NASW Board of Directors
Director, Region IV

Yasoda Sharma, PhD, MSW

Yasoda Sharma, PhD, MSW, is a tenured full professor at the Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. She earned her PhD in social work from the University of Texas at Arlington, a master’s degree in social work with specialization in psychiatry and social medicine and an undergraduate degree in psychology from India. She did her schooling in Sikkim, a small state sandwiched between Tibet and Nepal in the northeastern states of India. Sharma has worked in various national and international organizations in parts of India and Nepal.

Her scholarship involves engagement with the global and local communities. She predominantly works in domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, international social work, and human trafficking. She is a recognized local, national, and international scholar. She has published several articles in reputable refereed journals; presented papers at local, state, national, and international conferences; and conducted workshops on domestic violence. Sharma was awarded state grants for implementing research projects related to domestic violence. She has served as an external research examiner for a PhD program in India and reviewed manuscripts for journals. Sharma has chaired several DSW dissertations, serves on DSW dissertation committees at Kutztown University and serves as editor of the refereed journal.

Sharma is a board member and Kutztown University Campus representative for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Women's Consortium. She serves as Chair of the Kutztown University Commission on Status of Women. Under her leadership, the committee implemented the Elderly Care workshop and Take your Child to Work Day program. She also serves as treasurer of the Kutztown University-APSCUF International Faculty Caucus and is actively involved with Kutztown University -APSCUF Social Justice Committee. She was appointed to serve on the Kutztown University Commission on Status of Minorities: Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee to help develop a strategic plan to incorporate and bring greater understanding of the diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative across the campus community.

Sharma serves as board officer for the Domestic Violence Center for Chester County (DVCCC), chairing the Strategic Planning Committee, and helped DVCCC reaccreditation with the Pennsylvania Association of Non-Profit Organizations. She serves as chair of the NASW national committee on women's issues.She served on NASW-PA and held the Conference Planning Committee Chair position for several years.