Executive Council

Dr. Jaffer holds the position of senior lecturer at San José State University (SJSU) where she teaches an undergraduate course in Human Understanding and Development as well as master’s level courses in the Department of Counselor Education. Additionally, she assumes the role of undergraduate course coordinator and Student Success and Advocacy Team Lead within the esteemed Lurie College of Education at SJSU. Dr. Jaffer also extends her expertise as adjunct faculty at California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) where she teaches a psychodrama course within the Dramatherapy Program.
Her academic journey culminated with a doctorate in Educational Leadership from SJSU in 2022 with a dissertation on the pivotal role of school counselors as social justice advocates. Dr. Jaffer’s educational foundation includes a master’s degree is in Counseling and Guidance from SJSU, and an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Theatre from Agnes Scott College.
Dr. Jaffer became a certified Practitioner of Psychodrama in 2000 and in 2007 was certified as a Trainer, Educator and Practitioner of Psychodrama. Dr. Jaffer established Moreno Institute West (MIW) and Action Centered Teaching Strategies with other Bay Area trainers. MIW was a training and teaching organization that specialized in the use of Psychodrama and Group Psychotherapy in diverse fields. ACTS provided summer training courses for teachers to integrate action methods in the classroom. More recently, Dr. Jaffer provides occasional professional development at treatment centers for individuals in recovery from substance use disorders.
Dr. Jaffer is currently a member of the American Counseling Association, American Psychology Association, American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama, American School Counselors Association, North American Drama Therapy Association, and American Association of University Women. She served as conference co-chair of the 82nd Annual Conference of the American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama.