Letha A. Chadiha

Rose C. Gibson Collegiate Professor Emerita of Social Work

Professor; Co-director, Community Liaison Core in the Michigan Center on Urban African American Aging Research

Letha Chadiha specializes in caregiving by African American women to older African Americans. Also specializing in research on recruitment and retention of ethnically diverse elders in research, she is co-editor for a more recent supplement of The Gerontologist (June 2011) focusing on the science of recruitment and retention among these elders. Chadiha is principal investigator on a NIH/NIGMS/NCMHD Bridges to the Doctorate research training grant (1-R25-GM-089637-05; 02/02/2010-08/31/2016) titled "U-M Social Work/Nursing Bridges to the Doctoral Program," the first of its kind to be awarded to a social work school. She was named the University of Michigan School of Social Work 2014 Distinguished Faculty.

Research Interests

African American aging, caregiving, recruitment and retention of ethnically diverse elders.

Curriculum Vitae

Contact Information

Education

  • 1989 PhD Social Work and Anthropology
    University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • 1985 MSW Social Work
    University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • 1970 MA Anthropology
    Washington State University, Pullman
  • 1965 BS Sociology
    Tuskegee University (formerly Tuskegee Institute), Tuskegee, AL

News

Activities

Publications

Balestrery, J., Chadiha, L. A., Dunkle, R. E., & Ingersoll-Dayton, B. (2015). The social relationships and support of aging mothers whose daughters are mentally ill. Journal of Family Social Work, 18(2), 123-140.
Dunkle, R. E., Ingersoll-Dayton, B. & Chadiha, L. A. (2015). Support for and from aging mothers whose daughters are seriously mentally ill. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 58(6), 590-612.
Chadiha, L. A., Aranda, M. P., Biegel, D., & Chang, C. W. (2014). The importance of mentoring faculty members of color in schools of social work. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 34(4), 351-362.
Rozario, P. A., & Chadiha, L. A. (2014). Introduction: Social work of minority aging. In K. Whitfield & T. Baker (Eds.), Handbook of Minority Aging 257-264. Springer Publishing.
Dunkle, R., Ingersoll-Dayton, B. & Chadiha, L. (2013). Support in three generation families in the face of mental illness. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 13, 299.
Owens-Kane, S. & Chadiha, L. A. (2013). Family caregiving. Encyclopedia of Social Work Online. New York: Oxford University Press.
Chadiha, L. A., & Brazelton, J. (2012). Aging, physical health, and work and family role changes among African American women: Strategies for conducting life course research with African American women. In J. Jackson, C. Caldwell, and S. Sellers (Eds.), Research Methodology in African American Communities 79-93. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
Ingersoll-Dayton, B., Dunkle, R. E., Chadiha, L. A., Lawrence-Jacobson, A., Li, L., & Weir, E. (2011). Intergenerational ambivalence: Aging mothers whose adult daughters are mentally ill. Families in Society, 92(1), 114-119.
Nápoles, A. M.,& Chadiha, L. A. (2011). Advancing the science of recruitment and retention of ethnically diverse populations. The Gerontologist, S51, S142-S146.
Chadiha, L. A., Washington, O. G. M., Lichtenberg, P. A., Green, C., Daniels, K., & Jackson, J. S. (2011). Building a registry of research volunteers among older urban African Americans: Recruitment processes and outcomes from a oommunity-based research partnership. The Gerontologist, 51(S1), S106-S115.

