ABINGDON, MD, June 19, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Syretta R. James, PhD, ABPP, has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Dr. James, a distinguished psychologist with several years of experience, currently serves as the executive director of clinic and business operations at Respire Behavioral Health. In this position since 2021, she maintains a clinical caseload to uphold her license and provides expert testimony in family courts, aiding in child custody and home placement decisions. She is also dedicated to professional development, facilitating education and training for partners and the community.

As the executive director at Respire Behavioral Health from 2021 to present, Dr. James expanded services by partnering with local school districts and launching a summer camp for children with anxiety or neuroatypicality. Her foresight in transitioning the practice to virtual services before the COVID-19 pandemic ensured uninterrupted support for families, demonstrating her commitment to accessible mental health care. Alongside her roles at Respire Behavioral Health, she was the supervisor of applied research and evaluation at Montgomery County Public Schools from 2020 until 2021.

In the academic setting, Dr. James has made significant contributions as an adjunct professor at Loyola University Maryland from 2014 to 2015 and at Bowie State University from 2012 to 2016. Her positions outside academia include being a contract psychologist for Glass Mental Health at the Charles H. Hickey Jr. School from 2009 until 2010 and a school psychologist at Baltimore County Public Schools between 2005 and 2013. She gained foundational experience as a senior research associate at the McFarland Institute from 2004 to 2005 and as a research assistant at the MayaTech Corporation from 2000 until 2003.

Instrumental in Dr. James's career achievements was her extensive educational background, which began with a Bachelor of Science in public and community health from the University of Maryland, completed in 2001. She subsequently earned a Master of Arts in educational psychology from Howard University in 2003, followed by a Doctor of Philosophy in school psychology from the same institution in 2007. Additionally, she is board-certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology, has received professional certifications as an anxiety treatment professional and a certified clinical trauma professional through Evergreen Certifications, and she holds licensed psychologist credentials in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and North Carolina.

Further illustrating Dr. James's dedication to the field of psychology are her numerous professional affiliations. She has been a member of the DC Psychological Association since 2019 and the American Psychological Association since 2015. She co-chairs the Model Licensure Act for the American Psychological Association and holds positions on several boards, including the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts and the DC Psychological Association. In addition to her primary work, she is an accomplished author with publications in several professional journals.

Equally impressive is Dr. James's civic involvement. She has served as the vice president, diversity chairperson and secretary for the American Board of Professional Psychology. Her past roles include being an early childhood mental health advisory board member for CHAMPS in Anne Arundel County from 2016 to 2019 and an event organizer for the Health Harvest Initiative. Within her community, she volunteers with REACHH, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, and the Upper Chesapeake Bay Pearls.

Reflecting on her career, Dr. James attributes much of her success to exceptional mentors who guided her along her journey. This mentorship instilled a strong sense of purpose within her from a young age — a legacy she continues by paying it forward through training programs that contribute significantly to sustaining a robust mental health workforce today.

Looking ahead, Dr. James aims to continue mentoring aspiring psychologists and mental health practitioners while influencing policy on a national level. She is also focused on writing books that present mental health accurately without stigmatization.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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