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SUMMER 2026 • VOLUME 17
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: ASHWINI LAL, PSY.D., ABPP
BOARD CERTIFIED CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
How did you get into Psychology?
I originally planned to pursue medicine, and for a long time I felt that was the path I was supposed to follow. In high school, however, I took a college-level psychology course and discovered how much I genuinely enjoyed learning about human behavior and the mind. Even so, cultural expectations made it difficult for me to fully consider a different path, so when I entered college, I began studying biology with the intention of continuing toward medicine. Just before my second year of undergrad, my brother passed away in a car accident. His death changed the way I thought about life, purpose, and the choices I was making. I realized how precious and brief life can be, and I began asking myself who I was really living for and what kind of work would feel meaningful to me. That reflection brought me back to psychology—not just as something I enjoyed, but as a field that felt deeply personal, purposeful, and connected to the life I wanted to build.
More about Dr. Lal
Tell us about a meaningful accomplishment:
Dr. Lal demonstrates a passion along with a commitment to serving psychological services, international student initiatives, and peer counseling programs. Dr. Lal created and runs psychological services at a medical school in Pasadena, CA. He demonstrates a passion for
Two accomplishments have been especially meaningful to me. The first was earning board certification through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) in January 2023. This achievement strengthened my confidence as a clinician and affirmed that my clinical work is grounded in evidence-based practice and aligned with current research. It was also personally significant because I received my board certification just two days before my father passed away. Being able to share that news with him meant a great deal to both of us, and it remains one of the most meaningful moments of my professional journey. The second accomplishment was building a psychological services center for a medical school from the ground up. When I first stepped into the role, I recognized the significance of the responsibility and questioned whether I was fully prepared for the challenge. I moved through the uncertainty by seeking consultation and focusing on sustainable growth. Today, the center operates with a clinical-need model rather than strict session limits, allowing us to provide care that is responsive to students’ needs. Utilization has remained consistently high, serving approximately 48% of the medical student population, with enrollment currently around 200 students and expected to grow in Fall 2027. I hired an additional psychologist in January 2023, and I recently learned that I will be able to begin the hiring process for another psychologist in 2027. This work has been deeply meaningful because it reflects my commitment to access, quality care, and continuous improvement. It has also reinforced my passion for leadership, program development, and meaningful contributions to an organization’s mission.
leadership, process improvement, and ensuring access to
psychological services. For more information about Dr. Lal, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/i n/dr-ashwini-lal
(312) 261-3036
www.nl.edu
Chicago, IL
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