News

Professor Luke Shaefer’s latest book, “The Injustice of Place: Uncovering the Legacy of Poverty in America,” is now available. Together with his co-authors, Shaefer looked at poverty, combined with health outcomes and social mobility rates to examine America’s most disadvantaged communities — almost all of which are rural, and are concentrated in three regions: Appalachia, South Texas, and the southern Cotton Belt.

“Throughout these regions, we saw the same themes emerge again and again—unequal schooling, the collapse of social infrastructure, violence, entrenched public corruption, and structural racism embedded in government programs,” writes Shaefer.

ENGAGE Program Manager and Lecturer Fatima Salman has been named to the Higher Education workgroup of the Growing Michigan Together Council. “The diverse workgroup members of the Growing Michigan Together Council will be instrumental in our effort to grow our economy and population while protecting...

Lecturer Susan Radzilowski, MSW ’82, spoke with Michigan Radio about the importance of psychological support for trangender kids, young adults and their families.

“Not only is cost a barrier to care, but it's sometimes just accessing therapists who understand the principles of gender-affirming care...

Taha Rauf, Joint PhD in Social Work and Political Science, has successfully defended his dissertation, “Political Economy Impacts of Muslim Religious Institutions: The Case of Sufi Khanagah in India.” Lawrence Root (co-chair) and Karen Staller served on his committee. 

Rauf has accepted a...

Associate Professor Camille Quinn has been awarded a National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities R21 research grant. Her study will adapt mindfulness-based stress reduction interventions for justice-involved Black teenage girls.  

"This National Institute of Health (NIH) grant is a...

Professor Karla Goldman spoke with the Detroit Jewish News about the School’s Jewish Communal Leadership Program, which she directs. The five-semester program gives students an education in social work and Jewish history and culture, along with skills for working with organizations and communities...

Professor William Elliott III spoke with Forbes about how San Francisco’s Kindergarten 2 College program, which begins with just a $50 deposit in a college savings account can make a difference. “When you have an asset, it allows you to begin thinking about your future in a more tangible way.”

Professors Shawna Lee and Andy Grogan-Kaylor have been awarded a grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development for the Global Families project. Their project will use data from over 520,000 families in 57 low- and middle-income countries to examine...

Assistant Professor Fernanda Cross spoke with WEMU about the Latinx Teen Empowerment Group at Ypsilanti Community High School. Cross’ research focusing on Latinx immigrants in southeast Michigan lead to the program, which provides small group therapy in Spanish to support mental health and create...

Anne Blumenthal, Joint PhD in Social Work and Sociology, has successfully defended her dissertation, "Essays on Child Well-Being and Parenting During the Covid-19 Pandemic."

Todd Herrenkohl, Katie Maguire-Jack and Sandra Danziger (co-chair) served as on her committee. Blumenthal has accepted a...