Dr. Charu Chugh is an accomplished academician, researcher, and mental health professional currently serving as an Associate Professor at the Psychology Department, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, IILM University. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and a Doctorate in Mental Health from University of Delhi. With over a decade of academic, research, and field-based experience, Dr. Chugh has made significant contributions to the domains of child welfare, mental health, gender studies, and community development.

Her professional journey reflects extensive hands-on engagement with vulnerable populations, particularly children and adolescents. She has conceptualized and implemented several capacity-building and psychosocial intervention programs for out-of-school children, children with disabilities, and marginalized communities. Her work also includes conducting workshops, awareness campaigns, and seminars focusing on child rights, nutrition, mental health, and inclusive development.

Prior to joining IILM University, Dr. Chugh served as a Social Worker and later as an Assistant Professor at the Delhi School of Social Work, where she contributed actively to teaching, fieldwork supervision, and interdisciplinary research. She has also been invited by Indira Gandhi National Open University as a subject expert for recording academic content for the Bachelor of Social Work Online Programme.

Dr. Chugh recently completed a multi-state strategic project titled “Building Positive Perspectives among Boys on Gender, Sexuality and Masculinity to Prevent Sexual Violence against Boys”, implemented across five states in India. The project focused on gender sensitization, psychosocial resilience, and preventive approaches toward violence and vulnerability among young boys.

Dr. Chugh has authored and presented numerous research papers at national and international conferences and has published widely in the areas of mental health, social work, child development, gender, and community empowerment. Her academic interests include positive psychology, psychosocial interventions, child protection, gender justice, mental health advocacy, and the integration of technology and social work practices.