Hello! My name is Imani and I am currently attending the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign as a psychology major in order to become a clinical psychologist in the future. My passion in psychology strongly revolves around helping others who struggle with their mental health. Growing up, I've seen many individuals around me struggle with experiencing mental health stigma within their family/friend groups, causing them to hesitate or refuse in reaching out to receive the proper mental health support and resources they need, and instead suffer through their pain alone. This has resulted in myself wanting to help combat the mental health stigma and help people, whether it is just one person or even a community, understand that they are not alone in their mental health struggles, and should not feel ashamed or fearful to seek professional help. In addition to this, I also moved from the United States to East Africa (Kenya) from the age of nine up until graduating my high school in Nairobi at the age of eighteen. After studying, gaining professional experience, and helping people with their mental struggles in the United States as a clinical psychologist, I would like one day to return to Kenya to provide better mental health resources to the country and culture that has tremendously shaped me into the person I am today.

• Illini Transfer Ambassador: Social Media and Outreach

  Events Services · UIUC New Student and Family Experience Office

  Jan 2025 – Jan 2026

• Waitress

  Food & Beverages · Jolly Rogers Restaurant and Theme Park (Kenya)

  Jan 2017 – Jan 2020

• Advocacy
• Volunteering
• Philanthropy

• Soccer

  Varsity · 5 awards

  2018 – 2022

  Awards:

  Awarded "Most Improved Player" , Won 1st place at the ICSA East African Tournament in Uganda, Soccer Captain Senior Year of High School, Team won second place in the KAISSO tournament in 2020, Team won third place in the KAISSO tournament in 2022

• Basketball

  Varsity · 1 award

  2019 – 2022

  Awards:

  Team won second place at the KAISSO tournament in 2019

• Volleyball

  Varsity

  2021 – 2022

• Choir member

  Choir · Music

  2017 – 2019

• N/A

  Pottery · Ceramics

  2021 – 2022

• Violin

  Orchestra (Violin Player) · Music

  2013 – 2019

• Helping to grow food and pick weeds in order to help the local Urbana community have free and fresh produce to eat.

  Volunteering · Solidarity Gardens

  2025 – 2025

  Mission:

  Helping to address issues regarding food insecurity in the Urbana-Champaign area especially after COVID-19

• Interacting with the children/helping them during their classtime.

  Volunteering · Heshima Children's Center.

  2016 – 2022

  Mission:

  Connecting and spending time with children with disabilities while also supporting mothers with their handmade jewelry products to provide better opportunities for themselves and their children.

• Helping sweep the floors/interacting with the children.

  Volunteering · Tania School/Rehabilitation Center.

  2016 – 2022

  Mission:

  Helping clean the school/play with the children.