Meet the Team

Zakiyyah started at Wake in April of 2023 as a CARE Case Manager in the Office of the Dean of Students. She has a M.A in Marriage and Family Therapy. She comes with over 20 years of professional case management and mental health experience in various community and non-profit settings. She most recently provided patient support in a mental health inpatient hospital. In addition, she has previously provided services in local primary and secondary public schools, as well as health and wellness services for an international non-profit agency serving immigrants and refugees. A native of Winston-Salem, Zakiyyah enjoys performing professionally as an actress, dancer, and a trained classical vocalist. You may have seen her in action performing with the Piedmont Opera or the North Carolina Black Repertory Company. She is the mother of four amazing children and a dog mom to 6 Shih Tzus. Zakiyyah loves to cook, express herself through poetry, writing, and crafting. She also loves to decorate and provide professional event planning. Zakiyyah has a passion for people and strives to empower others in realizing their fullest potential and personal best through holistic healing. Zakiyyah is excited about her journey at Wake and is eager to help the Wake community through showing supportive care and compassion.

Kareem joined the CARE team in April 2023. Kareem values case management with students and regards his work as a portion of his mission and not a job. He is a problem solver, visionary and has created workshops and programs for healthy relationships, rites of passage, and fatherhood in the city of Philadelphia. Kareem is trained in Positive Psychology and other techniques that aid him in his holistic approaches to case management. He incorporates knowledge of diversity in culture, religion, equity, and inclusion. Kareem has done volunteer work in Ghana, and lived and taught in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. He also speaks Arabic fluently. Kareem believes that one of the greatest forms of education is travel, along with the learning and immersion of culture in order to effectively engage with people universally, while at the same time valuing uniqueness in differences. Kareem places emphasis on resourcefulness and resiliency when engaging with students to empower and build support systems to improve quality of life.

Kareem enjoys world travel, reading, the arts, and spending quality time with his family.

Annie joined the CARE team as a Case Manager in June 2024. She has an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is a National Certified Counselor. At the core of her values lies the fundamental belief in the inherent worth of every individual and that every individual deserves access to education. Her approach is grounded in the principles of empowerment, unconditional positive regard, and equity. Annie uses these principles to help students feel empowered to overcome obstacles, embrace challenges, and pursue their goals with confidence and resilience. She believes it is the responsibility of staff and faculty to address systemic barriers, advocate for inclusive practices, and provide differentiated support to meet the diverse needs of their students. When not working, Annie enjoys spending her time with her dog Alfie, reading webtoons, listening to true crime podcasts, and taking short walks to her fridge for snacks.

Michelle came to Wake Forest University in 2017 and received her M.A. in Interpreting and Translation Studies in May 2019. She joined the Dean of Students Office and CARE Team in August 2019. Prior to her arrival at WFU, Michelle worked with college students for 7 years in China as an English teacher and Global study tour guide for college students. In February 2021, she received her NABITA Case Management Standards & Best Practices certificate. With her background of multicultural experiences, mainly Asian and American, Michelle provides support for International students in distress. She also serves as a cultural broker between the WFU Chinese-Speaking community and WFU faculty and staff members. Michelle is an ardent learner and continues to expand her expertise through ongoing counseling mentoring and educational reading. She enjoys her early morning quiet time with a cup of coffee before imbibing her daily dose of nature. Michelle is a bibliophile and loves collecting words, especially idioms. The first thing you may notice about Michelle is her smile.