NLU Faculty Member Uses Art to Foster Dialogue, Healing and Advocacy
CHICAGO, Ill. – When Dr. Kinjal Panchal, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at National Louis University, was selected as the 2025-2026 Fellow for the Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA) through the Coalition of National Racial and Ethnic Psychological Associations (CONREPA) Leadership Development Institute, she saw an opportunity to bring together psychology, social justice and artistic expression in a meaningful way.
As part of her fellowship project, Panchal curated "Art as Resistance," a gallery exhibition featured at the 2026 Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA) Convention, held October 2-3 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) campus in Las Vegas, Nevada. The exhibition invited psychologists, researchers, clinicians and students to explore pressing social issues through creative expression, demonstrating how art can serve as a powerful vehicle for healing, advocacy and community connection.
"The idea for Art as Resistance emerged from my belief that art provides a powerful avenue for expressing the complexities of identity, grief, resilience and collective experiences that words alone cannot always capture," Panchal said. "Amid ongoing sociopolitical unrest, I wanted to create a space where our communities could use artistic expression to resist, grieve, celebrate, advocate and connect."
The exhibition centered on three interconnected themes: Resistance, Joy and Advocacy. Through visual art, poetry and multimedia contributions, participants reflected on personal and collective experiences while engaging convention attendees in conversations about identity, culture and social change.
The gallery featured 11 pieces of artwork, including three original works created by Panchal. Contributions from clinicians, researchers, students and mental health professionals represented diverse perspectives and experiences, reinforcing the exhibition's mission to create dialogue and foster community through creative expression.
Panchal's fellowship through CONREPA focuses on cultivating leadership, coalition-building, advocacy and collaboration among psychologists representing diverse racial and ethnic communities. The program brings together emerging leaders from organizations including the Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA), the Arab, Middle Eastern and North African Psychological Association (AMENA-Psi), the Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi), the National Latino/a Psychological Association (NLPA), and the Society of Indian Psychologists (SIP).
The response to the exhibition exceeded expectations.
"The gallery was designed to create opportunities for reflection, dialogue and community connection, and it did just that," Panchal said. "It was overwhelmingly joyful to experience."
Inspired by the positive reception, she hopes to make the exhibition a recurring feature at future AAPA conventions and continue creating opportunities for artistic expression, collective healing and advocacy.
For Panchal, the project closely aligns with the values she brings to her work at National Louis University.
"As an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, my work emphasizes multicultural psychology, social justice, culturally responsive clinical practice, and the intersection of identity, culture and mental health," she said. "Art as Resistance reflects these commitments by demonstrating how creative expression can foster dialogue, deepen cultural understanding and serve as a meaningful form of psychological and community intervention."
Through her teaching, mentorship and scholarship at NLU, Panchal encourages students to examine the intersection of culture, identity and mental health while developing culturally responsive practices. Her fellowship project extended those same values beyond the classroom, bringing together professionals, researchers and students from across the country through a shared artistic experience.
By bridging art and psychology, Panchal's work highlights the power of creativity as a tool for connection, resilience and social change, while showcasing the impact NLU faculty continue to make within their professions and communities.
