Education
Ph.D in Ethnic Studies - University of California, San Diego (June 2026)
Dissertation: How We Chea Our Scabbing Wounds: Cambodian American Transgenerational Trauma Healing
M.A. in Ethnic Studies - University of California, San Diego (June 2022)
M.A. in Ethics, Peace, and Global Affairs - American University, School of International Service (May 2017)
Specialization: Environmental peacebuilding and peace psychology
B.A. in Psychology - University of California, San Diego (March 2012)
Study Abroad Program in Psychology - Sussex University (September 2009 – June 2010)
RESEARCH INTERESTS
transgenerational trauma healing; decolonizing global/public (mental) health; critical refugee studies; Asian American studies; critical environmental justice; peace psychology; peace and conflict resolution
AWARDS & HONORS
2025-2026 UC President’s Dissertation Year Fellowship
2025 Jim and Julie Graduate and Professional Conference Travel Award
2025-2026 UC Reimagining Refuge Graduate Seed Grant
2024-2025 AAUW Dissertation Fellowship
2022-2023 Frieda Daum Urey Academic Fellowship
2021 Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Celebration Essay Contest Award
United Nations Association – National Capital Area Fellowship
TEACHING EXPERIENCES
Instructor, Introduction to Ethnic Studies - Saddleback Community College, Ethnic Studies (Spring 2025)
Associate Instructor, Environmental Racism - UC San Diego, Ethnic Studies (Summer 2025, 2024, 2023)
Lecturer, Power, Politics, and Asian America - San Diego State University, Center for Asian and Pacific Studies (August 2023 – May 2024)
Instructional Assistant, Intro to Ethnic Studies 3: Making Culture - UC San Diego, Ethnic Studies (Spring 2024, 2023, 2022)
Instructional Assistant, Intro to Ethnic Studies 2: Circulation of Differences - UC San Diego, Ethnic Studies (Winter 2024, 2023, 2022)
Instructional Assistant, Introduction to Ethnic Studies 1: Land and Labor - UC San Diego, Ethnic Studies (Fall 2022, 2021)
Instructional Assistant, Making of a Modern World: Classical and Medieval Traditions - UC San Diego, Roosevelt College (Fall 2020 – Spring 2021)
Teaching Assistant, Peace, Global Security, and Conflict Resolution - American University School of International Service (Fall 2016)
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES
Graduate Writing Consultant, UCSD Writing Hub (August 2024 – Present)
Consult with graduate students to assist with their writing projects ranging from dissertations, grant proposals, resumes, and publication materials
Lead writing workshops for graduate students and entities such as UCSD APIMEDA and Student with Dependents by facilitating writing retreats and specific workshops to develop writing skills
Participated in a 5-week training on incorporating anti-racist pedagogies in mentoring graduate students with their writing
Independent Contract Consultant, Orange County Board of Education (July 2022 – Present)
Supported the development of a Cambodian American Model Curriculum as part of the California Assembly Bill 167 by creating teaching strategies and lesson plans, and presenting at conferences to advance Cambodian American Studies
Created open-sourced lesson plans for K-12 teachers on “Cambodian American Memory Work” and “Cambodian Popular Music”
Community Assistant, UC San Diego Graduate & Family Housing (January 2021 – Dec 2024)
Planned 4 community events with a total budget of $650 every academic quarter that addressed UC San Diego diversity, equity, and inclusion goals
Hosted events ranging from cultural learning workshops, social activities events for graduate students, family-friendly events for students with dependents and their families, and sustainability-driven initiatives
Graduate Research Assistant, UC San Diego Ethnic Studies Department (May 2020 – September 2022)
Managed a year-long, $32,500 Intergenerational Health and Healing: Indigenous and Refugee Communities in San Diego project
Coordinated intercommunity events and project activities with the Somali and Kumeyaay communities in San Diego County to address intergenerational trauma and health
Conducted administrative tasks, coordinated program logistics, and oversaw program budget
Collaborated on writing various grant proposals to increase funding for project
Program Associate, American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (September 2017 – July 2019)
Assumed the role and responsibilities of a Program Officer to manage a $21 million USAID-funded Judicial Strengthening to Improve Court Effectiveness Project and a $5-million USAID-funded Access to Justice Project in the Philippines
