Sue Ann Savas

Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work

Sue Ann Savas is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Michigan School of Social Work. She received her MSW and BA in economics from the University of Michigan. For the past 20 years, Sue Ann practiced as a program evaluator. She specializes in the areas of program design, logic modeling, evaluation planning, implementation evaluations, outcome measurement, and reporting for continuous quality improvement. She uses an interdisciplinary approach, collaborating with providers from the fields of social work, public health, environmental health, and education. She has published numerous articles and book chapters on techniques for building evaluation capacity within organizations and coalitions. As an instructor, her teaching pedagogy is described as integrating course, field and life experience. She uses fully-guided instruction with scaffolding and models to teach theory and practice.

Research Interests

Program evaluation and design; logic modeling, evaluation planning/implementation and outcome measurement

Curriculum Vitae

Contact Information

  • [email protected]

  • (734) 615-2116

  • 3848 SSWB
    University of Michigan
    School of Social Work
    1080 S. University
    Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Education

  • 1988 MSW Social Work
    University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • 1982 BA Economics
    University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

News

Activities

Websites

Publications

Provenzano, A. M., Spencer, M., Hopkins, M., Ellis, J., Reischl, C., Karr, K., & Savas, S. (2020). Effects of a university-school partnered after-school music program on developmental, social, and educational outcomes. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 11(3).
Shanks, T. R., Harb, S. & Savas, S. A. (2017). Measurable results of good neighborhoods: What was accomplished? In Allen-Meares, P., Shanks, T., Gant, L., Hollingsworth, L., & Miller, P. (Eds.), A Twenty-First Century Approach to Community Change: Partnering to Improve Life Outcomes for Youth and Families in Under-Served Neighborhoods 131-144. Oxford University Press.
Thomason, E., Himle, J. A., Tolman, R. M., Sinco, B. R., & Savas, S. (2017). The effect of social anxiety, generalized anxiety, depression and substance abuse on child support payment compliance among non-custodial parents. Children and Youth Services Review, 79, 180-185.
Zebrack, B., Kayser, K., Sandstrom, L., Savas, S. A., Henrickson, C., Acquati, C., & Tamas, R. L. (2015). Psychosocial distress screening implementation in cancer care: An analysis of adherence, responsiveness, and acceptability. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 33(10), 1165-1170.
Danziger, S. K., Savas, S. A., Rodems, R., & Barnes, C. (2013). Evaluation of the Starfish Family Services' Family Success Program: An antipoverty initiative. Ann Arbor, MI: National Poverty Center, University of Michigan.
Danziger, S. K., Savas, S. A. & Rodems, R. (2012). Year One and Year Two Process and Evaluation Results: a Focus on Family Success Ladders [Report]. Ann Arbor, MI.
Fries, D., Carney, K. J., Blackman-Urteaga, L., & Savas, S. A. (2012). Development of an outcome measurement tool for a teen wraparound program. U-M School of Social Work Journal, 37(1), 63-53.
Fries, D., Carney, K. J., Blackman-Urteaga, L., & Savas, S. A. (2012). Wraparound services; infusion into secondary schools as a dropout prevention strategy. NASSP Bulletin.
Ruffolo, M., Savas, S., Neal. D., Capobianco, J., & Reynolds, K. (2008). The challenges of implementing an evidence-based practice to meet consumer and family needs in a managed behavioral health care environment. Social Work and Health Care, 6.
Whittaker, J., Greene, K., Schubert, D., Blum, R., Cheng, K., Blum, K., Reed, N., Scott, K., Roy, R., & Savas, S. (2006). Integrating evidence-based practice in the child mental health agency: A template for clinical and organizational change. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry.

Honors and Awards

Year Description
2018 Student Union Teacher of the Year

Presentations

Year Description
2021 Rosen, J., Lemon, C., Savas, S., and Udow-Phillips, M. (2021). Emergence in Practice: Network Building for Innovation in Washtenaw County Aging Services, Michigan Council of Foundations, online.
2018 Savas, S. (2018) Learning and Teaching the Most Significant Change Method to Capture Stories of Impact. Michigan Association for Evaluation State Conference, Lansing, MI.
2018 Beriont, L., Vestal, E., Savas, S. (2018) Community Technical Assistance Collaborative: Evaluation partnerships as an intervention to equity and effectiveness. American Evaluation Association Annual Conference. Cleveland, OH.
2018 Sinco, B, Thomason, E., Himle, J., Tolman, R, & Savas, S. (2018) Logistic regression models to examine mediation between employment and mental health on the payment of child support. American Statistical Association National Conference on Statistical Practice. Portland, OR.
2018 Provenzano, A. & Savas, S. (2018). University-partnered El Systema inspired afterschool program outcomes: A multi-level mixed method design. Social Work, Education, and Social Development Conference. Dublin, Ireland.

Courses

Current & Future Courses

Title Instructor Term Course Section Meeting Start Meeting End
Impact Lab 1 Savas, Sue Ann Fall 2026 001 09:00 am 12:00 pm View Course
Program Evaluation and Applied Research Savas, Sue Ann Fall 2026 002 09:00 am 12:00 pm View Course
Fundraising and Grant writing Savas, Sue Ann Fall 2026 001 02:00 pm 05:00 pm View Course

Past Courses

Title Instructor Term Course Section Meeting Start Meeting End
Program Evaluation and Applied Research Savas, Sue Ann Winter 2026 003 02:00 pm 05:00 pm View Course
Program Evaluation and Applied Research Savas, Sue Ann Winter 2026 008 09:00 am 12:00 pm View Course
Essentials of Community and Organizational Practice Savas, Sue Ann Fall 2025 002 09:00 am 12:00 pm View Course
Fundraising and Grant writing Savas, Sue Ann Fall 2025 001 02:00 pm 05:00 pm View Course
Program Evaluation and Applied Research Savas, Sue Ann Fall 2025 001 09:00 am 12:00 pm View Course
Program Evaluation and Applied Research Savas, Sue Ann Winter 2025 005 02:00 pm 05:00 pm View Course
Fundraising and Grant writing Savas, Sue Ann Winter 2025 001 02:00 pm 05:00 pm View Course
Program Evaluation and Applied Research Savas, Sue Ann Winter 2025 006 09:00 am 12:00 pm View Course
Essentials of Community and Organizational Practice Savas, Sue Ann Fall 2024 001 09:00 am 12:00 pm View Course
Program Evaluation and Applied Research Savas, Sue Ann Fall 2024 001 09:00 am 12:00 pm View Course