Saumya Arora
Assistant Professor
she/they
Phone: 253-535-7640
Email: saumya.arora@plu.edu
Office Location:Ramstad Hall - Room 107A
Curriculum Vitae: View my CV
- Professional
- Biography
Education
- Ph.D., Philosophy in Counseling Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2025
- M.A., Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2021
- B.S., Psychology, Minor in Sociology, University of Minnesota (UMN), 2017
Selected Publications
- Arora, S., Dua, V., Kler, S., Jain, K., & Gonzalez, K. A. (2026). “Sexuality is a topic that should not be discussed”: South Asian cultural experiences of sexual orientation. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. Advance online publication.
- Arora, S., Gonzalez, K. A., & Yang, W. (2025). “I'm someone who makes sense to my therapist, without me needing to contort myself”: a therapeutic dyad study with QTBIPOC clients and their therapists. Journal of Counseling Psychology. Advance online publication.
- Arora, S., Gonzalez, K. A., Abreu, R. L., & Gloster, C. (2022). “Therapy can be restorative, but can also be really harmful”: Therapy experiences of QTBIPOC clients. Psychotherapy, 59(4), 498–510.
Selected Presentations
- California Psychological Association Annual Convention,, Kler, S., Arora, S., Gamio Cuervo, A., Torres, A.μ, & Anant, N.~A COSMIN Scoping Review of Existing Measures of Intergenerational Trauma and Historical Trauma. [Poster Presentation]. , Sacramento, CA, United States. ((2026, Sept 24-27))
- Poster session accepted for the 2026 Annual National Institute on the Teaching of Psychology,, Cook, K.D., Arora, S., & Chang, Y.J. Cultivating critical consciousness in abnormal psychology Courses: Preparing students as change agents., Point Clear, AL, United States. ((2026))
Accolades
- 2024 Special Recognition of Leadership, Society of Counseling Psychology (APA Division 17)
- 2023 Psychology Outstanding Graduate Research Award, Department of Psychology; University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Professional Memberships/Organizations
- Division 17 - Society of Counseling Psychology, APA , (2020 - Present)
- American Psychological Association , (2019 - Present)
- Asian American Psychological Association , (2020 - 2026)
Biography
Dr. Saumya Arora (she/they) joined the PLU Psychology Department in 2026. She earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She completed her APA-accredited predoctoral internship at the University of Illinois Chicago Counseling Center and her postdoctoral fellowship at Northeastern Illinois University’s Student Counseling Services. Dr. Arora’s work as a counseling
psychologist integrates teaching, research, and clinical practice, with a focus on understanding how culture, identity, and systems of oppression shape mental health and psychotherapy.
Dr. Arora’s research and clinical interests center on three broad areas: (1) the mental health and wellbeing of queer and/or trans Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (QTBIPOC); (2) South Asian mental health; and (3) advocacy and social change through research. Across their scholarship, teaching, and clinical work, they draw from community-centered and feminist-multicultural frameworks and are committed to promoting collective wellness among marginalized communities.
In her spare time, Dr. Arora can be found trying new restaurants, playing her Nintendo Switch, or creating fun eyeshadow looks. She also loves traveling and spending time in nature.