Nahal Salimi, Ph.D., CRC

Title:	Associate Professor/ACUE Distinguished Teaching Scholar
Unit:	Rehabilitation Counseling
Office Location:	Wirtz Hall 354
Office Phone:	815-753-4134
Email:	nsalimi@niu.edu

Courses Taught

• REHB 662: Vocational Analysis and Job Placement
• REHB 660: Foundations of Vocational Rehabilitation
• REHB 682: Theories and Techniques of Counseling People with Disabilities
• REHB 628: Psychosocial Aspects of Disability
• REHB 200: Disability in Society
• REHB 492: Medical Aspects of Disability

Educational Background

• Ph.D., Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Rehabilitation Counseling
• M.S. Clinical Psychology, Iran
• B.S. English Language and Literature, Iran

Research Interests

• Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Employment Outcomes for Marginalized Populations: understanding the effectiveness and equity of rehabilitation services for marginalized groups, particularly in achieving positive employment outcomes).
• Mental Health, Quality of Life, and Psychological Well-being: factors that influence mental health and well-being, especially in contexts like higher education.
• Disability Attitudes: societal and professional attitudes towards disability, aiming to inform policies and practices that promote inclusion and reduce stigma.

Selected Publications

• Gere, B., Salimi, N. (2025). Mental Health Literacy, Stigma, and Help-Seeking Behavior Among Black Male College Students in Historically Black Universities. American Journal of Men's Health. 
• Salimi, N., Gere. B., Mora, E. and Roy K. Chen (January 2025). Navigating the Path: Understanding and Overcoming Challenges for College Students with Disabilities.
• In Bates., D. and Ortega, (Eds.), Innovative Approaches in Counselor Education for Students with Disabilities. 
• Gere. B., Salimi, N., Chen, R., A., O. (2023). Major Religions in the United States and Racial Perspectives on Disability. In Psychosocial The Psychological and Social Impact of Chronic Illness and Disability, Eight edition. Marini, I., GloverGraf, N. M., & Millington, M. J. Psychosocial Aspects of Disability: New York, NY: Springer Publishing.
• Md Mozadded Hossen, Roy K. Chen, Nahal Salimi, and Jane L. Nichols (2023). Social justice in higher education: The forgotten needs of students with visual impairments in Bangladesh. British Journal of Visual Impairment.
• Salimi, N., Gere, B. and Shahab, A. State-Federal Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Demographic Characteristics and Employment Outcomes for Native Americans with Mental Illnesses. Community Ment Health J (2023).
• Salimi, N., Gere, B., Dallas, B., and Shahab, A. (2023). State Vocational Rehabilitation Service Patterns and Employment Outcomes Predictors Among Native American VR Clients. Journal of Rehabilitation, 89(1), 4-16.
• Salimi, N., Gere, B. O., Talley, W., Yarrow, A., and Hampton, A. (2023). Psychological Distress, Quality of Life and Resilience among Undergraduate Students in the Post-COVID-19 Era. Journal of Psychology and the Behavioral Sciences, 7.
• Salimi, N., Gere, B. O., Talley, W., and Iriogbe, B. (2021). College Students Mental Health Challenges: Concerns and Considerations in the COVID-19 pandemic, Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 35(1), 1-14.
• Salimi, N. and Crimando, W. (2020) Multidimensional Attitudes towards Disability among International Students at a Midwestern University in the United States. Rehabilitation Counselors' and Educators' Journal, 9 (2), 52-63
• Gere, B., Salimi, N. and Anima-Karong, A. (2019). Social Media Use as Self-therapy or Alternative Mental Help-Seeking Behavior. The IAFOR Journal of Psychology and the Behavioral Sciences, 5 (2), 21-36.
• Anima-Korang, A., Gere, B. O., and Salimi, N. (2018) Stigma and discrimination: Coping strategies for persons living with HIV/AIDS in Rural America. Rehabilitation Counselors and Educators Journal, 4 (1), 33-45.
• Brown, S., Gere, B. O., Ethridge, K, Long, A., Berry, A., and Salimi, N. (2017). Reconceptualizing Vocational Assessment and Career Placement of Racial and Ethnic Minorities Using an Integrated Multicultural Model Approach. Journal of Forensic Vocational Analysis, 17 (1), 21-27.
• Salimi, N., Gere, B. O., and Crimando, W. (2016). Comparison of Mental Health and Quality of Life of Shift and non-shift Employees in Service Industries: A study of selected Iranian companies. The IAFOR Journal of Psychology and the Behavioral Sciences, 2 (3), 3-15.

Representative Presentations

• Salimi, N. Employee Mental Health in Higher Education: Building Resilience and Preventing Burnout. Presented at the  Association for Rehabilitation Research, Policy and Education (2026).
• Gere., B., Salimi., N. (February 24-25, 2025). Mental Health Literacy, Stigma, and Help-Seeking Behavior Among Black Male College Students in Historically Black Universities. Presented at the Association for research, policy, and education conference. Savannah, Georgia. 
• Salimi. N., Dallas, B., Gere., B. (Jun 7-8, 2023). State Vocational Rehabilitation Service Patterns and Employment Outcomes Predictors Among Native American VR Clients. Concurrent Session, VRTAC-QE National Symposium on Rehabilitation Counseling, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
• The impact of COVID-19 on transition assessment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD). Presented at the VECAP Virtual Conference by Nahal Salimi and Amanda McCarthy. (Oct. 16, 2020)
• Preventing Violence in Schools: Integrating a behavioral and emotional health system of care into schools; Presentation at the 23rd International Conference on Family Violence, Abuse and Trauma by Shafaie, S.M., Salimi, N. in San Diego, California. (Sept. 2018)
• Multidimensional Attitudes towards Disability among International Students in the United States. Poster presented at the NCRE/RSA/CSAVR Conference by Salimi, N., Gere, B. O. in, Arlington, VA. (Oct. 2017)
• Introduction of the Evaluation and Developmental Center, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Presented at the Illinois Rehabilitation Association Conference, Southern Chapter by Brunson, C., Salimi, N., and Caldwell, K. in Mount Vernon. IL (Nov. 2016)
• The comparison of mental health and quality of life among shift and non-shift jobs in "Mahan" and "Iran air" companies. Abstract presented at the 20th European Congress of Psychiatry by Salimi, N. in Prague, Czech Republic (March 3, 2012)