Assisted in drafting international development grant proposal packages for programs funded by USAID and the US Department of State
Arrange logistics for programs addressing anti-human trafficking, judicial reforms, anti-corruption, and anti-domestic violence through legal strengthening
Drafted contracts, subgrants, and budgets to support the organization’s human rights initiatives in Asia and the Pacific region
Research Assistant, United States Institute of Peace (March 2016 – August 2017)
Supported USIP Academy on capacity building, governance, and security research
Created a counter violent extremism role simulation for a community resilience workshop
Drafted case studies for manuscripts regarding guidelines for good governance
Coordinated on-site courses such as Mediating Violent Conflicts and Good Governance
Collected data and drafted monitoring and evaluation summaries for trainings and quarterly reports on civil society capacity building and mediating violent conflicts
Event Coordinator, Qualcomm Institute CALIT2 UCSD (June 2008 – July 2015)
Coordinated and facilitated logistics and planning for events ranging from large multi-day conferences of 600 attendees to small meetings/seminars
Supervised a team of 6 undergraduate student employees on administrative and event-related tasks
Oversaw the programming for the annual UCSD Undergraduate Summer Scholars Program, and planned logistics to incorporate 14 high school students from underserved communities to mentor with UCSD undergraduates and faculty members
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE
Principal Member UC San Diego Parent and Caregiver Student Organization (March 2022 – Present)
Plan community events to address and advocate for the needs of students who are caregivers
Share relevant resources with UCSD graduate students with dependents
Project Member, UC San Diego Generating and Reclaiming Our Wisdoms (January 2021 – June 2022)
Worked with the team to document untold stories of UCSD AAPI community and student activism
Centered the history and influence of UCSD Cambodian Student Association (CSA) within the university
Conducted oral histories with UCSD CSA co-founders and invited CSA alumni to speak with the project group
Researcher, Sharing Comfort and Care: Intergenerational Story-Mapping in the Cambodian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Communities of Orange County (September 2020 – March 2021)
Supported local intergenerational projects by conducting oral histories, creating digital exhibits, and publishing cookbooks with UC Irvine
Participated in bi-weekly meetings and discussion forums with local community leaders on various issues and needs for the communities
Participant, Khmer Discussion Group (July 2019 – Nov 2023)
Participated in discussions on Khmer identity and culture bi-weekly
Facilitated and co-facilitated conversations with second generational Cambodian American alternative narratives
Program Assistant, UCSD Summer Training Academy for Research Success (March 2020 – August 2020)
Organized online GRE prep courses, social events, and panel discussions for undergraduates interested in applying for graduate school during an eight-week summer research program
Project Manager/Co-Founder, Experiences of the Second Generation- A Cambodian American Conversation: A Dialogue on the Impacts of the Cambodian Genocide and Diaspora on Subsequent Generations (May 2018 – November 2019)
Created the project with the Trauma Healing and Community Resilience Program for the Institute of World Affairs to discuss trauma healing and social identity empowerment in the Cambodian American Washington, DC/Virginia/Maryland communities
Experiences of the Second Generation – A Cambodian American Conversation: A Dialogue on the Impact of the Cambodian Genocide and Diaspora on Subsequent Generations (2019) (Internal Publication)
Researcher, Water and Peacebuilding in the Middle East Practicum (May 2016 – September 2016)
Conducted field team research in rapid appraisal conditions for the Israeli-Palestine Water Cooperation project
Finding Common Ground Amid Conflict: An Evaluation of the Al’Auja - Arava Valley Initiative – A Cooperation between Palestinians and Israelis on the Water-Energy-Food Nexus (2016)
Ali, S., Amoss, C.J., Clike, C., Noeuv, A., et al. (2016, September 12). Finding Common Ground Amid Conflict: Israeli-Palestinian Water-Energy-Food Cooperation in the Middle East. American University SIS Conference, Washington, DC, United States.
