Director of Training, Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities
About
Dr. Mirian E. Ofonedu is the director of training at the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB) Graduate School and the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Mental Health; a faculty affiliate of the Johns Hopkins Wendy Klag Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities and Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work. Dr. Ofonedu is a psychologist, a licensed clinical social worker and a fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA). She received her master’s degree in Social Work, with a specialization in service to children, youth, and families, from the University of Maryland and her doctorate degree in Psychology from the Capella University. Dr. Ofonedu is the Founder and Clinical Director of a Family Counseling Center. She joined Kennedy Krieger Institute in 2004 and served as the Project Director of an NIH –funded Clinical Trial on Early Parenting Intervention Comparison (EPIC) research study at the Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress at Kennedy Krieger Institute. Dr. Ofonedu is a master trainer and facilitator for the APA's Act Raising Safe Kids program and served as APA Division 37 Program Chair, liaison to the Committee on International Relations in Psychology and coordinated the Task Force on Diversity Initiatives. She serves as Chair for Division 37 Diverse, Racial, Ethnic, and Multicultural Special Interest Group (DREAM SIG) and is a mentor for the APA Global Psychology Alliance (GPA), Global Psychology Learning Leadership Institute (LLI). She is a recipient of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) Multicultural Council Award for Leadership in Diversity and the Kennedy Krieger Institute Social Justice Award. Dr. Ofonedu has a broad background in teaching, research, and clinical work and contributes to the field through her clinical, research, and training expertise at local, state, national, and international levels. She has published several peer-reviewed journal articles and serves on several boards and committees. Her work, which spans over two decades, is inspired by the core values of recognizing and building on the strengths and competencies that exist in a person, family, and community; being culturally responsive to each person's unique needs for the purpose of creating a more just, inclusive, and equitable society for all.
Research
Dr. Ofonedu’s research interests include mental health and treatment engagement of culturally diverse and marginalized groups, disability and inclusive practices, early intervention, global health and education. Her leadership is also in the area of adult learning, teaching, mentoring, pre-service training methods, training curriculum development and dissemination of training resources. She has expertise in qualitative research and examines the psychosocial and cultural factors that influence marginalized groups’ help seeking behaviors and service utilization to inform policy and intervention programs. Dr. Ofonedu combines her macro, clinical and research knowledge in the training of professionals, students and community members in evidence-supported and cultural responsive interventions and helps them realize the key role they can play in creating equitable access to care and resources for the underserved and marginalized populations.