Obi Onyegesi, MSW, LMSW, LCDC is a doctoral student at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin, an emerging National Institutes of Health (NIH) scholar, and a predoctoral fellow with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) T32 Research Training Program. With an academic foundation in Cognitive Neuroscience (BSc, University of Westminster, UK) and Social Work (MSW, University of Texas at Arlington), and of Nigerian and Italian origins, Obi brings a multidisciplinary and international perspective to his scholarship and scientific identity. His research centers on health disparities in cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, with a specific focus on minoritized communities.
Obi’s work explores the cultural adaptation of evidence-based treatments—particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—for substance use disorders, including tobacco misuse. He contributes to multiple projects examining smoking cessation behaviors among Black and Latinx populations using national datasets. Additionally, he is interested in the role of faith and spirituality as a source of resilience and coping for Black women during the COVID-19 pandemic. His research is supported by mentorship from Dr. Fiona Conway (primary mentor), with Dr. Catherine Cubbin and Dr. Yessenia Castro serving as secondary mentors.
Beyond academia, Obi is a licensed mental health and substance misuse counselor with extensive clinical experience in inpatient, outpatient, and community-based settings. He provides therapeutic care to underserved populations, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent individuals, and refugees. His broader commitment lies in advancing equitable, culturally responsive mental health care systems for marginalized communities in the U.S. and globally.