Hi! I’m Ayse Ikizler, PhD.
I am a Turkish American ciswoman, a licensed clinical psychologist, Associate Professor of Psychology at St. Mary’s College of Maryland (a public liberal arts college), and past president of the American Arab, Middle Eastern, and North African Psychological Association. I value authenticity, genuine connection, and community healing.
As a therapist, educator, and researcher, I’ve spent my career supporting individuals navigating complicated academic and professional structures, complex social identities, and the pressures of doing meaningful work within institutions that don’t always get it. My work focuses on the mental health of second-generation immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those living at the intersections of multiple marginalized identities.
In my coaching practice, I help faculty reconnect with their purpose, set compassionate boundaries, and create space for rest and renewal. I bring a relational-cultural and feminist-multicultural lens to this work—grounding our conversations in the realities of systemic oppression while centering your capacity for resilience and joy.
My goal is to support you in building a sustainable academic life—one that honors both your commitments and your well-being.
