Allaya Cooks-Campbell
(she/her)
Guest Lecturer, Graduate Student (MA Psychology, Hunter College)
Allaya Cooks-Campbell is a writer, researcher, and guest lecturer passionate about workplace well-being, positive psychology, and the intersection of thriving across systems. Currently completing her M.A. in Applied/Social Psychology at Hunter College (CUNY), she brings over a decade of experience translating psychological research into accessible, human-centered frameworks.
In addition to her graduate studies, Allaya leads content strategy and communications for decentralized science initiatives, serves as a podcast host and facilitator for interdisciplinary research groups, and is actively developing a novel psychometric framework exploring acknowledgment and thriving in professional settings. She is also a guest lecturer on neurodivergence, applied psychology, workplace well-being, storytelling, and positive psychology.
Her academic journey is rooted in a commitment to rigorous, compassionate science: research that not only measures outcomes, but illuminates the lived experiences behind the numbers.
Social
Contact
Website
https://rethinkingninetofive.com
https://alaya.media
Education
- MA CUNY Hunter College, Psychology
Expected June 2026
Concentration: Applied, Evaluative, & Social Psychology - BA CUNY School of Professional Studies, Psychology
Aug. 2015 – June 2020
Concentration: Psychopathology
Minor: Communications & Media - AA CUNY Kingsborough Community College, Liberal Arts
Feb. 2011 – May 2013
2013 Graduating Class Valedictorian
Publications
Preprints:
Cooks-Campbell, A. (2025). Life after the lab: Recovery and reuse of mice exposed to emotional stress models. PsyArXiv. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/m8c3k_v1
Cooks-Campbell, A. (2025). The workplace visibility index: Mapping visibility, belonging, and psychological safety in modern work environments. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/bh7ps_v1
Select media publications have been cited in over 20 peer-reviewed articles, theses, academic classroom lectures, and international research documents, spanning workplace well-being, leadership, and psychological theory translation.
- Peer-Reviewed Citations Include:
- Abate, M.A. “He Cuts Roses that Have Blooms as Big as My Palms”: Floriography, the Black Gardening Movement, and Environmental Justice in The Hate U Give. Child Lit Educ (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10583-025-09611-4
- Lewis, N., Glenn, K., Myntti, J., Swenson, S., & Yeo, K. (2024). Where do I belong? Creating an inclusive metadata policy. Library Resources & Technical Services, 68(2), 98–108. https://journals.ala.org/index.php/lrts/article/view/8330
- Robinson, S. M. (2022). The enriched environment in a person-centered approach to the promotion and maintenance of well-being: A salutogenic model. CASN NeuroNotes, Volume 412. Center for Applied Social Neuroscience. https://www.brain-mind-behavior.org/casn-neuronotes
Public Scholarship:
Cooks-Campbell, A. (2023). Implicit bias: How unconscious attitudes affect everything. BetterUp. https://www.betterup.com/blog/what-is-implicit-bias
Cooks-Campbell, A. (2023). What diversity really means, and why it’s crucial in the workplace. BetterUp. https://www.betterup.com/blog/what-diversity-really-means-and-why-its-crucial-in-the-workplace
Cooks-Campbell, A. (2023). What self-serving bias is and 6 tips to overcome it. BetterUp. https://www.betterup.com/blog/self-serving-bias
Cooks-Campbell, A. (2022). Achieving a flow state: 7 ways to get in the zone. BetterUp. https://www.betterup.com/blog/flow-state
Cooks-Campbell, A. (2022). Code-switching: More common than you think and hurting your team. BetterUp. https://www.betterup.com/blog/code-switching
Cooks-Campbell, A. (2022). Collective trauma: Developing resilience in the aftermath. BetterUp. https://www.betterup.com/blog/collective-trauma
Cooks-Campbell, A. (2022). Communication is key in the workplace. Here’s how to improve. BetterUp. https://www.betterup.com/blog/why-communication-is-key-to-workplace-and-how-to-improve-skills
