A Cut Above the Rest

A CUNY SPS Alum Is Dedicated to Building Clients’ Confidence from the Roots Up

Darnell Wold (BA Psychology’23)

CUNY proudly presented its second annual “50 Under 50” alumni list earlier this year. The roster celebrates a class of distinguished graduates as the changemakers, leaders, and innovators who made their marks in their respective fields over the past year. The honorees in this prestigious cohort represent the best of the University’s vibrant and expansive community.

CUNY SPS is proud to announce that three of our outstanding alums were featured on the University’s 2025 list. As part of our “50 under 50” blog series, we got in touch with the honorees to see what this award might mean to them and how their CUNY SPS education contributed to their success.

In our third and final segment, we spoke to inductee and CUNY SPS Psychology alum Darnell Wold (‘23), a bilingual mental health professional, celebrity hair stylist, wig maker, and social impact entrepreneur. As the founder and CEO of Powder Room D Wig Store, Darnell redefines beauty as a vehicle for empowerment through his handcrafted wigs for individuals experiencing hair loss due to alopecia, cancer, autoimmune diseases, domestic violence, and gender affirmation. He also creates looks for actors in television and film.

You can also read more about Darnell in his “50 under 50” profile here.

Congrats on being named as one of CUNY’s “50 Under 50!” What does receiving this honor mean to you?

Receiving recognition as one of City University of New York’s “50 Under 50” is both humbling and deeply affirming. For me, it represents more than a personal milestone. It reflects the resilience, creativity, and purpose that have shaped my journey from growing up in Brooklyn to building a career at the intersection of beauty, advocacy, and now clinical social work. As an MSW student at the University of Kentucky College of Social Work, this honor feels especially meaningful because it validates my decision to pivot toward becoming a psychotherapist. It reminds me that my lived experiences, my work in mental health, and my commitment to serving marginalized communities all have value in academic and professional spaces. More importantly, I see this recognition as a responsibility. It motivates me to continue doing work that is not only impactful but also rooted in integrity, cultural humility, and compassion. I want to use this platform to amplify conversations around mental health, trauma, and healing, particularly within underserved communities that often go unseen or unheard. Ultimately, this honor is not just about where I’ve been, but about where I’m going. It reinforces my purpose to bridge creativity and clinical practice, and to show others that transformation is possible both internally and externally.

What made you choose CUNY SPS for your degree?

I chose the CUNY School of Professional Studies because it offered the kind of flexibility and academic rigor that aligned with both my professional life and my long-term goals. At the time, I was actively building my business and expanding my work in the beauty industry, so I needed a program that respected the realities of a nontraditional student while still challenging me intellectually.

What stood out to me most was CUNY SPS’ commitment to serving adult learners and providing access to high-quality education in a format that felt both practical and empowering. The online structure allowed me to stay rooted in my responsibilities while continuing to grow academically, and the curriculum pushed me to think critically, communicate effectively, and engage with real-world issues.

Looking back, choosing CUNY SPS was a foundational step in my journey. It gave me the discipline, confidence, and academic grounding that ultimately led me to pursue my MSW and move toward becoming a psychotherapist. It wasn’t just about earning a degree. It was about positioning myself for purpose-driven work and long-term impact.

How do you think CUNY SPS impacted your success after graduating?

Attending the CUNY School of Professional Studies had a lasting impact on my success, both professionally and personally. It really helped shape how I think, communicate, and show up in academic and professional spaces. The program strengthened my ability to engage critically with complex issues, which is something I rely on heavily now as an MSW student working toward becoming a psychotherapist.

Beyond academics, CUNY SPS taught me discipline and self-direction. As an online student balancing work, business, and life, I had to develop strong time management skills and a sense of accountability. Those habits have carried over into my graduate studies and my work in mental health, where consistency, structure, and follow-through are essential.

It also gave me confidence. Coming from a nontraditional background, there can be moments of self-doubt when stepping into clinical and academic spaces. CUNY SPS helped me realize that my lived experience, combined with formal education, is actually a strength. That perspective has been foundational as I continue to grow in social work and deepen my commitment to serving others.

Ultimately, CUNY SPS didn’t just prepare me for my next step. It helped me see myself as capable of long-term impact, and that mindset continues to guide everything I do today.

Do you have a fondest memory of CUNY SPS you would like to share?

One of my fondest memories from my time at the CUNY School of Professional Studies was the opportunity to learn from Professor Neil Harbus. His class left a lasting impression on me, not just because of the content, but because of who he is and the depth of experience he brought into the virtual classroom.

