Dr.Poonam Sharma, a distinguished Ph.D. holder in Psychology, currently serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Sciences at Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore. Prior to her tenure at VIT, Dr. Sharma held a prominent position at the Amity Institute of Behavioral & Allied Sciences, Amity University, Maharashtra. During her time at AUM, she played a pivotal role in establishing the School of Behavioral and Allied Sciences, leaving an indelible mark.

With extensive experience in both the development and academic sectors, Dr. Sharma has held the prestigious role of Vice President at the Bhartiya Counselling Psychology Association (BCPA). Her dedication extends to mentoring students in various domains, including Psychological Disorders, Positive Psychology, Multicultural-Community Psychology, and Counseling. Over the past seven years, Dr. Sharma has actively collaborated with international experts from institutions such as Evergreen State College (USA), Wuyi University (China), and Nha Trang University (Vietnam) to expand her knowledge and comprehension of multicultural psychology.

Dr. Sharma has also developed several Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) as part of UNESCO’s Open Education for Better World project and presented them at the University of Nova Gorica, Slovenia. Her extensive experience includes significant work in the field of HIV & AIDS and Tuberculosis counseling, as well as research on gender and sexuality through capacity building. In addition to her academic roles, Dr. Sharma has been associated with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, where she has developed modules for HIV/AIDS and TB Counseling. Her Ph.D. research focused on the prevention of HIV among female sex workers.

Beyond her work in HIV prevention, Dr. Sharma’s research interests encompass preventing child sexual abuse, promoting the well-being of marginalized sections of society, and fostering innovation in education. She is an active member of a special interest group, “Human Rights, Peace & Global Well-being,” under APA DIV 52 of International Psychology. Dr. Sharma is renowned for her open and adaptable approach to life. Her core ideology revolves around making a meaningful impact and fostering responsible social and individual behavior. She has authored two books and numerous research papers.