Biography
Year Entered 91ɫƵ: 2024
Shakari “Kari” is a licensed professional counselor with over a decade of experience in mental health therapy, specializing in crisis prevention, suicide prevention and sport psychology. With a background that includes serving on Milwaukee County’s mobile crisis team, Kari has been at the forefront of emergency mental health care in the community.
In addition to her work in crisis intervention, Kari is a dedicated birth doula, passionately supporting new parents as they navigate the transformative journey into parenthood. Recently certified in perinatal mental health, she is committed to expanding their expertise in this vital area.
Currently, Kari holds the position of Director of Student-Athlete Mental Health at Marquette University in the athletics department, where she works closely with elite student-athletes, helping them reach their full potential both in their sports and in their mental well-being.
As a first-generation college student, born in Chicago and raised in Milwaukee, Kari is deeply connected to the city she loves. Her research during their doctoral studies will focus on improving Black and Brown maternal [mental] health, particularly in the perinatal period. She is driven by the goal of developing effective guidelines and policies to provide comprehensive support for birthing parents.
Outside of her professional life, Kari enjoys traveling with her husband and two children, with an ambitious goal to visit all 50 states before their children turn 18. She finds immense joy in her work, whether it's meeting with student-athletes or receiving calls from parents asking her to serve as their doula.