Dr. Vajda is an Assistant Professor in the CES program at AU-Seattle with expertise in multicultural counseling, social justice advocacy, and trauma-focused work. His research focuses on racial and ethnic disparities in mental health care, social determinants of health, and interprofessional approaches to serving marginalized communities, including individuals living with HIV and AIDS. He has co-investigated grants to address behavioral health needs in rural and underserved areas and to train counselors working with individuals with psychiatric disabilities. Dr. Vajda is an experienced clinician with training in EMDR and sexual trauma-informed counseling, providing services in English and Spanish across diverse settings such as community mental health, hospitals, and LGBTQ+ centers. He is deeply committed to student-centered teaching, mentorship, and community engagement that fosters inclusion and equity in counseling education.
- Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA
- PhD, Education, CACREP-Accredited Spring 2018
- Concentration: Counselor Education and Supervision
- Dissertation Title: Psychosocial Determinants of Medication Adherence among HIV-positive Individuals in Mexico City
- La Salle University, Philadelphia, PA
- Master of Arts in Clinical-Counseling Psychology, CACREP-Accredited May 2014
- Concentration: Professional Counseling
- University of Delaware Newark, DE
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, May 2011
I view teaching, supervision, and advocacy as interconnected roles grounded in community building, collaboration, and social justice. Using a student-centered, constructivist approach, I aim to facilitate inclusive spaces that encourage dialogue, critical reflection, and autonomy. Guided by intersectionality and constructivist-developmental theory, I value students’ unique identities, contexts, and perspectives, and work to amplify voices at the margins while challenging power dynamics. My teaching integrates experiential learning, reflection, and active experimentation to foster deep understanding and cultural humility. As both facilitator and gatekeeper, I model risk-taking, uphold professional standards, and support learners in developing the skills, self-awareness, and empathy needed to thrive in diverse communities.
Book Chapters
- Augustine, B., Vajda, A., Blecher, T., & Moe, J. (2024). Technology and LGBTQ+ Populations. In Moe, J., Pope, A., Perera, D., & Sparkman-Key, N. (Eds). LGBTQ affirmative counseling: A guide for students and new practitioners. Under contract with Cambridge University Press; manuscript submitted Nov 10th, 2023.
- Durrah, E., Hall. A. H., & Vajda, A. (2022). The importance of culturally responsive and Afrocentric theoretical frameworks: A call for more inclusive curriculum in counselor education. In K. Johnson, N. M. Sparkman-Key, A. Meca, & S. Z. Tarver (Eds.), Developing anti-racist practices in the helping professions: Inclusive theory, pedagogy, and application.
- Vajda, A., Belcher, T., Borden, N., & Rivas, F. (2022). Introduction to anti-racist theories. In K. Johnson, N. M. Sparkman-Key, A. Meca, & S. Z. Tarver (Eds.), Developing anti-racist practices in the helping professions: Inclusive theory, pedagogy, and application.
Peer-Reviewed Publications
- Vajda, A., Brown, C., Christian, D. (2020). Preparing counselor education and supervision doctoral students through a HLT lens: The importance of research and scholarship. The Professional Counselor.
- Koch, M., Vajda, A., & Koch, L. (2020). Trauma-informed Rehabilitation Counseling. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 51(3).
- Sparkman-Key, N., Vajda, A., & Belcher, T. (2020). Advancing human services education: Exploratory study of international service-learning and digital pedagogy. Journal of Service Learning in Higher Education, 10.
- Sparkman-Key, N., Vajda, A., & Borden, N. (2018). Human services identity development: Exploration of student perspectives. Journal of Human Services, 38
- Winfield, C., Sparkman-Key, N., & Vajda, A. (2017). Professional standards: Embracing preventive ethics in human services. Journal of Human Services, 37(1), 55-62.
- Book Chapters
- Augustine, B., Vajda, A., Blecher, T., & Moe, J. (2024). Technology and LGBTQ+ Populations. In Moe, J., Pope, A., Perera, D., & Sparkman-Key, N. (Eds). LGBTQ affirmative counseling: A guide for students and new practitioners. Under contract with Cambridge University Press; manuscript submitted Nov 10th, 2023.
- Durrah, E., Hall. A. H., & Vajda, A. (2022). The importance of culturally responsive and Afrocentric theoretical frameworks: A call for more inclusive curriculum in counselor education. In K. Johnson, N. M. Sparkman-Key, A. Meca, & S. Z. Tarver (Eds.), Developing anti-racist practices in the helping professions: Inclusive theory, pedagogy, and application.
- Vajda, A., Belcher, T., Borden, N., & Rivas, F. (2022). Introduction to anti-racist theories. In K. Johnson, N. M. Sparkman-Key, A. Meca, & S. Z. Tarver (Eds.), Developing anti-racist practices in the helping professions: Inclusive theory, pedagogy, and application.
- Peer-Reviewed Publications
- Vajda, A., Brown, C., Christian, D. (2020). Preparing counselor education and supervision doctoral students through a HLT lens: The importance of research and scholarship. The Professional Counselor.
- Koch, M., Vajda, A., & Koch, L. (2020). Trauma-informed Rehabilitation Counseling. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 51(3).
- Sparkman-Key, N., Vajda, A., & Belcher, T. (2020). Advancing human services education: Exploratory study of international service-learning and digital pedagogy. Journal of Service Learning in Higher Education, 10.
- Sparkman-Key, N., Vajda, A., & Borden, N. (2018). Human services identity development: Exploration of student perspectives. Journal of Human Services, 38
- Winfield, C., Sparkman-Key, N., & Vajda, A. (2017). Professional standards: Embracing preventive ethics in human services. Journal of Human Services, 37(1), 55-62.
- American Counseling Association
- Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
- Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development