University of Houston, College of Education (UH COE) Alumna Senel Poyrazli graduated with a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. She is currently employed as a tenured associate professor of Counseling Psychology at Penn State Harrisburg where she teaches abnormal psychology, group counseling, clinical internship, basic counseling skills, adolescence, and multicultural competency.  Besides teaching, as an international counseling psychologist, Poyrazli conducts and publishes research, and provides professional service at national and international levels.

Poyrazli’s career goals include: working towards a promotion to full professorship, continuing her international psychology work, and taking on more leadership positions within the American Psychological Association (APA).

Poyrazli has many students who have made her proud. One of her students, Dr. Seda Sumer-Richards graduated with her master’s in clinical psychology from Penn State. Poyrazli then explained, that she “moved on to Georgia State University to complete a doctorate in counseling psychology, received clinical training at the American University in Washington, D.C., served as a staff psychologist and Assistant Director for Clinical Services and Training at the George Washington University’s Counseling Center, and finally opened up her own private practice center, Capital City Counseling and Consulting.”

Poyrazli’s clinical background includes: working with adolescents, college students, adults, married/unmarried couples, and war veterans, and dealing with issues primarily related to relationships, psychosocial adjustment, decision making, depression, and trauma. Her research primarily involves college students’ and immigrants’ psychosocial adjustment processes; with cross-cultural competency being an additional research interest. Currently, she is exploring the reasons that cause international students to fail academically. Read Poyrazli’s Penn State Harrisburg’s Biography.

When asked what professors in the UH College of Education inspired her the most, Poyrazli mentioned Counseling Psychology professor, Consuelo Arbona.  Poyrazli explains, “Thanks to her support and guidance, I was able to get through my doctorate in four years, despite having a baby at the end of my first year,” she explained.  “I don’t think I would have been able to make timely progress towards my degree, if Dr. Arbona hadn’t provided the mentorship and guidance she provided to me. I will forever be grateful to her.”

Poyrazli is an APA fellow and is actively involved within the organization where she served as president of Division 52 (International Psychology) in 2014.  She told us that Dr. John D. Hogan, at APA Division 52 International Psychology completed an academic genealogy for all the past-presidents of Division 52. “It's a descending list of my mentors (mentor to mentor) to the beginning of modern psychology,” said Poyrazli. “I was amazed at the information he uncovered. Dr. Arbona and I are connected to Gates, Cattell, and Wilhelm Wundt. Who would have thought?”

A Descending list of Senel Poyrazli's Mentors

• Senel Poyrazli: PhD, University of Houston, 2001
• Consuelo Arbona” PhD, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1986
• Philip A. Perrone: PhD, Syracuse University, 1962
• Wilbert Dipboye: PhD, University of Missouri, Columbia, 1952
• Paul C. Polmantier: PhD, University of Minnesota, 1941
• Guy L. Bond: PhD, Columbia University, 1935
• Arthur I. Gates: PhD, Columbia University, 1917
• James McKeen Cattell: PhD, University of Leipzig, 1885
• Wilhelm Wundt: MD, University of Heidelberg, 1856