Dr. Laura Yakas completed her PhD in anthropology and social work here at the University of Michigan in 2018. Her passion is disability justice and healing-centered pedagogy, and she loves writing articles and book chapters and teaching transformative social work courses. She also enjoys writing and performing musical comedy – because making fun of the world is another way to transform it!
Contact Information
Education
- 2018 PhD Social Work & AnthropologyUniversity of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- 2016 MSW Interpersonal Practice/Mental HealthUniversity of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- 2015 MA AnthropologyUniversity of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- 2010 BAKenyon College
News
Activities
Publications
Collings, S., & Yakas, L. (2025). A neurodiversity-affirming perspective on eating disorders. International Mad Studies Journal.
Slayter, E. M., Kattari, S. K., Yakas, L., Singh, R. C. B., Goulden, A., Taylor, S., ... & Prince, D. (2023). Beyond ramps, curb cuts, and captions: A call for disability justice in social work. Social Work, 68(1), 89-92.
Yakas, L. & Lopez, N. (2023). Compulsory monogamy is disability: Connecting the disability justice and critical non-monogamy movements. In S. Kattari (Ed.), Exploring sexuality and disability: A guide for academics and health and human service professionals. Routledge.
Yakas, L. (2023). “Love is Merely a Madness”: Sexuality and Madness in a Cisheteropatriarchal Culture. In S. Kattari (Ed.), Exploring sexuality and Disability: A guide for academics and health and human service professionals. Routledge.
Diaz, G., Cabrera, G., Moore, C., & Yakas, L. (2019). Woke to weary. Public Culture, 31(2), 373-391.
Ingersoll-Dayton, B., Punpuing, S., Tangchonlatip, K., & Yakas, L. (2018). Migration and "skipped generation" households in Thailand. In M. R. T. de Guzman, J. Brown, & C. P. Edwards (Eds.), Parenting from Afar: The Reconfiguration of the Family Across Distance. Oxford University Press.
Yakas, L. (2017). "Work is love made visible": Purpose and community in clubhouses. Disability Studies Quarterly.
Yakas, L. (2009). Femininity, sexuality and body hair: The female body hair(less) ideal. Focus Anthro VIII.
Honors and Awards
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| 2024 | School of Social Work Distinguished Lecturer Award |
| 2024 | AASECT Sexuality Professionals Book Award for "Exploring sexuality and Disability: A Guide for Academics and Health and Human Service Professionals" |
| 2022 | Nominated for the Golden Apple Award for excellence in teaching |
| 2022 | Honorable mention for the Neubacher Award for my Healing-centered Pedagogy |
| 2018 - Winter | Rackham Merit Fellowship |
| 2018 | PhD |
| 2017 - Winter | Rackham Merit Fellowship |
| 2017 - Winter | Joanne Yaffee Doctoral Fellowship |
| 2017 - Sp/Su | John & Penny Tropman Travel Grant |
| 2017 - Fall | Rackham Merit Fellowship |
| 2016 - Winter | Rackham Travel Grant |
| 2016 - Sp/Su | Rackham Summer Fellowship |
| 2016 - Fall | Rackham Merit Fellowship |
| 2015 - Winter | Carol Thiessen Mowbray Research Grant |
Presentations
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Yakas, L. “Audacious imagining and implementation of anti-ableism and disability justice in social workeducation,”, interactive workshop, Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Program Meeting |
| 2024 | Yakas, L., (2024) Audacious imagining and implementation of anti-ableism and disability justice in social work education, Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Program Meeting |
| 2023 | Yakas, L. (2022) Healing-centered Pedagogy, Enriching Scholarship Conference, University of Michigan Teaching and Technology Collaborative |
Courses
Current & Future Courses
| Title | Instructor | Term | Course Section | Meeting Start | Meeting End | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Media & Social Change | Yakas, Laura J. | Spring / Summer 2026 | 001 | 05:00 pm | 08:00 pm | View Course |
| Behavioral, Psychosocial and Ecological Aspects of Health, Mental Health and Disease | Yakas, Laura J. | Spring / Summer 2026 | 802 | 08:00 pm | 10:00 pm | View Course |
| Engaging Social Justice, Diversity, and Oppression in Social Work | Yakas, Laura J. | Spring / Summer 2026 | 801 | 06:00 pm | 08:00 pm | View Course |
| Advanced Topics in Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse | Yakas, Laura J. | Fall 2026 | 001 | 05:00 pm | 08:00 pm | View Course |
| Social Work Essentials Skills Lab | Yakas, Laura J. | Fall 2026 | 804 | 06:00 pm | 08:00 pm | View Course |
| Engaging Social Justice, Diversity, and Oppression in Social Work | Yakas, Laura J. | Fall 2026 | 801 | 08:00 pm | 10:00 pm | View Course |