Faculty

Cross received her MSW from the School of Social Work and a PhD in Developmental Psychology from the University of Michigan. Her research program utilizes a strength-based approach to examining family and cultural factors that promote healthy development and mitigate the risk of poor ...

Dr. Terri Friedline writes, organizes, and teaches about racial capitalism, technology and the financial system. She is an associate professor of social work at the University of Michigan and is the author of “Banking on a Revolution: Why Financial Technology Won’t Save a Broken System” (Oxford ...

Dr. Shanks’ research interests include the impact of poverty and wealth on child well-being; asset-building policy and practice across the life cycle; and community and economic development. As Director of the Center for Equitable Family and Community Well-Being, she continues ongoing research ...

Dr. James M. Ellis’s research investigates relationships between education pipeline experiences and racial-ethnic and low-income student pathways to college enrollment and degree completion. His’ scholarship examines the nexus between college readiness program participation, developmental ...

Joe Ryan's research and teaching build upon his direct practice experiences with child welfare and juvenile justice populations. Dr. Ryan is the Co-Director of the Child and Adolescent Data Lab an applied research center focused on using data to drive policy and practice decisions in the field.  ...

Born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Rogério M. Pinto uses art-based methods to conduct community-engaged research in the United States and Brazil. Funded by the National Institutes of Health and other sources, Pinto investigates strategies for improving delivery of services (HIV and drug-use ...

Professor Lorraine Gutiérrez has a joint appointment with the School of Social Work (SSW) and Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan and is a faculty associate in American Culture. She also is a member of the SSW Community Organization Learning Community. Her teaching and ...

Dr. Shawna J. Lee is professor and associate dean for faculty affairs at the University of Michigan School of Social Work. She is also currently the director of the Parenting in Context Research Lab and director of the Program Evaluation Group. She serves as Co-Editor-in-Chief for the academic ...

Katie Doyle teaches courses in leadership and management of social impact organizations. Prior to joining the faculty, Doyle was the Executive Director of Ozone House Youth and Family Services in Ypsilanti, MI. This award-winning, 50-year-old nationally recognized nonprofit provides 24-hour ...

Brooke Buys, MSW '13, PhD, focuses on innovative mental health care development, complex family systems and gender-responsive addiction treatment. Buys is the founder and CEO of BLND Health, a mental health care company located in Michigan and Colorado. The BLND team is composed of clinical ...

Nichole Paradis, MSW '94, LMSW, IMH-E®, (she/her/hers), has expertise in practicing and promoting infant and early childhood mental health. She has led a global nonprofit and successfully influences systems to strengthen support of the infant and early childhood workforce. Paradis has a depth of ...

Kathy Greening has focused her social work career on the welfare of children and families. She has worked as a child and family therapist, intake and assessment specialist, clinical supervisor, and program coordinator in children’s mental health settings. She has prepared families to adopt ...

Betsy Voshel served as the Director of Field Education and Associate Clinical Professor from September 2004 – April 2017 and upon her retirement became Associate Clinical Professor Emerita. She is a licensed master social worker (LMSW) with membership in the Academy of Certified Social Workers ...

Professor Mary Ruffolo’s research has focused on integrated behavioral health and primary care, organizational factors that influence sustaining evidence-based interventions/programs in community behavioral health settings, adapting efficacious interventions for children and youth experiencing ...

Professor Ruth Dunkle's research, teaching, and clinical practice focus on gerontology. Recent research projects include "Mothers of Adult Daughters with a Serious Mental Illness: The Experience of African Americans and Whites" and "An Historical Perspective of Social Service Delivery in Detroit ...

Leslie Hollingsworth retired on 5/31/2016. Her research interests have focused on circumstances surrounding the lives of vulnerable children and families across the child welfare and mental health systems and their implications for social work practice and policy. Her adoption-related research ...

Associate Professor Emeritus Brett Seabury has a primary interest in interpersonal practice and has practiced social work in mental health and child welfare settings, as well as in the U.S. Army. His current research and teaching interests are social work education, time-limited practice, using ...