Social Media Coordinator, Society for Ethics, Peace, and Global Affairs (April 2016 – April 2017)
Created and regularly posted content to social media pages for SEPGA to highlight students’ work and share program-related information and events
Community Advisor, UCSD Alternative Breaks (October 2013 – June 2014)
Supported and supervised 11 UCSD undergraduate students on an international service trip to Guyana
Collaborated with International Children’s Outreach to provide health education in Guyana
Attended educational meetings, participated in fundraising, and facilitated leadership development
Organizer, Greenovation Forum: UN World Water Cooperation (April 2013)
Organized the public event to promote sustainable efforts in providing freshwater access with speakers from multi-disciplinary backgrounds
Facilitated an interview video for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
PUBLICATIONS
Noeuv, A. (Forthcoming re-publication). Girl with the Sak Yon Tattoo. In The Routledge Handbook of Genocide Studies. Routledge Publications.
Noeuv, A. (Forthcoming). Refugee Humor. In The SAGE Encyclopedia of Refugee Studies. SAGE Publications.
Noeuv, A. (2021). Girl with the Sak Yon Tattoo. Amerasia Journal, 1-14.
Fepulea'i, Shiphrah, et al., editors. Sharing Comfort and Care: Stories of Migration, Health, and Foodways in Cambodian and Pacific Islander Diasporas. 2021.
PRESENTATIONS
Nauk, V., Noeuv, A., Seng, S., & Yi, V. (2025, October 24-25; 2025, January 31 – February 1; 2024, November 15-16). Shifting from Deficit Models Towards a Community Responsive and Cultural Wealth Teaching Pedagogy. Cambodian American Studies Conference, Orange County Department of Education, Santa Clara, CA, United States.
Noeuv, A., (2021, May 14-15). When Trauma Transcends Borders and Generations: Examining Transgenerational Trauma Among Second Generation Cambodian Americans. SEASGRAD Conference, UC Riverside, CA, United States.
Noeuv, A., (2020, June 5-7). When Trauma Transcends Borders and Generations: Examining Transgenerational Trauma Among Second Generation Cambodian Americans. SEAAS Conference, San Jose, CA, United States. (Conference Canceled)
Noeuv, A., (2018, March 9-10). Understanding Identity, Water and Conflict for Water Cooperation in the Israeli-Palestinian Case Study. APPAM Conference, Claremont, CA, United States.
Public speaking & Performances
Noeuv, A. (2025, April 19). Second-Generation Cambodian American Chea. AAUW Carlsbad-Oceanside-Vista (CA) Branch. Carlsbad, CA.
Noeuv, A. (2024, January 11). Exploring Chea and Wellness. San Diego Public Library: Ethnic Studies at the Library, San Diego, CA.
The Suppliants. Chorus Member. Dramatic reading and panel discussion on immigration, domestic and gender-based violence, human trafficking, and refugee. Theater of War. February 28, 2023.
Noeuv, A. Guest Speaker. Season 2, Episode 38: Healing Transgenerational Trauma in a Broken System with Amira Noeuv. Mental Breakthrough Podcast. September 20, 2022.
Noeuv, A. Guest Speaker. PhD in Parenting w/ Amira Noeuv. Triplicates Podcast. May 10, 2022.
Noeuv, A. & Noeuv, N. Guest Speaker. Episode 43: Healthy Relationships with the Self. 2 Khmerican Sisters Podcast. March 29, 2021.
Noeuv, A. Guest Speaker. Episode 19: Khmer Transgenerational Trauma and Mental Health with Amira Noeuv. 2 Khmerican Sisters Podcast. November 9, 2020.