Maryam Kia

Dr. Maryam Kia is an award-winning clinical psychologist, educator and author of the picture book "A Suitcase Full." She speaks about resilience, wellness, mindfulness and the journeys people take along the way. She graduated from Dartmouth College and earned graduate degrees at Harvard University and Boston University.

From her extensive experience responding in the immediate aftermath of natural disasters, mass shootings, forced displacement and other collective trauma, Dr. Kia understands what people and communities need to bounce back. She has designed resilience programs for parents, children, schools and first responders, and her scientific studies have been published in high-impact academic journals. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, ABC News, CNN, NPR and Psychology Today.

Dr. Kia's "A Suitcase Full" is inspired by her own journey across the world after her family was forced to flee Iran. She lived around the globe and settled on the island of Oahu, where she graduated from Punahou School. Dr. Kia's experiences provide her with an international lens, an appreciation for our shared humanity, a firsthand understanding of resilience and a unique and authentic vantage point. As a lifelong educator, she delivers clear messages that engage audiences from young to old.