Division on South Asian Americans

Chair: Rose Dhaliwal, PsyD (Term: January 2022 – December 2024)

Dr. Rose Dhaliwal (she/her) received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) from the University of La Verne in August 2023. She is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in California and works at the Department of State Hospitals – Metropolitan, where her work focuses on providing treatment for patients who are involved in the justice system and have been adjudicated incompetent to stand trial. Dr. Dhaliwal’s background working in the public sector has also allowed her a greater understanding of how systemic structures influence the daily lives of the communities we serve. As the DoSAA chair, she is responsible for the implementation of DoSAA’s mission and vision and to lead cross-collaboration among peer divisions within and outside of AAPA.

Dr. Dhaliwal’s research has focused on LGBTQ+ asylum seekers and the experiences of transgender and gender-expansive youth of color involved in legal systems. Her clinical training and interests also include working with transition-age youth in correctional and child welfare settings who have significant exposure to adverse childhood experiences.

As a child of immigrants from Punjab, Dr. Dhaliwal believes in the importance of understanding how bicultural identity and intersecting identities impact the lived experiences of communities of color. As Chair, she aims to highlight these important topics to facilitate dialogue among DoSAA members and foster connections with organizations focusing on similar topics. In her spare time, Dr. Dhaliwal enjoys spending time with her loved ones, going on hikes with her Siberian Husky, dancing, and exploring new places.

Co-Chair: Sonia Kaur Bajwa (Term: January 2023 – December 2025)

Sonia Kaur Bajwa (she/they) is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and recently graduated with their doctorate in counseling psychology (PsyD). From their social work internship at VA Pittsburgh’s Community Living Center to employment in the behavioral health division and subsequent work settings, Sonia has valued working with veterans, their family members, and members of the armed forces. From 2013 to 2021 Sonia worked as an independent psychotherapist at a private psychiatric practice. They entered doctoral studies in 2017 and have found it helpful toward deepening their work as a culturally responsive and social justice-oriented therapist through additional education and training in community and university settings. Sonia recently completed a year as training coordinator at University of Pittsburgh’s University Counseling Center following their doctoral internship at this location.

Currently, Sonia is establishing in private practice where they look forward to continuing to engage with adults, older adults from a wide range of backgrounds and identities. They are passionate about advocacy work with various minoritized communities.

Chair-Elect: Ankita Nikalje, PhD (Term: January 2024 – December 2026)

Ankita Nikalje is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology in the Counseling program at UW-Milwaukee. She earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Purdue University (U.S.), her MS in Cross-Cultural Psychology from Brunel University (U.K.), and her BS (Hons.) in Psychology from the University of Melbourne and Bond University (Australia). Her educational experiences drive her passion towards building decolonial psychological knowledge, research, and practice.

Dr. Nikalje’s identity as a Dalit woman informs her research focused on the impact of systemic, institutional, interpersonal, and internalized oppression on lived experiences and mental health. She is particularly passionate about issues of within-group discrimination and uplifting the experiences of those who are minoritized within their communities and social/identity groups. Currently, her research seeks to address the issue of caste/ism and how caste discrimination continues to manifest outside of South Asia.

Secretary/Historian: Ritika Rastogi, PhD (Term: January 2024 – December 2026)

Ritika Rastogi, PhD is a developmental-cultural psychologist, educator, and community activist/organizer. They earned their doctorate from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2022 and are currently serving as a postdoctoral research fellow on The BOBA Project, the current largest research on Asian youth identity, development, and mental health in the US. Dr. Rastogi’s research aims to identify mechanisms and factors to promote the positive development, resilience, and resistance of marginalized youth against structural oppression. She is passionate about community-engaged and youth-centered approaches to research, working to equip and empower children and youth with the skillset and agency to transform the material conditions of their lives. Across her work, Dr. Rastogi strives to leverage her caste, class, and settler privilege in order to fight for the liberation of oppressed peoples across the US and transnationally. They previously served as the Co-President of the Underrepresented Graduate Students in Psychology at UCLA, and are excited to use the skills and expertise gained from this position to advocate for South Asian Americans as the Secretary/Historian of DoSAA.

Student Representative: Rebecca Miah, MPH (Term: January 2023 – December 2024)

Rebecca Miah, MPH, is a second year Clinical Psychology doctoral student at the California School of Professional Psychology. Originally from Detroit, she attended the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology and Cognitive Neuroscience. Her interest in health beyond the physical body led her to obtain a master’s degree in Public Health from Emory University in Atlanta, GA where she focused on Global Health with a concentration in Community Health and Development. She then moved to Philadelphia to work at the Department of Public Health specializing in Bioterrorism and Public Health Preparedness, frequently liaising with local and state governmental agencies. Most recently she worked at a nonprofit global health and disaster relief organization called Americares and utilized her knowledge in emergency preparedness to develop an expertise in climate change and disaster resilience. Working within disaster response, she recognized the importance of disaster mental health and addressing the long-term effects of (often recurring) trauma and stress faced by survivors, first responders, and the community. The exacerbation of climate-related health impacts along with the increase in rates of eco-anxiety, or the chronic fear of environmental doom, prompted her current pursuit of a PsyD at Alliant International University in San Francisco.

Finance Officer/Treasurer: Shubh Agrawal (Term: January 2024 – December 2025)

Shubh Agrawal (she/her) has been a licensed K-12 school counselor since 2018 and is a current doctoral student in Clinical Psychology at William James College. Throughout her training, Shubh has focused on developing skills in multicultural counseling while serving clients across the lifespan. Shubh’s training has occurred in outpatient, community mental health, rape crisis, and inpatient settings, where she has appreciated opportunities to work collaboratively on interdisciplinary teams. Shubh brings with her to different settings a curiosity for the ways in which her clients’ intersectional identities and sociocultural contexts inform their experiences. She is excited to continue to grow and develop her practice as a clinician, researcher, and advocate.

Membership Chair:Rohan Arcot, M.S. (Term: January 2023 – December 2024)

Rohan Arcot (he/him) is a second-year PhD student in Counseling Psychology at Boston University. He holds a M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins University (JHU), a B.A. in psychology from Hamilton College, and is a Nationally Certified Counselor. He works as a research team member in the ARISE lab and for the Center for Character and Social Responsibility. He previously worked as a teaching assistant at JHU and lab manager for the SPIEE lab. His research interests include Asian American mental health, culturally sensitive therapeutic treatments, positive psychology, anti-racism, and multicultural counseling training. He is an avid sports fan and loves to bake. You can contact him at rarcot@bu.edu.

Communications Chair: Brahmpreet Kaur (Term: July 2022 – December 2024)

Brahmpreet Kaur (she/her) is a researcher, mental health advocate, and a graduate student. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Biology from Virginia Commonwealth University. Since her graduation, she has worked with the Mazzeo Research Lab at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her current research project centers around adapting existing diagnostic tools for South Asian Women. Her research interests include modifying approaches to assessment, prevention, and treatment of mental health conditions of racial and ethnic minority populations with a particular focus on South Asian communities. Currently, she serves on the executive committee as the communication chair of the Asian American Psychological Association’s Division of South Asian Americans (DoSAA). Outside of work, she enjoys reading, going on hikes, listening to music, and traveling.