Dr. Ahmed Ghuman has served as the Executive Director of the University Counseling Center (UCC) since August 2022. As a proud Pakistani-American and first-generation college student, Dr. Ghuman eventually earned his PsyD in clinical psychology from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and an MBA in general business administration from La Salle University.
As a clinical psychologist, Dr. Ghuman uses an integrative approach of humanistic and cognitive behavioral therapy. He also specializes in positive psychology and uses a strengths-based approach rooted in positive psychotherapy. His areas of interest include self-esteem, happiness, motivation, resilience, meaning and purpose, religious and spiritual identity, and multicultural concerns. Dr. Ghuman’s leadership style focuses on inclusive leadership principles that promote cultural humility, curiosity, and collaboration among staff.
Dr. Ghuman joined the UCC as a staff clinician in January 2019 and has assumed several roles over the years, most recently serving as the Interim Director. In his various roles, Dr. Ghuman has contributed to the development of several campus-wide programming efforts designed to promote student well-being, including Student Self-Care Day, Becoming a Sexual Citizen, the Wellness Concierge Program, and the Mental Health Champion Certificate program. Additionally, he led these initiatives: the development of a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) program that aims to provide a wide range of services to students experiencing emotional dysregulation and skills deficits resulting in maladaptive behaviors that impacts their academic success and overall collegiate experience; a multidisciplinary step-treatment program for students transitioning to and from intensive outpatient programs to increase access to care for students who are frequently placed on waitlists; and a psychological assessment program that aims to provide psychological testing services for students seeking medication and/or academic accommodations.
Dr. Ghuman also founded the inaugural Muslim Affinity Group through Pitt’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and serves as the group’s President. At the UCC, Dr. Ghuman helped develop a BIPOC Post-Masters Licensure Track Program that is focused on enhancing diversity in the mental health profession and culturally informed care. Dr. Ghuman’s commitment to creating inclusive spaces has earned him several professional awards, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Creating Community Award and the Meritorious Award for Diversity and Inclusion.
