Academic Staff

Oct. 23, 2026, 7:02 p.m.
Remonda Eshaya Abdo Armia (PhD)
None
Professor in Mental Health

Educational Counseling
College of Education
University of Duhok

  • PhD in Mental Health, University of Zakho, College of Education, Department of Education and Psychology, 2013.
  • MA in Psychology, University of Baghdad, College of Arts, Department of Psychology, 2005.
  • BA Psychology, University of Baghdad, College of Arts, Department of Psychology, 2002.

I have been teaching in higher education continuously since 2006, beginning my academic career at the College of Education, Department of Education and Psychology, University of Duhok. I subsequently taught at the University of Zakho and the College of Basic Education before continuing my academic career in the Department of Educational and Psychological Counseling, College of Education, University of Duhok.

Throughout my academic career, I have taught a wide range of undergraduate courses across three main areas: psychology, including General Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Physiological Psychology, and Experimental Psychology; education, including Foundations of Education, Adult Education, and Continuing Education; and research and assessment, including Research Methodology and Measurement and Evaluation. My current teaching responsibilities include Experimental Psychology and mental health .

My teaching approach integrates theoretical instruction with applied research training, enabling students to develop their research design skills, evaluate assessment instruments, and critically interpret research findings. Through this approach, I aim to strengthen students’ academic knowledge, critical thinking, and professional competencies.

My academic and professional activities span higher education, psychological and social services, humanitarian research, and community development, with a particular focus on mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), protection, and gender-based violence (GBV).

At the university level, I served for several years as Rapporteur of the Department of Education and Psychology and have contributed to academic governance through membership in scientific, postgraduate studies, examination, curriculum, and academic promotion committees. I have also served on master's thesis and doctoral dissertation examination committees at the Universities of Duhok, Zakho, Salahaddin–Erbil, and Mosul, and have reviewed manuscripts for peer-reviewed academic journals.

Internationally, I served as an International Expert for UN Women in Yemen (2021–2022) and as a researcher, data collector, and trainer on a USAID-supported project in the Nineveh Plain (2022–2024). I also contributed as a researcher to Coventry University's project on Sinjar returnees and Duhok camps (2023–2024). Between 2014 and 2018, I collaborated with organizations including GIZ, the International Rescue Committee, Christian Aid, Norwegian Church Aid, Tearfund, and Swedish Church Relief, undertaking responsibilities in project evaluation, needs assessment, professional training, and child protection.

I founded and managed the NOREL Developmental Organization (2015–2019) and have worked since 2007 as a psychological trainer and consultant with the Directorate of Violence Against Women and its Family Counselling Center. My professional training activities cover Psychological First Aid, psychological counselling and case management, trauma-informed support, safeguarding, and gender-responsive pedagogy.

These activities reflect my commitment to academic excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, professional capacity building, and the promotion of psychological well-being and protection within vulnerable communities.

Research

My research focuses on positive psychology, psychological counseling, and the promotion of mental health and psychological well-being, with particular emphasis on developing psychological strengths, enhancing adaptive skills, and supporting individuals’ and communities’ capacity for positive growth and resilience.

A central area of my research is the design, development, and evaluation of evidence-based psychological and counseling programs aimed at promoting mental health, strengthening psychological skills, enhancing resilience and positive functioning, and contributing to the prevention of psychological difficulties and disorders.

I am also interested in mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in humanitarian and conflict-affected settings, particularly in developing accessible, preventive, and community-based approaches that strengthen psychological well-being and coping capacities where specialized mental health services may be limited.

My research further includes the development and evaluation of psychological and educational research instruments, as well as the assessment of counseling and psychosocial programs. Through this work, I aim to contribute to the advancement of evidence-based psychological counseling and preventive mental health practices in the Kurdistan Region, with practical applications for individuals, educational settings, and communities.

My supervisory experience began in 2006, I have guided undergraduate graduation projects in psychology, as well as educational and psychological counseling, at the University of Duhok and the University of Zakho. My mentorship supports students through every stage of the research lifecycle—from formulating research questions and selecting appropriate methodologies to analyzing data and presenting findings. I consistently emphasize methodological rigor, critical thinking, ethical practices, and independent academic work to strengthen research competencies and foster meaningful contributions to the field.

Since 2015, I have also served as a principal supervisor for doctoral research in general psychology and mental health at the University of Duhok. My advising encompasses a broad range of topics, including positive psychology, psychological well-being, and psychological problems. By prioritizing scholarly originality and rigorous autonomous inquiry, I aim to foster high-quality doctoral research, mentor emerging scholars, and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in mental health and psychology.