Jahnavi Pandya's journey from Mumbai, India to the heart of Iowa is a testament to her unwavering dedication to the field of psychology and her passion for helping others. Her story is one of resilience, interdisciplinary engagement, and a deep appreciation for art and literature.
Choosing Iowa: A Perfect Fit
Jahnavi's decision to pursue her PhD in Counseling Psychology at the University of Iowa was driven by three key factors. First, her passion for clinical work and research in positive psychology, particularly in well-being, resilience, and humility, aligned perfectly with the opportunities available under the guidance of Dr. Stacey McElroy-Heltzel. Jahnavi states that while considering Iowa, she was introduced to the collaborative and supportive nature of the program, which contributed heavily to her decision.
Second, Iowa City’s status as a UNESCO City of Literature resonated with Jahnavi's deep appreciation for art and literature, nurtured by her family's musical background. During her first year at Iowa, Jahnavi worked as a Graduate Assistant at the International Writing Program (IWP) and has fostered her love of literature and the arts during her time here by attending readings, panels, and IWP collaborations with theatre and dance. One of the things that she will miss most about the University of Iowa is attending the Iowa City Public Library panels and cinematheque organized by the IWP.
Lastly, Jahnavi was drawn to the University of Iowa’s opportunities for interdisciplinary engagement. In addition to her assistantship with the IWP, Jahnavi’s role with the Iowa Sciences Academy (ISA) has presented her with opportunities to learn about methods within different fields from seminars and keynote speakers.
A Multifaceted Role at ISA
Jahnavi's journey with the ISA began on July 1, 2022. Her role as a Graduate Assistant and Career Counselor allowed her to blend teaching, leadership, and clinical responsibilities, fulfilling her dream of a multidimensional assistantship experience. Jahnavi expressed appreciation for the mentorship of Dr. Lori Adams, who created a supportive and encouraging environment, and for Dr. Saba Ali as her supervisor, who Jahnavi recognizes as “a trailblazer in research in vocational and career psychology.”
Jahnavi’s work at the ISA included teaching the Career Exploration course, where she learned as much from her students as they did from her. Memorable moments included the peer mentoring 'speed dating' events and her impactful session on LinkedIn Learning at the IINSPIRE LSAMP conference. Jahnavi recalled the heartwarming response from students who were inspired to create LinkedIn accounts. Additionally, Jahnavi won the “Excellence in Mentoring” award at the IINSPIRE LSAMP Conference in 2024.
Student Testimonials
Jahnavi's impact on her students is evident through their heartfelt testimonials. Bhoomika Shettigar (LSAMP Intern) shared, "Seeing Desi (South Asian heritage and culture) representation in the counseling psychology program is so empowering! We need more South Asian/Indian psychologists and therapists as mental health is still a stigma within our community." Bhoomika also fondly recalled a personal connection, "I experienced the 'six degrees of separation' theory when Jahnavi told me her dad has worked with a famous Indian singer, Falguni Pathak. ISN'T THAT INSANE???? Jahnavi has also provided a lot of guidance in my career planning that I'll be forever grateful for!"
Andrea Medina (Science Alliance Intern and Latham Fellow) expressed her gratitude for Jahnavi’s assistance, saying, "She was the person who helped me find a lab when I first started ISA. I'm still working in a research lab because of her help."
Luke Hawkins (Science Alliance Intern) highlighted Jahnavi's role in his academic journey: "She has been instrumental in changing my experience for the better. She was the one to introduce me to ISA, get me connected with the programs, as well as introduced me to my PI which has resulted in my passion and ambition to pursue research and a PhD."
Lee Flores (UI-MARC Trainee) appreciated Jahnavi's dedication by stating, "In my first semester of the MARC program, I really wanted to take the seminar on Applying to Grad School, but I ended up having another class at the same time. However, this was not a problem because Jahnavi went out of her way to schedule 1-on-1 meetings with me to teach me the seminar content. I always looked forward to talking with her, and it was really great to have her support throughout the course."
A Rich Background and a Heart of Service
Before coming to the U.S., Jahnavi completed her bachelor’s in Psychology from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai University, graduating as valedictorian with the 'Student of the Year' Award. She then earned her master’s in Counseling Psychology from SNDT University. Her clinical interests stemmed from her education in India, where her counseling and assessment experience involved working with students and children in conflict with law; she also worked in prisons for adults and people with serious mental health disorders, particularly focusing on prolonged grief, trauma, and psychosis. She has provided therapy in Hindi, English, Gujarati and Marathi.
While in India, Jahnavi was committed to providing guidance and resources for higher education in psychology that she herself did not have access to. Her successful YouTube channel captures these topics and has garnered over 3.7 million views and 38,000 subscribers--click here to visit the channel! In the U.S., she has continued her work with serious mental illness, with people experiencing chronic homelessness, patients with terminal illnesses, refugees, and immigrants. “I loved being able to continue my career counseling work at ISA,” Jahnavi stated.
Challenges and Rewards
The most rewarding aspect of Jahnavi's work at ISA was the opportunity to make a direct impact on students' lives, helping them overcome self-doubt and pursue higher education careers. She expressed gratitude for her students’ ability to place their trust in her to support them through the difficult and challenging journey of becoming researchers and junior scientists. Creating her own course materials and supporting students' growth were highlights of her role; her course materials included Applying to Grad School, Professionalism in Science, and Career Exploration.
Jahnavi’s mentoring experience, though rewarding, also presented some challenges. With an imbalanced ratio of peer mentors and mentees, organizing and leading large groups was an obstacle that took a few semesters to conquer. Navigating through this challenge, she confidently figured out the best methods to encourage students and to match them with the best-fitting peer mentors. Jahnavi appreciated the support she was given from Kristina Venzke, Joan Aune, Lori Adams, the students at ISA and Steve Kehoe, and has loved taking the lead on creating community within the ISA.
Looking Ahead
Jahnavi is excited about her next step: a predoctoral clinical psychology internship at the Counseling and Mental Health Training housed in Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. This opportunity will allow her to work with an interdisciplinary team, supervise trainees, and continue to work to support students with mental health concerns as a full-time clinician gradually transitioning into a psychologist. She is thrilled about the move to Los Angeles, recalling that USC was at the top of her list for internship aspirations as a new student in Fall 2021; Jahnavi expressed that the opportunity feels like a dream come true. After her internship, Jahnavi hopes to continue serving as a health service psychologist so that she may reach as many people as possible with her clinical work and research.
As Jahnavi moves toward the next stage of her career, she maintains her connections with the ISA. “ISA will always be important to me,” Jahnavi said, and she encourages students to reach out to her in the future.
Words of Wisdom
As Jahnavi concludes her time with the ISA, she leaves students with this advice: "Don’t put a limit on yourself. Dream big and go for it! You deserve it."
Jahnavi Pandya has been an integral part of fostering student development at the Iowa Sciences Academy. Her work is and will continue to be appreciated as she moves forward with her career. Her passion and dedication will certainly reach the lives of those around her wherever she goes.