Danna Summers PhD in Psychology

Psychology • Research • Advocacy

Danna Summers, PhD

Psychologist, researcher, educator, and neurodiversity advocate

Connecting academic psychology, cross-cultural understanding, and community-centered support to advance safety, resilience, inclusion, and human potential.

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Based in Washington State, United States

Professional portrait of Danna Summers, PhD
Danna Summers, PhD International academic and community experience
PhD Psychology, 2009
Associate Professor University teaching and research
Published Researcher Psychology and interdisciplinary scholarship
Stanford Speaker Neurodiversity Summit 2023

About

Scholarship grounded in human experience

Dr. Danna Summers is a psychologist, researcher, educator, and neurodiversity advocate whose work brings together academic psychology, cross-cultural understanding, family advocacy, and trauma-informed support.

Her professional path spans university teaching and research in Kazakhstan, interdisciplinary collaboration in human-robot interaction, and community-centered mental health and disability advocacy in Washington State. She earned her PhD in Psychology from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in 2009.

Across these settings, Dr. Summers has focused on how people experience safety, stress, learning, identity, and belonging, particularly within neurodiverse, immigrant, and culturally diverse communities.

Academic profile

Education, teaching, and areas of expertise

An interdisciplinary record spanning psychology, education, social research, and technology.

2009

PhD in Psychology

Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

Academic

Associate Professor of Psychology

Academic appointments have included Baishev University, Turan University, and K. Zhubanov Aktobe Regional State University.

Current

Psychology, research, and advocacy

Professional and community work in Washington State with an emphasis on neurodiversity, cultural context, and family support.

01

Cognitive Psychology

Learning, perception, emotional competencies, and human behavior.

02

Stress & Anxiety

Psychological safety, resilience, and responses to complex stress.

03

Neurodiversity

Strengths-based, culturally responsive support for individuals and families.

04

Human-Technology Interaction

Trust, comfort, perceived safety, and interdisciplinary research.

Selected scholarship

Research and publications

Full research profile
2022 Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Perceived Safety in Physical Human-Robot Interaction: A Survey

A multidisciplinary review of psychological safety, trust, comfort, stress, fear, and anxiety across human interaction with autonomous systems.

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2020 Journal of Psychology and Sociology

The Psychological Analysis of Bully Profile via Peers Report

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2019 Psychology & Professional Development

The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Professional Development of Psychologist

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2023 International Journal of Psychology

Cross-Cultural Research on Bullying and Cyberbullying

Oral and poster contributions addressing youth safety in post-Soviet contexts.

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Service & advocacy

Translating knowledge into community impact

Dr. Summers's work extends beyond scholarship to advocacy, public education, and support for neurodiverse and immigrant families.

01

Stanford Neurodiversity Summit

Speaker on the 2023 mental health panel, “Supporting Mental Health Needs for Neurodiverse Individuals in the Time of War.”

02

Support for Ukraine

Volunteer with Stanford's Child Mental Health Projects for Ukraine and psychologist with Tele Help Ukraine, supporting culturally responsive, trauma-informed care.

03

Family & Disability Advocacy

Service has included Washington State Parent Ambassador Alumni, IEP Parent Partner through The Arc of King County, and participation in state and federal family-support initiatives.

Independent references

Professional background verification

The independent institutional and academic sources below provide additional context for Dr. Summers's education, scholarship, public speaking, and community service.

Stanford Medicine Speaker biography and summit program Nazarbayev University Peer-reviewed research record ResearchGate Research profile and publication list Family Voices Parent leadership and language-access advocacy

Professional contact

Connect with Dr. Summers

For research collaboration, speaking, professional correspondence, or community initiatives.

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