Honors and Awards

Year Description
2020 2020 Career Achievement Award from the Association for Gerontology
2014 Distinguished Faculty Award, School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
2013 Harold R. Johnson Diversity Service Award, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
2012 Elected Fellow, the New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM), New York, NY
2011 Recognized by the President of the Gerontological Society of America for diligence and leadership while serving as 2011 Chair of the Social Research, Policy & Practice Section
2010 Nominee, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Mentor Award for Extraordinary Leadership in Mentoring Underrepresented Students through Completion of Doctoral Studies for Careers in Science and Engineering. nominator: Dean Laura Lein, University of Michigan School of Social Work, Ann Arbor, MI
2009 Elected Chair, Social Research Policy & Practice Section, The Gerontological Society of American
2009 Visiting Scholar, School of Nursing, Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Institute for Health & Aging, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
2008 The Gerontological Society of America, Task Force on Minority Issues in Gerontology Outstanding Mentorship Award
2007 Elected Fellow in the Gerontological Society of America, Social Research, Practice, Policy Section.
2005-2008 Sigma Phi Omega (National Gerontology Academic Honor and Professional Society, Gamma Sigma Chapter, the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor)
2001 Distinguished Alumni for Outstanding and Dedicated Service, Class of 1961, Sumter County Training School, Livingston, AL
2000 Certificate of Appreciation for 5.5 Years of Service on the Board of Directors as Vice President and Member, Redevelopment Opportunities for Women, St. Louis, MO
2000 Most Inspirational Teacher, Recognition of Excellence in Preparing the Next Generation for Academic Achievement and Leadership by Western Illinois University, Office of the President, Macomb, IL
1999-2001 John A. Hartford Geriatric Social Work Faculty Scholar (Co-sponsored with the Gerontological Society of America)
1989-1990 Postdoctoral Fellow, Research Training Program on Minority Poverty, the Underclass and Public Policy, Rockefeller Foundation and the University of Michigan, School of Social Work, Ann Arbor, MI
1989 King/Chavez/Parks Fellow, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
1983-1989 Rackham Minority Merit Fellow, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
1983-1984 Center for Education of Women Scholar, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Presentations

Year Description
2014 Chadiha, L. A. (2014, November). Support in three generation families in hte face of mental illness. Symposium presentation at the 66th Annual Scientific Meeting, Gerontological Society of America, Washington, D.C.
2014 Chadiha, L. A. (2014, March). Building bridges through mentoring and recruitment of ethnic/racial minority persons. Invited presentation delivered at Eastern Washington University, School of Social Work, Aging Studies Center, Cheney, WA.
2013 Chadiha, L. A. (2013, June). Building a registry of research volunteers among older urban African Americans: Recruitment strategies and evaluation. Invited presentation delivered at the 2013 Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research, Summer Training Workshop, Wayne State University, Institute of Gerontology, Detroit, MI.
2013 Chadiha, L. A., Ingersoll-Dayton, B., Dunkle, R., & Balestrery, J. (2013, November). How aging mothers of seriously mentally ill daughters conceptualize support exchanges: Confiding and showing respect. Poster presentation at the 65th Annual Scientific Meeting, Gerontological Society of America, New Orleans, LA.
2012 Balestrery, J., Chadiha, L. A., Dunkle, R., & Ingersoll-Dayton, B. (2012, November). The social relationships of aging mothers of daughters with severe mental illness. Poster presentation at the 65th Annual Scientific Meeting, Gerontological Society of America, San Diego, CA.

Courses

Past Courses

Title Instructor Term Course Section Meeting Start Meeting End
Evaluation in Social Work Chadiha, Letha A. Fall 2015 002 09:00 am 12:00 pm View Course
Evaluation in Social Work Chadiha, Letha A. Winter 2014 003 06:00 pm 09:00 pm View Course
Evaluation in Social Work Chadiha, Letha A. Fall 2013 008 05:00 pm 08:00 pm View Course
Evaluation in Social Work Chadiha, Letha A. Fall 2013 006 09:00 am 12:00 pm View Course
Evaluation in Social Work Chadiha, Letha A. Winter 2013 002 02:00 pm 05:00 pm View Course
Evaluation in Social Work Chadiha, Letha A. Fall 2012 004 09:00 am 12:00 pm View Course
Special Seminar: Applied Research in Aging II Chadiha, Letha A. Winter 2012 001 03:00 pm 05:00 pm View Course
Evaluation in Social Work Chadiha, Letha A. Fall 2011 004 09:00 am 12:00 pm View Course
Independent Studies: Aging in Families and Society Spring / Summer 2011 263 12:00 am 12:00 am View Course
Special Seminar: Applied Research in Aging II Chadiha, Letha A. Winter 2011 001 03:00 pm 05:00 pm View Course