in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and a BS degree in Psychology from her beloved undergraduate alma mater, Howard University.
Dr. Prempeh has ten years of experience in academia teaching undergraduate and graduate psychology courses. Additionally, Dr. Prempeh is a Psychologist and Program Coordinator of a doctoral level practicum training program at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. The program provides psychological evaluation and treatment for children and adolescents who have experienced abuse. Dr. Prempeh is also a Consulting Counselor at Rye Country Day School promoting awareness of the impact of race related stress within the school environment, while specifically supporting students and younger alumni of color.
Dr. Prempeh has a passion for helping children, adolescents, and young adults develop resilience in the face of adversity. Dr. Prempeh has worked for over 15 years with children, adolescents, and families across multiple settings. Dr. Prempeh has conducted presentations at conferences and to organizations on numerous topics including, psychological disorders, trauma, juvenile justice, racial/cultural issues, resilience, and trauma-informed practices. Specifically, she is the co-developer and co-facilitator of a curriculum for police officers and community members that focuses on understanding trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), in addition to providing trauma-informed approaches. Dr. Prempeh also co-facilitated a training to teachers and administrators in the Newark public school system on school-based trauma-informed practices. In addition to her clinical experience, Dr. Prempeh is the current Vice President of the New Jersey Chapter Association of Black Psychologists.
To maintain balance and engage in self-care, Dr. Prempeh enjoys spending time with family and friends, going to interactive museums throughout New York, attending concerts, and traveling.
