Waganesh (Waggy) A. Zeleke is a Full Professor of Mental Health Counseling in the Department of Rehabilitation Counseling at Virginia Commonwealth University and the Director of the HEARTFUL Lab. She earned her doctorate in Counseling from the University of Montana and holds multiple master’s degrees in Youth & Family Development, Psychology, and Special Needs. Dr. Zeleke is a licensed professional counselor across several states and a National Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor.

As the Director of the HEARTFUL Lab, Dr. Zeleke leads advanced qualitative, quantitative, and community-based action research. Her scholarly work focuses on trauma-informed interventions, autism services, evidence-based mental health treatment, and mindfulness-based approaches designed to mitigate the imposter phenomenon among first-generation college students. Her extensive research portfolio includes leading or contributing to numerous grants in immigrant mental health, trauma intervention, autism, and social skills training. She has authored over 39 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and delivered more than 75 presentations at professional conferences globally.

An accomplished educator and mentor to master's and doctoral students, Dr. Zeleke teaches graduate-level courses spanning counseling theory and techniques, group counseling, multicultural counseling, trauma counseling, assessment, and clinical supervision. Her global academic leadership includes a 2022–2023 Fulbright Scholar appointment in Ethiopia at Addis Ababa University and the University of Gondar, where she taught postgraduate courses, advised on Counseling Psychology Ph.D. curriculum development, and conducted workshops on trauma recovery and culturally responsive care.

Clinically, Dr. Zeleke provides counseling, supervision, and consultation focused on mindful practice, parenting, wellness care, and autism interventions, with a particular specialization in supporting youth and families affected by autism spectrum disorders. Over her distinguished career, she has received more than 18 prestigious honors, including the U.S. Fulbright Scholar Award, the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship, the Cultural Diversity Research Award from the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR), and the Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Teaching Award from Duquesne University. Professionally, she serves as an Associate Editor for Frontiers in Special Needs Education and maintains several guest editor and editorial board positions for leading peer-reviewed journals.