Saba R. Ali

Dr. Saba R. Ali is a Professor of Counseling Psychology in the College of Education at the University of Iowa, affiliated with the Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations and the Rural Psychology Collaborative. Her leadership spans multiple federally funded initiatives including the $2.2 million Culturally Responsive Talent Identification and Career Exploration (TICE) grant from the U.S. Department of Education and two major Behavioral Health Workforce Education Training Program grants totaling $3.2 million from HRSA.

Ali's research centers on career development for underserved populations, particularly rural youth and Latinx communities. Her work integrates sociopolitical development theory with career counseling, focusing on healthcare STEM pipelines through projects like FICE and HOPE. She examines how cultural identity, socioeconomic status, and systemic barriers impact career trajectories, with emphasis on Muslim women's experiences and telepsychology applications.

Her publication portfolio reveals strong focus on vocational psychology innovations, with recent articles analyzing postgraduate self-efficacy scales, pandemic career impacts, and transnational feminism in therapy. The research consistently bridges theory and practice, targeting practical interventions for rural schools and healthcare systems while advancing measurement tools in career assessment.

Scientific Recognition:

• Distinguished Achievement for Publicly Engaged Research Award (University of Iowa, 2017)
• Senior Research Fellow, Massachusetts Institute for College and Career Readiness (2015)
• Public Policy Fellowship (2012)

As Principal Investigator on over $7 million in grants, Ali directs major workforce development initiatives including the federally funded Rural Behavioral Health Training Program. Her service includes chairing the Society for Vocational Psychology (2014-2016) and serving as Associate Editor of the Journal of Career Assessment. Current projects focus on culturally responsive talent identification in gifted education and expanding healthcare career pathways for rural students through multi-foundation partnerships.

Ali leads the Rural Psychology Collaborative, developing community-engaged interventions that connect K-16 students with healthcare STEM opportunities. Her approach integrates labor market data with culturally responsive programming, creating sustainable pipelines through school partnerships across Iowa's rural communities.