Crisis Support and Care Manager
Bio
Dr. Kara Uy Has is the Crisis Support and Care Manager at Evergreen Valley College’s Student Health and Wellness Services and serves as the Mental Health Coordinator for ASPIRE PLLUS.
Dr. Has brings a trauma-informed, strength-based, and social justice-centered approach to her work, prioritizing healing and recovery. With a focus on crisis prevention, risk assessments, and trauma recovery, she specializes in supporting students through crisis and mental health challenges, including connecting students to resources on campus and in the community.
Dr. Has has also made significant contributions to Evergreen Valley College’s Mental Health and Wellness Program. She has been instrumental in establishing and co-leading the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT)/Assessment, Response, and Coordination (ARC), to promote campus safety and student support. Her work also helped secure a $1.8 million AANAPISI grant to establish the ASPIRE PLUS program, which supports academic success and mental health resources for AAPI and Native Hawaiian students.
Dr. Has’s community work spans over two decades and reflects her deep connection to her heritage and community. She has worked with organizations like Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI) and the Cambodian Education Network, playing a central role in cultural initiatives throughout the Bay Area. As the president of the Cambodian American Resource Agency (CARA), Dr. Has leads efforts to preserve and celebrate Khmer culture, offering free programs like traditional dance, Khmer language classes, and cultural shows and performances. CARA has also supported initiatives such as Cambodia Day, and the establishment of Cambodian Genocide Remembrance Week in San Jose.
As a member of the American Psychological Association and the Asian American Psychological Association, Dr. Has has contributed her research to respected academic journals, including The Journal of Women and Therapy and The Journal of Asian American Psychology. Her research focuses on post-traumatic growth (PTG)- the profound growth and transformation that can arise following adversity. Drawing on her own experience as a refugee and survivor, Dr. Has has studied PTG in refugees and trauma survivors, especially within the Cambodian community, to deepen our understanding of recovery after trauma.
Dr. Has is dedicated to creating compassionate spaces for healing and cultural expression, especially for those in marginalized communities. Her story, research, and community leadership reflect a profound commitment to fostering strength and healing in the face of adversity.