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Shanna K. Kattari

Associate Professor of Social Work and Associate Professor of Women's Studies, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts

Shanna K. Kattari

Shanna K. Kattari, PhD, MEd, CSE (they/them/theirs) is an associate professor at the School of Social Work, in the Women’s and Gender Studies Department (by courtesy), and is the director of the [Sexuality|Relationships|Gender] Research Collective. A white, Jewish, nonbinary, disabled, chronically ill, neurodivergent (AuDHD), polyamorous, queer fat Femme, their practice and community background is as a board-certified sexologist, certified sexuality educator and social justice activist.

Kattari’s multi-methodological research focuses on three areas that often overlap: disability and ableism (including neurodivergence, Mad studies and disability justice), sexuality and sexual health (including reproductive justice), and queer and trans affirming practice (in behavioral, physical and sexual health spaces).

Their work aims to understand how power, privilege and oppression systematically marginalize, exclude and discriminate against people regarding their identities, while also uplifting the brilliance and resistance demonstrated by these communities in the face of stigma and harm. Recently, Kattari’s work has focused on the health disparities among trans/nonbinary communities, across physical, behavioral and sexual health, using community-based participatory research and arts-based methods. Their work has also included several studies on disability and ableism, particularly regarding the academy and social work education.

Kattari also explores experiences of sexuality in marginalized communities, most notably disabled adults, LGBTQIA2S+ individuals, those practicing non-monogamy, and those practicing kink/leather/BDSM. Their work with the SRG Collective allows them collaborators across North America, the U.K. and Aotearoa/New Zealand, and they deeply value having many students and community members as collaborators. Additionally, they conduct research in other topic areas such as weight stigma/fatphobia, critical and anti-carceral pedagogy and developing anti-oppressive social work education.

Kattari strongly believes in translational research that benefits the communities being researched and values making research accessible to not only academics but also to society at large. They are committed to engaging, innovative education and critical pedagogy, multi-level omnidirectional mentorship models and supporting individuals from a variety of identities in entering, navigating and succeeding in the academy.

Kattari is the convener of the Social Work Disability Justice League and currently serves on the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Council on Disability and Persons with Disabilities. They previously served as co-chair of the CSWE Council on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression and chaired the LGBTQ Caucus of Social Work Students and Faculty.

Research Interests/Focus

Health disparities; health outcomes; discrimination; disability/ableism; gender identity; sexual orientation; intersectionality; mixed method; and power/privilege/oppression

Education

Year Degree   School
2017 PhD Social Work University of Denver, Denver, Colorado
2008 MEd Human Sexuality Education Widener University
2006 BA Sociology and German Colorado College

