School of Social Work News

LEO Lecturer Laura Sanders was selected by a faculty committee to receive the 2016-2017 Distinguished Lecturer Award for her supportive approach, impact, and commitment to social work practice.

Vincent Fusaro successfully defended his dissertation, “The Spirit of '96: States & the Implementation of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families” and obtained his PhD in Social Work and Political Science. Dr. Fusaro has accepted an Assistant Professor of Social Work position with Boston College.

For the second year in a row, U-M will issue the Made at Michigan annual report, a compilation of annual entrepreneurship highlights with a special focus on graduate and undergraduate student ventures created over the course of the year.

The magazine-style publication shines a bright spotlight on nearly 60 student ventures over a broad range of disciplines, including for-profits, social ventures and innovative new products and services with market potential. It also recognizes the programs, schools and colleges dedicated to supporting U-M’s student entrepreneurs and innovators.

U-M SSW has students involved with three of the projects featured in this year’s Made at Michigan report:

• Evergreen Experience: Allison Ewert (MSW 2016) | Erin Mobley (MSW 2016) | Erica Goble (MSW 2019)
• INK’d: Change Kwesele (MSW 2016) | Charlie Brink (MSW 2017)
• Liquid Gold Concept: Samantha Koehler (MSW 2015)

Professor Robert Taylor (1), Professor Linda Chatters (2), Associate Professor Trina Shanks (17), and Associate Professor Daphne Watkins (18) are in the top 20 of most cited African American scholars in social work. The article, “African American Faculty in Social Work Schools: A Citation Analysis of Scholarship” was published in Research on Social Work.

U-M SSW is also the most cited school of social work with African American faculty. The article, “African American Faculty in Social Work Schools: The Impact of Their Scholarship” was published in the Journal of Evidence-Informed Social Work.

Associate Professor Robert Ortega was selected to receive the Distinguished Faculty Award. He has provided extensive service to our school, profession, and community, already having received significant national recognition for his scholarship and service.

Professor Brad Zebrack received a grant for his project, ''A Short Course for Creating Integrative Oncology Leaders'' from the National Cancer Institute. The study aims to improve the quality of life for oncology patients by educating a cohort of oncology professionals who have the knowledge and skills to act as leaders for the safe and evidence-based integration of complementary therapies into conventional oncology care, education, and research.

Elizabeth Armstrong successfully defended her dissertation, “Bridging the Intimate Partner Violence and Alcohol and Other Drug Service Fields” and obtained her PhD in Social Work and Sociology. Dr. Armstrong has accepted a position at the University of Maine.

Assistant Professor Emily Nicklett’s article, “Assessing Diabetes and Factors Associated with Foregoing Medical Care among Persons with Diabetes: Disparities Facing American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic, Low Income, and Southern Adults in the U.S. (2011–2015)” was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.