Vanessa Goodar, Ph.D.

She/Her/Hers

Assistant Professor

vanessa.goodar@hamptonu.edu
(757) 727-5162
LinkedIn

About

Dr. Vanessa Goodar is a Community Psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychology at Hampton University. Her teaching and research focus on self-care, wellness, and social justice in Black communities, with particular expertise in participatory action research (PAR) methods such as Photovoice and visual storytelling. Dr. Goodar teaches the Psychology of Black Self-Care, Psychology of Black Women, Developmental Psychology, PAR in Community Psychology, Senior Seminar, and many other special topics courses in community-based research. Her pedagogy aims to critically connect theory to practice and action. Dr. Goodar is passionate about preparing students to engage psychology as a tool for cultural-community awareness and systemic change. In addition to her teaching, Dr. Goodar directs the HU Path 2 PEACE Community Psychology & Self-Care Research Lab, where she mentors undergraduates and grad students in research projects that amplify community voices and highlight resilience. She also serves as the coordinator and faculty lead in the design and development of Hampton University’s first Community Psychology Master of Science program, set to launch in Fall 2026. Grounded in her Chicago roots and long-standing commitment to education, Dr. Goodar’s work bridges scholarship, practice, and advocacy. She is dedicated to fostering transformative learning environments that position students as co-creators of knowledge and as global leaders in community-centered psychology.

Education

Western Illinois University, BS, Fashion Merchandising
National-Louis University, MA in Teaching with a concentration in Special Education K-9
National-Louis University, PhD in Community Psychology

Courses Taught

Introduction to Psychology
Career Readiness
Developmental Psychology
Qualitative Research Methods
Junior Seminar
Senior Seminar
Internship
Black Psychology
Psychology of Black Self-Care
Psychology of Black Women
Participatory Action Research in Community Psychology

Areas of Expertise

Community Psychology
Self-Care and Wellness Education in Communities
Participatory Action Research (PAR)
Photovoice and Visual Storytelling Methods
Community-Based Program Development and Evaluation
Student-Centered Research and Mentorship
Teaching and Learning Pedagogy

Research Interests

Community Psychology
Self-Care and Wellness Education
Participatory Action Research
Photovoice and Visual Storytelling
Community-Based Program Development
Student-Centered Research
Health Equity
Youth Empowerment
Rest, Resilience, and Healing Practices

HU Path 2 PEACE

Psychology Majors and Minors who are classified as Juniors and Seniors with at least a 3.0 GPA. Students must identify as a Black Woman and have an interest in Black women’s self care and community psychology.

Visit Lab Instagram →

Publications

Goodar, V. (2025). Radical Self-Care, Ecological Resistance, and Symbolic Storytelling at an HBCU: A Participatory Action Research Approach to Student Well-Being and Policy Engagement. In P. Meringolo, S. Helm, & M. Vargas-Moniz (Eds.), Improved skills for engaging communities in (public) policy and action: International PAR approaches and readiness-based methods (Working manuscript). Global Journal of Community Psychology.

Goodar, et.al (2024). Amplifying Voices: Harnessing Photovoice for Social Justice and Empowerment at Hampton University

Goodar (2022). Brief Report: Analyzing Radical Self-Care Origins and Community Self-Care Practice Website. CommunityPsychology.Com

Goodar (2021, July 29). 13 Lessons from the Self-Care Sisterhood. Blk+Grn. https://blog.blkgrn.com/2021/07/29/13-lessons-from-the-self-care-sisterhood/

Doctoral Dissertation: An Intergenerational Photo Exploration of Self-Care Actions In Self-Identifying Strong Black Women (Goodar, 2021).

