Mrs. Maurine Mbongeh Musi

Maurine Mbongeh Musi is a distinguished scholar, Clinical Psychologist, Psychotherapist, researcher, Gender and Child Protection Specialist, and higher education leader whose work spans academia, mental health practice, humanitarian response, and institutional development. She is committed to advancing psychological well-being, transformative education, and sustainable community development through research, leadership, innovation, and service.

Maurine is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Clinical Psychology at Africa International University, Nairobi, Kenya, building on a strong academic foundation in psychology, counselling, law, and sociology. Her doctoral research focuses on Mental Health Disorders, Behavioural Risk Factors, and Recidivism among Juvenile and Young Offenders in Cameroon, with the goal of generating evidence to improve mental health interventions, rehabilitation, and justice systems for vulnerable young people.

She is the Co-Founder and Promoter of GHITS University (Global Higher Institute for Transformative Studies), where she serves as Deputy Director in charge of Administration. In this role she provides visionary leadership in advancing accessible, research-driven, innovative, and industry-responsive higher education, and in building the institution's visibility, strategic alliances, and community presence across Cameroon and beyond. Her vision is to develop an institution that nurtures ethical leaders, competent professionals, and transformative thinkers capable of addressing Africa's social, economic, and developmental challenges through knowledge, innovation, and service.

Maurine also serves as the Co-Founder and Executive Director of YouthStrong Cameroon, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting mental health, psychosocial well-being, child protection, gender equality, youth empowerment, safeguarding, and community resilience. Under her leadership, YouthStrong Cameroon has successfully implemented programmes in schools, orphanages, correctional facilities, communities, and humanitarian settings, empowering children, adolescents, women, families, and vulnerable populations across Cameroon.

With extensive experience in clinical practice, psychotherapy, humanitarian programming, research, project management, and capacity building, Maurine has designed and facilitated numerous professional development programmes on mental health, psychosocial support, psychological first aid, safeguarding, gender-based violence prevention and response, peacebuilding, leadership, resilience, parenting, and life skills development. She has collaborated with government ministries, civil society organizations, educational institutions, faith-based organizations, development partners, and international agencies to strengthen mental health systems and promote holistic community well-being.

A passionate scholar and researcher, Maurine believes that research should inform practice, influence policy, and improve lives. Her research interests include clinical psychology, mental health disorders, child and adolescent mental health, maternal mental wellness, trauma recovery, behavioural risk factors, juvenile justice, disability inclusion, psychosocial interventions, gender and safeguarding, and community-based approaches to resilience and rehabilitation.

Maurine has contributed significantly to scholarly knowledge through collaborative research, publications, and the development of evidence-based training resources. She is the co-author of "The Healing Power of Gratitude: A Clinical Perspective," a work that explores gratitude as a therapeutic approach to emotional and psychological healing.

Her scholarly contributions also include studies on the development and validation of culturally adapted mental health screening tools for Cameroon; trauma, stress, and mental health outcomes among internally displaced persons in Cameroon's Anglophone Regions; task-shifting approaches for the management of common mental disorders in rural Cameroon; mental health needs among people living with chronic diseases; ethical considerations in counselling persons with disabilities; and the role of decentralized local authorities in advancing the Beijing Platform for Action in Cameroon. She has also developed numerous professional manuals, training curricula, and community resource materials on mental health, psychosocial support, child protection, safeguarding, youth leadership, and community development.

Beyond research and practice, Maurine is a dedicated educator, mentor, and advocate for lifelong learning. She is passionate about nurturing the next generation of psychologists, counsellors, researchers, educators, and development practitioners through mentorship, academic excellence, innovation, ethical leadership, and practical skills development. She firmly believes that higher education should produce graduates who are not only academically competent but also socially responsible and equipped to transform their communities.

Through her scholarship, leadership, and unwavering commitment to human development, Maurine Mbongeh Musi continues to inspire individuals, institutions, and communities across Africa. Her work reflects a deep belief that education, research, mental wellness, and compassionate leadership are powerful catalysts for personal growth, institutional excellence, and sustainable societal transformation.