Prof. Paul Narh Doku is a distinguished scholar, researcher, and educator with extensive expertise in psychology, mental health, and quality of life research. Currently on leave from the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Ghana, he serves as an Associate Professor at the American University in Dubai, UAE, since August 2024. Prior to this, he was a Visiting Scholar at Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, where he contributed to advancing psychology education and research.
Prof. Doku holds a Synergy PhD in Psychology (Psychological Medicine & Wellbeing) from the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde, Scotland, UK. He is a Chartered Health Psychologist and an active member of several prestigious professional organizations, including the Ghana Psychological Association, the American Psychological Association (APA), and the British Psychological Society (BPS).
A prolific researcher, Prof. Doku has published extensively in high-impact journals, including The Lancet, The Lancet HIV, Nature, Nature Medicine, Psychological Medicine, AIDS Care, PLOS ONE, Global Public Health, BMC Medicine, and BMC Public Health. His research primarily focuses on the psychosocial aspects of HIV/AIDS in children and young people, mental health, positive psychology, and quality of life. He serves as an Academic Editor for PLOS ONE and the Journal of AIDS and HIV Research and is a frequent peer reviewer for leading health and social science journals. Additionally, he contributes to curriculum development and accreditation as an Expert Assessor for the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), where he evaluates undergraduate and postgraduate programs in psychology, counseling, and mental health.
With over a decade of tertiary-level teaching experience, Prof. Doku has taught a diverse range of psychology and mental health courses, including Introductory Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Positive Psychology, Positive Psychology, Cultural Psychology, Research Methods, Biostatistics, Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Psychopathology, Health Psychology, Counseling, and Developmental Psychology. His student-centered, social constructivist approach to teaching has earned him high ratings in teaching evaluations from both students and peers.
Beyond teaching, he has held several key leadership roles, including Head of the Mental Health Department and Vice-Dean at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, UCC, and Head of the Department of Human Development & Psychology at Regent University, Ghana. He has also served as a Hall Tutor at both the University of Ghana and the University of Cape Coast.
Prof. Doku’s academic journey spans globally recognized institutions, earning a PhD in Psychology from the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde (UK), an MPhil in Human Development from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norway), and a BA in Psychology with Philosophy from the University of Ghana, Legon.
A respected voice in psychology, mental health, and higher education, Prof. Doku continues to shape the future of psychological research and education internationally.
