Saliha Bava, Ph.D. is interested in the performance of (complex) relationships among people, the systems we create, and the construction of our social lives and realities. As a social "actor" ("scientist") she combines interdisciplinary ideas and methodologies to reflect on, design and facilitate the performance of transformational relational processes. She embraces living as processes of improvised inquiry. Originally from India, she is becoming a New Yorker after relocating from Houston for a sabbatical.

Saliha is a consultant and designer of performative and dialogic processes within human systems—organizational, family/community, learning and research systems. She also performs as a couples and family therapist and coach for generative professional and personal relationships. Over the last seven years she has consulted on disaster preparedness and response to organizations in profit, non-profit and governmental sectors. She received a leadership award from the City of Houston's Disaster Mental Health Crises Response Team for directing the Mental Health Services at the George R. Brown Katrina Shelter in 2005. She is one of 12 US trainers in the National Child Traumatic Stress Network's Psychological First Aid. She is the co-founding editor of the International Journal for Collaborative Practices.  

Formerly the associate director of Houston Galveston Institute, Saliha is currently a researcher and consultant to the International Trauma Studies Program, affiliated with Columbia University, where she is researching the use of theater for community resiliency and psychosocial intervention among refugees of political violence. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Yeshiva University in NYC, an online faculty member at Massey University in New Zealand, and doctoral advisor at the Taos-Tilburg Social Sciences Program, Netherlands. Saliha received her PhD in Human Development with specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy from Virginia Tech. She has completed the Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders from Stanford University.

Contact information:
Email: drbava@gmail.com
International Trauma Studies Program Faculty & Research Consultant
Houston Galveston Institute Faculty
Yeshiva University Adjunct Faculty
Massey University Online Adjunct Faculty
Ph (832) 860-8390
https://sites.google.com/site/drbavaresearch/
Dissertation Website: 
http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-01062002-234843/