The Office of Student Support Staff

Sara Pitkanen provides graduate student support as assistant dean of students at Pacific University. 

Laura (she/her/hers) holds a PsyD in Clinical Psychology with a Concentration in Traumatic Stress Studies from Adler University located in Chicago, IL. She is honored to work as a generalist psychologist serving the diverse mental health needs of undergraduate and graduate students while empowering and supporting them to make the changes necessary to succeed at Pacific and beyond. More specifically her passions and expertise include working with students engaging in cultural identity development, experiencing relationship concerns, interpersonal trauma, and bereavement. Laura is dedicated to building caring, collaborative, and transparent therapeutic relationships. Laura also has a strong passion for social justice work, systemic outreach and prevention, and supervision and training!