Connecting psychological science with meaningful change.
My work spans teaching, scholarship, clinical practice, professional training, and international engagement. Across these areas, I focus on applying psychological science to strengthen individuals, organizations, and the systems that shape their experiences.
Teaching & scholarship
I approach teaching as a partnership, drawing on my clinical and scholarly experience while learning from the cultural knowledge and lived experiences of my students. I value liberal arts education because it encourages students to question assumptions, connect ideas across disciplines, and apply what they learn beyond the classroom.
At Fulbright University Vietnam, I've helped develop the psychology curriculum, including a counseling skills course that emphasizes hands-on practice and feedback.
Experiential learning is central to my teaching. My students visit local schools to explore educational psychology, examine biophilic design in everyday environments, and investigate how urban spaces shape human experience. A recent interdisciplinary field trip brought together psychology, integrated sciences, and literature students to explore Saigon's Nhiêu Lộc–Thị Nghè Canal from different perspectives. It reminded me how much we can learn when we step outside our disciplines and become students alongside one another.
I've also contributed to graduate psychology education at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, adapting my teaching to the needs of Vietnamese students and the developing profession.
My scholarship reflects my interests in culture, ethics, and the application of psychological science. Recent publications include three entries in The SAGE Encyclopedia of Multicultural Counseling, Social Justice, and Advocacy and an essay in the Fulbright Chronicles examining how teaching across cultures has challenged my assumptions and shaped my approach to education.
Practice, training & consultation
My clinical practice informs everything I do. Nearly two decades of working with individuals, couples, and families have shaped my understanding of human behavior and the social and cultural contexts that influence well-being. My approach draws on evidence-based therapies, particularly motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral approaches, with an emphasis on prevention and helping people flourish.
Much of my work has focused on developing the professionals who provide care. At John Carroll University, I secured and directed a $1.3 million federal initiative supporting the training of 80 graduate mental health professionals. As co-founder of the Vietnam Institute of Psychology, I work with colleagues to expand access to quality mental health care while developing professional training, clinical supervision, and evidence-based standards of practice.
I also work with schools, hospitals, NGOs, and businesses to apply psychological science to organizational challenges. My consultation work has included comprehensive, multi-month needs assessments, drawing on multiple sources of evidence to identify institutional priorities and develop actionable recommendations. I particularly enjoy helping organizations move beyond assumptions about their challenges toward a clearer understanding of what needs to change.
Leadership & global engagement
I believe good leadership starts with listening and understanding what matters to the people involved. I enjoy bringing people together around shared goals, particularly when doing so requires navigating different perspectives and finding common ground.
As Department Chair at John Carroll University, I led three graduate counseling programs through a period in which enrollment more than doubled, overseeing their academic direction and continued development. I also helped establish international educational partnerships that continued connecting students and institutions beyond my time at the university.
My experience as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar in Vietnam deepened my commitment to cross-cultural learning and citizen diplomacy. Today, as Global Engagement Specialist at Fulbright University Vietnam, I develop international partnerships focused on student exchange, joint research, internships, and academic collaboration.
As Associate Editor of the Fulbright Chronicles, I oversee web publication and help share the experiences, insights, and contributions of Fulbrighters around the world. It's work I particularly value because these stories deserve to reach beyond the people and institutions directly involved.
Related project: Building the Foundations for Healthy Aging in Vietnam
Selected affiliations & collaborations
Universities and organizations that have shaped my professional journey through teaching, research, leadership, and collaboration.
PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION
Certificate of Merit
Bach Mai Hospital, Vietnam Ministry of Health | September 2024
Recognized for contributions to scientific research cooperation, technology transfer, and medical workforce training at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi. This recognition reflects my commitment to strengthening healthcare education and building collaborations between academic and medical institutions in Vietnam.
Connecting ideas, people, and institutions.
Whether I'm teaching students, training mental health professionals, or developing international partnerships, my work is guided by the same conviction: psychological science can help us understand people more deeply and build institutions that better serve them.