About

The Division on International Students and Professionals (DoISAP) of the Asian American Psychological Association is a community of students and professionals committed to promoting the empowerment, visibility, and well-being of Asian Internationals through a greater understanding of the socioeconomic, cultural, emotional, political, and personal factors that impact the psychology and experiences with their heritages. We define Asian Internationals as, but are not limited to, (1) students and professionals who came to the United States as non-citizens or non-immigrants, (2) students and professionals who pursued an education outside the United States but are now working in the United States, and (3) students and professionals who had lived experiences outside the United States.

Mission

DoISAP’s mission is multifaceted. We aim to:

  1. Provide a validating and inclusive space for APIIs and their allies, with a particular emphasis on mentoring and supporting the international community
  2. Develop and disseminate resources via online platforms to inform international and immigration-affirming policies, practices, and research with this population, and
  3. Advocate for the interests and representation of APIIs at local, state, national, and international levels.

Objectives

  1. To provide a safe and inclusive space for sharing, support and self-care, advocacy, networking, and connection for Asian International Students and Professionals.
  2. To establish an ongoing mentoring program to support international students and professionals in various stages of their career.
  3. To facilitate and disseminate up-to-date research via online platforms that promote the well-being and visibility of Asian International Students and Professionals.
  4. To provide resources and support to psychologists regarding best treatment practices and training for working with Asian International Students and Professionals (e.g., effective counseling approaches, clinical referrals, culturally sensitive assessment tools, linguistic-specific/multilingual therapy resources).
  5. To advocate for culturally informed policies that influence how training, research, and clinical services for Asian International Students and Professionals are delivered and implemented.
  6. To provide a place of learning for allies of Asian International Students and Professionals and bridging understanding and support between domestic and international communities.
  7. To advocate for the professional growth of Asian international psychotherapist trainees/supervisees by providing information relevant to best practices for clinical supervision of Asian International Students and Professionals.
  8. To provide essential guidance, tools, and resources for Asian international students and professionals’ career transitions, including ongoing advocacy on immigration laws and rights.
  9. To develop connections with global Asian psychological organizations to share resources, support, and networks.

DOISAP Executive Committee

Chair: Sunny Ho
Chair-elect: Fei Bi Chan
Communications Chair: Shiyu Zhang
Historian/Secretary: Chun Tao
Student representative: Sneha Prashant Pimpalkhute
Finance Chair: Akiko Kaji

Education and Mentoring Co-Chairs: Jabeen Shamji and Sukanya Ray

Sunny Ho

Sunny Ho (He/him)

Chair

  • Hometown: Hong Kong
  • Ph.D., Interconnections Healing Center, Seattle, WA
  • What do you miss/love about your hometown?:
    Food: HK milk tea, pineapple bun; Family gathering and play Mahjong together.

Fei Bi Chan (she/her)

Chair-Elect

  • Hometown: Subang Jaya, Malaysia
  • Doctoral Student, University of Louisville
  • What do you miss/love about your hometown?:
    My family and friends, the AMAZING food and shopping malls, the heat, and the sense of being home

Sneha Prashant Pimpalkhute (She/her/hers)

Student Representative

  • Hometown: Bangalore, India
  • School Psychology Doctoral Student, Georgia State University
  • What you miss/love about your hometown?
    Being around family, going on family trips,  playing card games, and a variety of local Indian food

Chun Tao (she/her/hers)

Historian/Secretary

  • Hometown: Shanghai, China
  • Ph.D., Senior Associate Consultant/Assistant Professor of Psychology
  • What do you miss/love about your hometown?:
    Family, friends, and the sense of belonging

Shiyu Zhang (She/her/hers)

Communications Chair

  • Hometown: Beijing, China
  • Psy.D., North East Medical Services
  • What do you miss/love about your hometown?
    I love the mix of new and old architecture styles, diverse food options, and my old neighborhood.

Akiko Kaji (she/her/hers)

Finance Chair

  • Hometown: Tokyo, Japan
  • Ph.D., Psychologist/Private Practice
  • What do you miss/love about your hometown?:
    Family & friends, food, and kindness

Rajika Mehra (She/her/hers)

Membership Chair

  • Hometown: Lucknow, India
  • Doctoral Student, The Wright Institute, Berkeley, CA
  • What do you miss/love about your hometown?
    My family, my dog, delicious food and the feeling of comfort and belonging.

Stella Ko (She/her/hers)

Programming Chair

  • Hometown: New Taipei City, Taiwan
  • Staff Psychologist, UC Irvine Counseling Center
  • What do you miss/love about your hometown?
    Family, friends, food, easy access to cute stationary/art supply stores, and feelings of safety/convenience

Sukanya Ray, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)

Education and Mentoring Co-chair

  • Hometown: India
  • Job/School: Associate Professor, Psychology, Suffolk University Boston
  • What do you miss/love about your hometown?:
    Family, food, and cultural events

Jabeen Shamji

Education and Mentoring Co-chair