Yacob Tekie, Ph.D.
Yacob is a licensed psychologist and the coordinator of the Let’s Talk program, providing support for students through Student Health and Counseling. He earned his bachelor’s degree in educational psychology from the University of Asmara, Eritrea, and went on to complete a master's and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, along with a master's in Statistics and a degree in Evaluation, Statistics and Measurement at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. He has been part of the Penn community since 2017.
Specializing in trauma, relationships, anxiety, eating concerns, racial trauma, identity issues, and international students and immigrant population, Yacob employs a relational, multicultural, and Emotion Focused Therapy approach. He is attentive to how experiences are influenced by identities, families, communities, and societal structures. Yacob frequently integrates mindfulness and somatic practices into his work with students.
Beyond his role at Penn, Yacob finds joy in photography, painting, quality time with family and friends, hiking, and indulging in National Geographic documentaries.