Research & Writing Overview

Dr. Alexis Jemal’s research focuses on justice, healing, and community transformation. She looks at how systems like racism, incarceration, and health care affect people’s lives — and how we can build better, more caring alternatives.

She uses creative tools like applied theatre, psychodrama, and group storytelling to support change. Her work includes developing healing-centered programs, promoting anti-racist practices, and helping people become more aware of social issues that impact them. Dr. Jemal’s future projects continue to explore how art, research, and community action can work together for liberation.

Transformative Potential Theory

Dr. Jemal’s work in education, research, and practice (i.e., clinical practice, community, and cultural organizing) are grounded in her Transformative Potential Theory. Her transformative potential-based efforts incorporate coalition building, the creative arts, and social enterprise to:

  • Raise individual and collective critical consciousness about socio-health disparities and to foster critical action to address past harms.

  • Disrupt and dismantle ongoing, complex socio-cultural conditions, inequity, and structural and interpersonal violence that disproportionately impact the health and well-being of marginalized populations.

  • Develop and implement holistic socio-cultural, psychosocial, bio-behavioral health interventions and healing strategies to move toward a liberated future.

    • Alexis enjoys bridging her worlds and integrating her many interests for her own radical healing and liberation. Some of these interests include creative writing, Afrofuturism, dancing with her 3-year-old, doing martial arts with her 9-year-old, adventurous road trips, and international travel with her family.

    Publications

    • Jemal, A. (2022). Critical clinical social work practice: Pathways to healing from the molecular to the macro. Clinical Social Work Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-022-00843-1

    • Jemal, A. (Spring/Summer 2022). Part I. Violated: Exploring the pipeline from substance use treatment to incarceration. NASW—Social Work and the Courts, Issue 1.

    • Jemal, A. (Fall/Winter 2022). Part II. “Hold your gut”: Substance-using Black women break their silence on treatment. NASW—Social Work and the Courts, Issue 2.

    • Jemal, A. (Fall/Winter 2022). Part III. If a miracle occurred and service provision became inherently anti-racist, how would we know? NASW—Social Work and the Courts, Issue 2.

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    Research & Grants

    • Investigator, PSC-CUNY Enhanced Award (Jul 2021 – Dec 2022)
      BIPOC Women Educators HEAL in Predominantly White Institutions — $12,000

    • Co-Investigator, National Institute on Minority Health & Health Disparities ( Sep 2017 – Dec 2021)
      Bridging Theory & Practice: Examining Critical Consciousness and AIDU (Community Wise) — $390,517

    • Co-Investigator, Center for Drug Use & HIV Research (Aug 2017 – Aug 2019)
      Adapting an Evidence-Based HIV/STI Risk-Reduction Intervention to Address Oppressive Sexual Scripts among Substance-Using Heterosexual African American Adults — $25,000

    View Full Research & Grants List