“Challenging Minds, Changing Lives, and Uplifting the Human Spirit" is the central mission of alumna Dr. Jasmin Searcy. She earned both of her graduate degrees (Master’s and Doctor of Philosophy) in Clinical Psychology from Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, Maryland) and Jackson State University (Jackson, MS).
Enthralled with the concept of being crowned Miss Jackson State University at the age of six years old (as she enthusiastically observed her aunt (Barbara Rascoe-Alston; Miss JSU 1991-1992), Dr. Searcy immediately became involved with Jackson State University's campus and her surrounding community. During her matriculation at Jackson State University, she earned the titles of Miss Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated (state and regional titles); (2006-2007), Miss MADDRAMA Theatre Company (2006-2007), Miss Jackson State University (2007-2008), and was appointed as a Thurgood Marshall Scholar and delegate.
Because of her desire to transform individuals and her community, she implemented Project CHANGES; an acronym for Challenging Humans to Adopt Goals for Everyday Situations and developed more than 45 events/programs targeting mental health issues (e.g., psychological effects of domestic violence) and health behavior change (e.g., HIV risk-taking behaviors).Due to Dr. Searcy’s strong belief that service joined with scholarship is essential to everlasting change, she remains determined to serve as an activator for change as a Child/Pediatric Psychologist and hopes to return to her home state of Mississippi in the near future.
Currently, Dr. Searcy is a Child/Pediatric Health Psychology Fellow (and licensed psychologist) at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in Sam Fort Houston, Texas where she provides behavioral health services to military-connected youth and their families. In particular, Dr. Searcy provides evidenced-based treatments (including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), pediatric hypnosis, bio feedback) to patients presenting with general outpatient (e.g., depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), trauma) and pediatric health complications (e.g., irritable bowel disease, sickle cell disease, diabetes, cystic fibrosis). In addition, she is involved with several multidisciplinary pediatric weight management clinics and is conducting research which examines ecological factors (as described in Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Framework (1977)) that may be associated with health behavior change (e.g., recidivism rates). Due to Dr. Searcy’s research interests surrounding pediatric weight management, she is developing an evidenced-based post-surgery protocol (“ACTION!”) for BAMC’s Adolescent Bariatric Surgery team which was recently accepted for presentation at The Society of Pediatric Psychology (SPP) annual conference (March 2017). She also holds faculty appointment at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas as Adjunct Lecturer of Health Psychology.
Concerning her personal time, Dr. Searcy is pursuing a certification to be licensed as a group fitness trainer. She recently ran in the 2016 Beach to Bay-America's Largest Relay Marathon in Corpus Christi, Texas. Dr. Searcy also has run several 5k/10k walk/runs as she strongly believes in work-life balance. Before pursuing clinical psychology, she was featured in Ebony magazine (April 2008) as Miss Jackson State University and has earned many awards for her dedication to community service. Dr. Searcy has given countless motivational and mental health seminars to various audiences to include community and social groups, and educational organizations such as the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). She is also a member of the esteemed Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and was inducted into Who's Who in Black Mississippi in 2010 at age 24 among others.
Dr. Searcy credits God, her family, and most importantly, Jackson State University (including Drs. Hilliard L. Lackey and Mark G. Henderson). Her alma mater not only prepared her to be successful, but it afforded her to receive an impeccable education, develop valuable knowledge regarding the relevance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and form lifelong friendships. Dr. Searcy’s philosophy of life remains: “Lord if I can help someone along the way, my living will not be in vain.”