Aparna Ramaswamy

Aparna Ramaswamy, PhD, EdD, is a counselor educator and community leader in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. A Full Professor and core faculty member in master's- and doctoral-level counseling programs, she integrates culturally responsive counseling with the ethical and appropriate inclusion of indigenous and contemplative healing traditions. Her scholarship bridges Indian classical dance, yoga, meditation, and mindfulness, with her doctoral research examining connections between the Nāṭyaśāstra and Yoga Sūtra and the role of contemplative practices in developing multicultural and social justice competence among counselors. Across her teaching, supervision, scholarship, and community engagement, Dr. Ramaswamy emphasizes life choices that foster holistic connections-to our inner spirit, our communities, and all that we hold sacred.