International Academy
for Human Sciences and Culture
Assad Ghaemmaghami-Wilson studied psychology, pedagogy, and history of religion at the University of Zurich and is a licensed psychotherapist and training analyst. Based on long term fieldwork with drug dependent youth, his doctoral thesis under Professor Konrad Widmer was titled Holistic Drug Therapy Model and Prevention Education.
In 1988, Dr. Ghaemmaghami-Wilson founded the Psychological Institute for Peace Research and Peace Education and the Psychological Counseling and Research Institute for Sexuality, Marriage and Family, which over the years evolved into the International Academy for Human Sciences and Culture.
In more than 35 years of practice and conflict research he has acquired vast experience in psychology counselling, therapy, and particularly in conflict resolution. He also has extensive experience in the fields of business management and law.
Assad Ghaemmaghami-Wilson is a Swiss citizen with Persian background. His working languages are German, English, French and Persian. He is the founder of three companies and three non-profit associations with presently over 160 members.
Catherine Ghaemmaghami-Wilson trained as a Dalcroze Eurhythmics teacher, studying first at the Institut Jaques-Dalcroze in Geneva before completing her diploma at the Konservatorium und Musikhochschule Zürich in 1977.
She has contributed significantly to the founding and development of the International Academy for Human Sciences and Culture and continues to play an active role in the development of its programmes. She also serves on the board of the Support Society for the International Academy for Human Sciences and Cutlure. She particularly enjoys creating educational and training materials and exploring ways of expressing the theory of the Psychology of the Capacity to Know and to Love through various artistic means, often in collaboration with her children.
Catherine Ghaemmaghami-Wilson has a strong interest in promoting intercultural understanding, intercultural appreciation, and peace education.
Pearl La Marca-Ghaemmaghami is a licensed and federally recognized psychotherapist in Switzerland and a specialist psychologist for psychotherapy (FSP). She is also a senior researcher at the International Academy of Human Sciences and Culture and serves on the board of its Support Association.
She received her doctorate from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Zurich and subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at the Department of Psychology. Both her doctoral and postdoctoral research focused on prenatal stress. During her doctoral studies, she also completed the “International Ph.D. Program in Neuroscience” at the Neuroscience Center Zurich.
She worked for several years as a postdoctoral fellow, senior researcher, and lecturer at the Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy at the University of Zurich. She also spent several years as a member of the psychotherapeutic team at the Outpatient Clinic for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Behavioral Medicine. For over a decade, she served as a consultation-liaison psychologist in the Clinics for Obstetrics and Neonatology at the University Hospital Zurich, where she was responsible for the operational management of the psychological consultation and liaison service.
She continues to focus on prenatal stress in her clinical, research, and teaching activities, with a strong commitment to supporting the psychological well-being of mothers, fathers, and children during the meaningful and sensitive time of pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenthood.
Pearl La Marca-Ghaemmaghami is a Swiss citizen with American and Persian heritage. She works in both German and English, with English being her native language. Conversational Persian complements her linguistic and cultural competence.
Payám Ghaemmaghami is a licensed lawyer, admitted to practise in all cantons of Switzerland, a dedicated member of the Academy team, and a member of its the Support Society.
He graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Zurich and subsequently served as an assistant to Professor Ruth Arnet, Chair of Private Law With Focus on Property Law at the University of Zurich. He later went on to work at one of Switzerland's largest corporate law firms. He is also a civil-law notary in the Canton of St. Gallen authorised to provide notarial services in national and international matters which are valid throughout Switzerland.
Since 2000, Payám Ghaemmaghami has served as legal counsel to the three non-profit associations affiliated with the International Academy for Human Sciences and Culture: the International Association for Parent Education and Specially Trained Parent Councils; the International Association for Justice, Human Rights, Professional Honour and Honour of Office; and the Support Society for the International Academy for Human Sciences and Culture.
He is passionate about helping people in need of legal assistance and also has a strong interest in psychology, its contribution to conflict resolution, as well as in law, music, and art.
Payám Ghaemmagahmi is a Swiss citizen of American and Persian heritage. His working languages are German, English (his mother tongue), and French. Conversational Persian complements his linguistic and cultural competence.
Páyá Ghaemmaghami is a Swiss lawyer admitted to practise in all cantons of Switzerland. He is a dedicated member of the Academy team and contributes significantly to its presentations and website, while also serving on the board of the Support Society of the International Academy for Human Sciences and Culture.
He studied at the Faculty of Law at the University of Zurich, where he obtained a Master of Law. He subsequently worked for one of Switzerland's largest corporate law firms, primarily in the fields of corporate and intellectual property law. Since 2017, he has been a member of the team at Swiss Law Solutions.
Páyá Ghaemmaghami is a member of the Swiss Bar Association, the Zug Bar Association, the St. Gallen Bar Association, and the International Bar Association. He is also a civil-law notary of the Canton of Zug, authorised to provide notarial services in national and international matters which are valid throughout Switzerland.
Páyá Ghaemmaghami is the author of the historical book The unarmed Spearhead: Combat Gliders in World War II. He takes a great interest in psychology, law, history, art, music, and surfing.
Páyá Ghaemmaghami is a Swiss citizen with American and Persian heritage. His working languages are German and English with English being his mother tongue.
Roberto La Marca serves on the board of the Support Society of the International Academy for Human Sciences and Culture and is also a member of the Academy's Scientific Advisory Board. He received his PhD from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Zurich in 2009. His doctoral research at the Department of Psychology focused on the biopsychology of stress. During his doctoral studies, he additionally completed the "International Ph.D. Program in Neuroscience" at the Neuroscience Center Zurich.
He subsequently worked as a research associate at University College London, ETH Zurich, and later again at the University of Zurich, where he was a senior researcher from 2011 to 2019. He also worked for many years at the Outpatient Clinic for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Behavioral Medicine at the University of Zurich.
Since 2019, he has been working at the Clinica Holistica Engiadina in Susch, where he has served as Chief Psychologist since 2024. In addition to his his research interests in stress-related disorders and the effects of risk and protective factors, he enjoys nature, travelling, music, cooking, cycling, and spending time with his family and friends.