Dr. Girija Kaimal, (EdD, MA, ATR-BC) is an Associate Professor in the PhD Program in Creative Arts Therapies at the Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions and Assistant Dean for the Division of Human Development and Health Administration. In her Health, Arts, Learning and Evaluation (HALE) research lab,  she examines physiological and psychological outcomes of creative visual self-expression. Girija currently leads studies examining arts-based approaches to health among cancer caregivers, active duty military service members and veterans (Currently funded by the US Department of Defense and the National Endowment for the Arts).  She has led longitudinal evaluation research studies examining arts-based approaches to school leadership development and teacher incentives, and, won national awards for her research. Girija has served on the Board of Directors and is now President of the American Art Therapy Association. She is also serves as an advisor and editorial board member of several arts and health journals and, is a practicing visual artist. Her art explores the intersection of identity and representation of emotion.

Her most recent book if The Expressive Instinct: How creative works and imagination help us survive and thrive is available at

Twitter: @kaimalgirija

Instagram: kaimalgirija