Boulder is proud to celebrate Barbara Kalu as the 2025 Clinical Mental Health Counseling Student of the Year. Her dedication to mental health, research, and advocacy is already making a meaningful impact.

Barbara Kalu, NourishED’s Research Ambassador, is pursing her MA in Clinical Mental Health at Johns Hopkins University.

A Voice for Change

Barbara is a Master’s Candidate in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Johns Hopkins University. With a background in Psychology from Boston University, she brings both academic rigor and heartfelt compassion to her work.

She’s not just studying mental health—she’s helping shape its future.

Leading with Impact

In addition to her academic work, Barbara serves as Research Ambassador and Dissemination Team Lead at the NourishED Research Foundation. Through this role, she manages social media and outreach campaigns that reach thousands of people.

Her infographics and educational content have transformed how qualitative data is shared and understood. Some have been featured in past AboutBoulder Health Columns.

Research with Reach

Barbara is also a key contributor to two upcoming publications on binge eating disorder lead by Boulder’s own Dr. Brenna Bray, PhD. She’s a co-first author on a study mapping environmental factors and a co-author on a mixed-methods analysis of treatment access barriers.

By combining data with lived experience, she’s helping bridge the gap between research and real-world care.

Barbara Kalu is not only a Master’s Candidate in Clinical Mental Health; she also manages research ambassadorship and social media for the NourishED Research Foundation, making resarch findings more accessible through infographic presentation and other forms of media.

A Heart for the Underserved

Barbara’s commitment to equity runs deep. She’s worked with underserved students pursuing medical professions through the JUMP program and led community initiatives at Boston University Spark!.

Her passion for justice, inclusion, and accessibility shines through in everything she does.

Boulder’s Counselor to Watch

Barbara Kalu is more than a student—she’s a rising leader in clinical mental health. Her blend of research, outreach, and compassion makes her one of Boulder’s brightest voices in the field.

As Barbara continues her journey in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Boulder is proud to stand behind her and cheer her on!

Brenna Bray

Dr. Brenna Bray, a local health and wellness coach, stress researcher, associate professor, and avid ultra-marathon mountain runner, holds PhDs in Biomedical Science, Neuroscience, and Complementary and Integrative Health. Her journey through an eating disorder fuels her dedication to coaching, merging personal experiences with scientific expertise. Through her practice, Bray empowers clients to access and harness their innate healing abilities and achieve remarkable health and wellness transformations. Committed to community engagement and holistic well-being, Dr. Bray shapes a brighter, healthier future for all. Learn more about Dr. Bray at www.brennabray.com.