Pensiri N. Oden

Pensiri Kongkaw-Oden, known by friends and family as Nuk, is a faculty member in the department of Psychology and Counseling at Gannon University. She received her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Regent University, her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Indiana Wesleyan University, and she received her Bachelor of Arts in Intercultural Studies and TESOL from Houghton University. Having grown up in both Thailand and Texas, she considers herself a third-culture kid (TCK). She serves as a consultant of the TCK Holistic Care Project, an international, interdisciplinary group dedicated to developing evidence-based assessments and curriculum to provide the best support for TCKs. Nuk is passionate about facilitating more representation in the counseling field and bridging cultural gaps that make mental health services difficult to access. Her research interests include trauma, compassion, multicultural competencies, transracial adoption, and intersectionality. Her hobbies include board games, escape rooms, and enjoying a nice walk at Presque Isle in Erie.