Cooks-Campbell, A. (2022). How cultural humility versus cultural competence impacts belonging. BetterUp. https://www.betterup.com/blog/cultural-humility-vs-cultural-competence
Cooks-Campbell, A. (2022). How to use the emotion wheel to get to know yourself. BetterUp. https://www.betterup.com/blog/emotion-wheel
Cooks-Campbell, A. (2022). Mental health in the Black community: Access, safety, and well-being. BetterUp. https://www.betterup.com/blog/mental-health-in-black-community
Cooks-Campbell, A. (2022). Organizational structure: Your guide to configuring and growing teams. BetterUp. https://www.betterup.com/blog/organizational-structure
Cooks-Campbell, A. (2022). Proximity bias: Why it spells disaster for hybrid teams. BetterUp. https://www.betterup.com/blog/proximity-bias
Cooks-Campbell, A. (2022). Transparency in the workplace: What it is (and what to avoid). BetterUp. https://www.betterup.com/blog/transparency-in-the-workplace
Cooks-Campbell, A. (2022). What is cognitive dissonance and how do you reduce it?. BetterUp. https://www.betterup.com/blog/cognitive-dissonance
Cooks-Campbell, A. (2021). Are you languishing? Here’s how to regain your sense of purpose. BetterUp. https://www.betterup.com/blog/what-is-languish-how-to-flourish
Cooks-Campbell, A. (2021). Conscious parenting: Raise your children by parenting yourself. BetterUp. https://www.betterup.com/blog/conscious-parenting
Cooks-Campbell, A. (2021). How to have a good work-life balance (hint: it’s not just about time). BetterUp. https://www.betterup.com/blog/how-to-have-good-work-life-balance
Cooks-Campbell, A. (2021). Social anxiety: How to ask for help when people stress you out. BetterUp. https://www.betterup.com/blog/social-anxiety
Cooks-Campbell, A. (2021). Top-down vs. bottom-up management: What is the best fit?. BetterUp. https://www.betterup.com/blog/top-down-vs-bottom-up-management-approach
Cooks-Campbell, A. (2021). What is learned helplessness, and how do you ‘unlearn’ it?. BetterUp. https://www.betterup.com/blog/learned-helplessness
Projects
- Felician University, Flourishing Laboratory, Lodi, NJ, 2025 to 2026
Research Assistant, Dr. Warren Reich & Dr. Jason Young
“Identity and Ideology: Confidante Support for College Student Career Aspirations”
Supporting data collection, analysis and dissemination for a Spencer Foundation Grant, expanding on symbolic interactionist theories & models of identity to include the concept of an aspirational self. - Hunter College Relationship Health Research Team, New York, NY, 2025 to 2026
Data Analysis Intern, Dr. Tyrel Starks & Dr. Demetria Cain
Supporting analysis and dissemination for two key studies (Couples’ Health Project and 4Us) by running quantitative analyses and preparing data tables. - CUNY Baruch College, New York, NY, 2019 to 2020
Research Assistant, Dr. Daniele Artistico
“Measuring Self-Efficacy in Adults in Online Learning Environments”
Proposed and identified eight factors for success in online learning that became the basis for an original assessment scale. - CUNY Kingsborough Community College, Brooklyn, NY, 2012 to 2013
Research & Teaching Assistant, Dr. Jason VanOra
Summarized articles for use in research and upper-level courses. Reviewed writing samples for consistency with APA format.
Courses Qualified to Teach
Introduction to Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Social Psychology, Human Growth & Development, Biological Bases of Behavior, Positive Psychology, Research Methods, Statistical Methods for Social Sciences, Introduction to Communications & Media, Web Design, Mass Media Ethics, Principles of Mindfulness, Yoga, Yoga Philosophy, Meditation, English as a Second Language
Academic Interests
- Positive Psychology and Thriving
- Social and Organizational Psychology
- Psychometrics and Scale Development
- Quantitative Methods (Latent Variable Modeling, Measurement, SEM)
- Workplace Visibility, Acknowledgment, and Burnout
- Critical Participatory Action Research (CPAR)
- Decentralized Science (DeSci) and Emerging Research Models
