Prerna Arora

Dr. Prerna Arora is Associate Professor of Psychology and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, within the Graduate School of Education, Health & Psychology and the Department of Health Studies & Applied Educational Psychology. She directs the School Mental Health for Minoritized Youth and Families (SMILE) Research Lab, where she leads innovative research on mental health equity for immigrant-origin, racial and ethnic minoritized, and historically marginalized youth.

• Ph.D. in School Psychology – University of Texas at Austin
• M.A. in Educational Psychology – University of Texas at Austin
• B.S. in Biology – Arizona State University
• Predoctoral Internship – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
• Postdoctoral Training – University of Maryland School of Medicine

Dr. Arora’s research focuses on culturally tailored mental health interventions, school-based services, barriers to care, and trauma-informed, equity-driven practices. Her work is grounded in participatory action research and mixed methods, aiming to bridge research-practice gaps and empower communities. She has led major funded projects from the Spencer Foundation, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and the U.S. Department of Education, including a $4.9 million grant to train clinicians in culturally responsive services.

Her recent publications reflect a strong thematic focus on mental health disparities, cultural adaptation of interventions, school climate, and help-seeking behaviors among AAPI, Latino/a, and immigrant youth. The body of work demonstrates a commitment to advancing equity, social justice, and measurement-based care in school psychology.

• American Psychological Association Minority Fellowship Program
• Spencer Foundation Research Grant
• NIMH Funding
• U.S. Department of Education OSEP Grant ($4.9 million)

Dr. Arora actively mentors PhD and graduate students, many of whom co-author her publications. She has secured major grants that support training, research, and community partnerships. Her leadership extends to editorial roles as Associate Editor of School Mental Health and Consulting Editor of School Psychology Review, and she is a vocal advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in academic training and practice. She collaborates extensively with NYC-based organizations, building community-driven research models through the SMILE Lab.