Professor Harbus has over four decades of experience in the behavioral health field, from leading inpatient psychiatric units in New York State hospitals to working on some of the first outreach teams serving homeless individuals with mental illness in New York City. Knowing that he also contributed to programs connected to the Housing First model and worked in Assertive Community Treatment really brought the material to life in a way that felt real, grounded, and urgent.

What stood out most to me was how he didn’t just teach theory. He embodied it. He challenged us to think beyond textbooks and really consider what ethical, person-centered, and evidence-based care looks like in practice. As someone now pursuing an MSW with the goal of becoming a psychotherapist, his influence helped shape how I understand the importance of meeting clients where they are, honoring their autonomy, and seeing the full humanity in every person we serve.

That experience stayed with me. It was one of those moments when everything clicked, and I could clearly see the direction I wanted to go. Looking back, learning from Professor Harbus wasn’t just a highlight of my time at CUNY SPS. It was a defining moment that continues to inform my clinical lens and my commitment to doing meaningful, impactful work in mental health.

What advice would you give to a new CUNY SPS student?

My advice to a new student at the CUNY School of Professional Studies would be to take full ownership of your experience from day one. CUNY SPS is designed for self-directed learners, so the more intentional you are about engaging with the material, your professors, and your peers, the more you will get out of it. Don’t just aim to complete assignments. Really challenge yourself to think critically, ask questions, and connect what you’re learning to your real-life goals. I would also say, don’t underestimate the value of your lived experience. Many CUNY SPS students come from nontraditional backgrounds, and that’s actually a strength. Your perspective matters, especially in discussions and written work. That confidence will carry you far, whether you’re continuing into graduate school like I did or advancing in your current career. Lastly, build relationships, even in an online environment. Reach out to professors, engage in discussion boards in a meaningful way, and stay connected with classmates. Some of the most impactful moments of my experience came from those connections, including learning from mentors who helped shape my path. If you stay disciplined, remain open to growth, and keep your long-term purpose in mind, CUNY SPS can truly be a launching pad for whatever comes next.

If you met a potential adult learner who was on the fence about returning to school after a break in their education, what insights/advice would you share?

If I met an adult learner who was on the fence about returning to school, I would tell them this as honestly as possible. There is never going to be a perfect time. Life is always going to be busy, complicated, and sometimes overwhelming. If you keep waiting for the “right moment,” you might end up waiting forever. At some point, you just have to close your eyes and jump in. I say that from lived experience. I went back to school in 2020 to complete my associate’s degree and graduated in 2021. From there, I moved straight into my bachelor’s in psychology, which I completed in 2023. I then continued my education at New York University Silver School of Social Work, and now, at 41, I’m finishing my MSW with the goal of becoming a psychotherapist. None of this happened at a “perfect” time. I just made a decision to commit to myself and followed through. My biggest advice is to stay focused and develop tunnel vision around your goals. You’re going to have distractions, doubts, and moments where you feel stretched thin, especially as an adult balancing real responsibilities. But if you keep your purpose at the center and remind yourself why you started, you will keep moving forward. And most importantly, do it for yourself. Not for validation, not for anyone else’s expectations, but because you deserve to grow, evolve, and create new opportunities in your life. It’s never too late to rewrite your story. Sometimes starting later gives you a deeper sense of purpose, clarity, and intention.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In five years, I see myself fully living in alignment with my purpose, at the intersection of mental health, beauty, and philanthropy. Upon graduating with my MSW this upcoming fall, I plan to begin pursuing my PhD in Clinical Psychology, continuing to deepen my clinical knowledge while expanding my ability to contribute to the field through both practice and research. By that time, I will also be an LCSW with an established private practice, providing psychotherapy that is trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and rooted in genuine human connection. My goal is to create a space where clients feel safe to heal, grow, and rediscover themselves from the inside out. Alongside my clinical work, I will continue developing purpose-driven brands that reflect my background in the beauty industry while aligning with my commitment to wellness and community impact. I’ve always believed that transformation is both internal and external, and I want my work to embody that fully. One of my biggest visions is to create one of New York City’s first salon suite concepts that offers both psychotherapy and salon services under one roof. A space that redefines self-care by integrating mental health, beauty, and holistic wellness in a way that feels accessible, innovative, and stigma-free. Ultimately, in five years, I see myself not only as a clinician, but as a thought leader and entrepreneur who is helping to reshape how we approach healing, making it more inclusive, multidimensional, and rooted in both science and lived experience.