MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — Senel Poyrazli, distinguished professor of counseling psychology at Penn State Harrisburg, recently received the Henry David International Mentoring Award from the Society of Global Psychology, also known as Division 52, of the American Psychological Association (APA).
The award is presented annually to a member or affiliate of Division 52 who plays an exceptional mentoring role in an international context. The award was presented at the 2026 APA conference in August.
Poyrazli said she was deeply grateful to be recognized.
“Mentoring across cultures has been one of the greatest parts of my career,” she said. “I have had the privilege of working with students and early career professionals from around the world, supporting international students as they navigate new academic and cultural environments and preparing different people to engage thoughtfully in global, multicultural context. This mutual learning has shaped me as much as it has shaped them. Seeing them grow into psychologists serving internationally is the greatest reward.”
Poyrazli is an APA fellow in three divisions and served as president of Division 52 in 2014. She also chaired the International Student Mentoring and Orientation Committee for Division 17, Society of Counseling Psychology. She has previously received additional APA honors including the Outstanding International Psychologist Award from APA Division 52.
She was awarded a Fulbright Senior Scholar Award for 2022-23, which enabled her to apply her academic and clinical expertise in Turkey.
At Penn State Harrisburg, Poyrazli is co-chair of the Mid-Career Faculty Mentoring Program, which began as a pilot in 2025-26 and continues this academic year.
She has received the college’s Teaching Excellence Award, the Faculty Diversity Award, and the Excellence in Research and Scholarly Activity Award. Her research interests include college students’ and immigrants’ psychosocial and academic adjustment processes, as well as cross-cultural competency.
Poyrazli has served as an editor or editorial board member for numerous international journals and is co-editor of two books, “International Case Studies in Mental Health,” and “Multicultural Issues in Counseling and Therapy: Global Perspectives.”