Global Speaking & Keynotes
Dr. Ayurdhi Dhar-Sears
International Engagements
Keynote Address | III International Congress: Good Practices in Mental Health
“A Cross-Cultural Exploration of Psychosis” — CENAT, Florianópolis, Brazil (Oct 2025)
Invited Speaker | A Disorder for Everyone
“An Audience with an Ally” — London, UK (Oct 2025)
Featured Speaker | 6th International Online Congress: Good Practices in Mental Health
“Madness and Subjectivity” — CENAT, Brazil (Apr 2025)
Guest Lecturer | Boston College (USA)
“Global Mental Health and Neoliberalism” & “Institutional Corruption and Global Mental Health” — Massachusetts, USA (Nov 2024)
Invited Address | International Center for Peace Psychology
“South Asian Perspectives in Psychology and Mental Health” (Aug 2025)
Invited Speaker | A Disorder for Everyone
“Activism in Mental Health” — London, UK (Nov 2024)
Select National Engagements (India)
Joint Panelist | The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) & Sarvarth
“Resilience and Well-Being: A Systemic and Structural Lens” — Delhi (Sep 2025)
Keynote Address | MH360 — Ashoka University & Red Door
Featured Keynote Speaker (Apr 2025)
Invited Panelist | Vivridh: The Many Dimensions of Mental Health
Kamani Auditorium, organized by Red Door and Dhwani — Delhi (Jan 2025)
Guest Lecturer | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi
“Immigration and Psychosis: An Exploration of Lived Experience of Trema” (Nov 2024)
Expert Speaker Series | Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
“Psychology and its Neoliberal Masters: How Trauma Became a Tool of Oppression” — Delhi (Mar 2023)
Invited Scholar | Lady Shri Ram College (LSR), Delhi University
“Critical Analysis of Mental Health Discourse with Special Emphasis on Trauma” (Oct 2023)
Distinguished Guest Speaker | Krea University
“The Dangers of Thinking Like a Psychologist” (Apr 2023)
Guest Lecturer | Christ University
“Critical Mental Health” — Delhi NCR (Sep 2025)
National Seminar Speaker | Aryabhatta College, Delhi University
“Discipline Formation in Decolonized India” (Feb 2025)
Invited Lecturer | Indraprastha College for Women, Delhi University
“The Slippery and the Sane: Decolonizing Psychology Through a Study of the Indian Girl Child” (Jan 2023)
Research Grants & Academic Honors
Global Impact Metrics: Contributed to the assessment and design of major international research initiatives totaling over $3 Million USD in funding.
Assessment Team Specialist | $3-Million National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant
Served on the expert evaluation team for the inclusion of women of colour in STEM initiatives.
Academic Distinction | ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award
Nominated for outstanding and impactful doctoral research.
Professional Leadership & Events Organized
International Seminar Director | Mad in South Asia
Designed and hosted the global webinar “Global Critical Dialogues in Psychology” (Sep 2025).
Program Chair | Mad in South Asia International Seminar
Curated the multi-month seminar series “Decolonizing Clinical Practice” (Aug–Dec 2024).
Curator & Organizer | APA “I am Psyched!” Traveling Exhibit
Hosted the historic exhibition showcasing the contributions of women in psychology at the University of West Georgia (2019).
Masterclasses & Clinical Training
Lead Trainer | Mad in South Asia International Training & Workshops
“Introduction to Decolonizing Global Mental Health” (Nov 2024)
Expert Consultant & Trainer | Snehi India Crisis Intervention Helpline
“Beyond Deviance in Crisis Intervention” (Aug 2025) · “Understanding Normality and Mental Health” (Jan 2025)
Media & Thought Leadership
Featured Guest | Protracted Withdrawal Podcast
Hosted by Tomasz Starczewski. Episode: “Rethinking Mental Health: Is ‘Mental’ Holding us Back?” (Sep 2025)
Invited Expert | Psych-Baithak Podcast
Special guest focusing on South Asian mental health consciousness and awareness.