Goodar, Baker, J. and Allwood, S. (2021, July 9). Trauma- Had It Up to Here (Episode No. 16) (Podcast Episode. A Tribe Called Fertility) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/16-trauma-had-it-up-to-here/id1537464039?i=1000528392244

Goodar (2021, April 22). We Should Be Able to Have Babies Like White People. The Fertility Hub. We should be able to have babies like White people | The Fertility Hub

Goodar (2021, March 8). Cultural Stigma, Mental Wellness, and One Black Woman’s Audacity to Heal. Blk+Grn. https://blog.blkgrn.com/2021/03/08/cultural-stigma-mental-wellness-and-one-black-womans-audacity-to-heal/

Goodar & Olanrewaju (2020). The Hospitality Manual. The Community Psychologist. Volume 53. Number 1. Winter 2020.

Hall, Goodar & Olanrewaju (2020). Enhancing a Sense of Community in the Midwest. The Community Psychologist. Volume 53. Number 1. Winter 2020

Personal Accomplishments

Goodar (July 2025) Paper Presentation/CE Workshop Association for Black Psychologists Photovoice Training in undergraduate psychology settings. Bethune-Cookman University. Daytona Beach, Florida.
Goodar (June 2025) APA Division 27, SCRA Community Psychology Biennial Conference. East Lansing, Michigan.
Co-Presenter, Community Psychology in an Era of Global Geopolitical Socioeconomic Conservativism. A workshop on macro-level discourses and skills for implementing a co-constructed model for local action among diverse international communities
Co-Presenter, Community Psychology Is Everywhere: Exemplars of Community-Engaged Undergraduate Courses
Presenter, Empowering Students through Photovoice: Activating Social Change in Undergraduate Settings
Co-Presenter, Repairing the Past, Building the Future: A Town Hall on Advancing Reparations for Descendants of U.S. Enslaved AfricansTownhall meeting
Co-Presenter, The Power of Black Storytelling: Liberation, Empowerment, and Community Resilience
Goodar (2024) Photovoice Worldwide Virtual Conference. Panelist- Teaching Photovoice for Social Justice. Photovoice Conference
Goodar, (2023) Healing Space Creation, Photovoice and Radical Self-Care Action ResearchWhere Do We Go From Here? Dreaming New Community Futures. 19th Biennial Conference of the Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA), Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia.
Goodar, (2022) Black Women, Self-Care and Safe Space Creation Using Photovoice Methodology. Community Psychology Intervention Panelist. 9th International Conference of Community Psychology, Naples, Italy. 9ICCP Naples
Garcia, Goodar, Kutsukos, and Santiago (2022) Keynote Panelists. Doctoral Research Symposium. National Louis University, Chicago, IL. Keynote Bios | National Louis University | Chicago, Illinois | Tampa, Florida
Goodar, (2022) Socio-Cultural-Community Self-Care and Health Promotion Using Photovoice Ethnography. Community, Research and Action in the West (CRA-W). 13th Annual Community Research and Action Conference. Virtual via Zoom.
Interactive Roundtable- Discussion of research methods, design and conceptual models centering Black women’s self-care strengths and struggles using PhotoVoice participatory action research.
Goodar, McDowell, and Marvin (2021). White Supremacy/Black Liberation: Dismantling Ongoing Misunderstandings About Racism & Its Impact. Council on Cultural, Ethnic, and Racial Affairs (CERA). 18th Biennial Conference for the Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA). Virtual via Zoom
Lead Author, Symposium- This symposium synthesized the implications of self-care, sexuality, and behavioral health among Black Women and Indigenous Peoples.
Goodar, Vanessa (2020). Midwest ECO 101: Planning and Practice in Student-Led Conferences. 92nd Annual Midwestern Psychological Association (MPA) Conference. Virtual via Zoom
Roundtable Presenter. Midwest Psychological Association, Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA)
Goodar, Vanessa (2019) Strengthening the Village: The Global Implications of Social Solidarity. 43rd Annual Midwest ECO Conference. National-Louis University, Lisle, IL-
Co-Planner and Host. Midwest Region, Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA)

Professional Affiliations

American Psychological Association (APA) – General Member (February 2019-Present)
General Member Society for Community Research & Action (APA Division 27)- February 2018- Present
Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi) – General Member (July 2025–Present)
US Reparations for Descendants of Enslaved Africans Interest Group, Chair (November 2021- Present)
Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi) (July 2025–Present)

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