Dr. Dawna Maria Bivins-Smith is a licensed Psychologist with a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology. She completed her degree at the Georgia School of Professional Psychology, Argosy University. She has a Masters of Arts in Education (emphasis in adult education) from San Francisco State University and a Bachelors degree in Political Science. Her clinical experience includes working with serious mental illness in forensic hospital and community mental health settings. Her specialty is working with adults experiencing anxiety and depression as well as mental health concerns related to trauma and physical health conditions.

Dr. Bivins-Smith’s responsibilities in management and consulting span over 20 years and have afforded her with extensive experience in management dealing with the actual day to day workings of corporate environments. Utilizing her experience, Dr. Bivins-Smith initiated a private consulting company conducting executive coaching, interdisciplinary team facilitation, group dynamics, stand-up training, and training development. As a change management consultant, her work has included conducting enterprise system change initiatives as well as assessing individual and organizational needs. She has developed programs and trained over 1500 individuals in skills such as conflict management, team building, customer service, and information systems applications within private, government, and healthcare settings.

In addition to her business and scholarly endeavors, Dr. Bivins-Smith has held numerous committee, chairperson, and Board of Director positions in non-profit, volunteer organizations. She has also taught at California State San Francisco and Hayward Universities.