Websites

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Uq1RjxAAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
http://shannakattari.com/
https://twitter.com/DrShannaK
Year Description
2024 Paceley, M., Jenkins, T., Kattari, L., Klein, L. B., Kattari, S. K., & Christensen, M. C. (January, 2024). The personal is professional is political: A roundtable of transgender and gender expansive scholars on integrating research, organizing, and advocacy to promote trans justice. Roundtable presented at the Society for Social Work Research’s Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
2024 Kattari, S. K., Lacombe-Duncan, A., Emrick, B., Alexander, F., Kluger, H~., Kattari, L., Niedzwiecki, A., Scheim, A., Misiolek, B. A. (January, 2024). "It's a big ordeal": A mixed methods study of the experiences of non-HIV STI testing among trans and gender diverse people. Paper presented at the Society for Social Work Research’s Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
2024 Gzesh, A., Paceley, M., Shelton, J., Prince, D., Kattari, S. K., & Hillier, A. (January, 2024). “I had to fight for this!” Implications for youth, caregivers, and providers amidst attacks on Gender-Affirming Care. Roundtable presented at the Society for Social Work Research’s Annual Conference, Washington, D.C
2024 Gross, E. B., Kayser, J., Call, J., Kattari, S. K., Gillani, B., Prieto, L., Saylor, K., Kahn, M., & Holloway, B. (January, 2024). Aging in the margins: A scoping review of health research on trans and gender diverse older adults in the U.S. Poster presented at the Society for Social Work Research’s Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
2024 Gartner, Smith, E., Klein, L. B., Cruys, C., & Kattari, S. K. (January, 2024). Advancing anti-carceral approaches to campus sexual violence prevention: Building research agendas to support trans communities. Roundtable presented at the Society for Social Work Research’s Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
2023 Lacombe-Duncan, A., Kattari, L., Kattari, S. K., Scheim, A.I., Alexander, F., Yonce, S~. & Misiolek, B. (2023, January). Barriers and facilitators to HIV testing among transgender and nonbinary persons in Michigan, United States: Results of a communitybased survey. Paper presented at the 27th Annual Society for Social Work and Research Conference, Phoenix, AZ.
2023 Lacombe-Duncan, A. & Kattari, S. K. (2023, April). Improving non-HIV STI testing access among trans and nonbinary people: Results of a community-based mixed-methods Study. Paper presented at the LGBTQ Research Symposium, Killarney, Ireland.
2023 Steele, M., Wilcox, R., & Kattari, S. K. (2023, May). Trans and gender expansive (TGE) student experiences on campus: University of Michigan (UM) survey data, campus response and recommendations. Paper presented at the American College Health Association’s 2023 Annual Meeting, Boston, MA.
2023 Lacombe-Duncan, A., Emrick, R., Alexander, F., Kluger, H~., & Kattari, S. K. (2023, June). Access to non-HIV STI testing among trans and nonbinary people: Bridging gaps in research to promote health equity. Paper presented at the LGBTQ Research Symposium, Virtual.
2023 Kattari, S. K. & Gross, E. B. (2023, June). “I have had several providers who recognize my humanity”: Exploring the overall health and positive healthcare interactions of transgender and gender diverse college students. Paper presented at the LGBTQ Research Symposium, Virtual.
2023 Kattari, S. K. (2023, June). “Disability is an art—an ingenious way to live”: Dreaming pleasure centered disabled futures. Keynote presented at the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA.
2023 Kattari, S. K. (2023, July). Mind the gap and fill the holes: Sexual pleasure, diverse identities, and the future of sexuality and social work. Keynote presented at the 5th International Sexuality & Social Work Conference, Glasgow, Scotland.
2023 Kattari, S. K. (2023, September). It’s like running a cheese grater over my soul: Disability, ableism, and providing accessible care. Workshop virtually presented at the GLMA Annual Conference, Virtual.
2023 Kattari, S. K., Misiolek, B. A., & McGhee, C. (2023, October). Trans Wellness/Trans Brilliance: A pilot program developed by and for the trans/gender diverse community to advance emotional wellness and resilience. Paper presented at the Out for Med Conference, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
2023 Kattari, S. K., Kattari, L., & Kynn, J. (2023, October). We’re here, we’re queer: Queering classrooms, field, and mentorship in social work education. Workshop presented at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Atlanta, GA.
2023 Gross, E. B. & Kattari, S. K. (2023, October). “Pronouns aren’t just performative”: Learning about affirmation from trans and nonbinary students. Paper presented at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Atlanta, GA.
2023 Voorhees, H. L. (facilitator), Cooke-Jackson, A., Kattari, S. K., Minniear, M., Rubinksy, V., & Thompson, C. (2023, November). Freeing ourselves from communicative health hazards: Researching and resolving interpersonal threats to vulnerable populations. Spotlight panel presented at the National Communication Association Annual Conference, National Harbor, MD
2022 Shires, D., Hill, H., Modi, I., Kattari. L., Prieto, L., Misiolek, B. A., & Kattari, S. K. (2022, January). Hormone therapy use and mental health outcomes among transgender adults. Paper presented at the Society for Social Work Research Annual Conference, Washington, DC.
2022 Kattari, S. K., Atteberry-Ash, B., Collins, C. Kattari, L., & Harner, V. (2022, January). Differential experiences of dating violence and sexual violence among trans/gender diverse youth. Paper accepted for presentation at the Society for Social Work Research Annual Conference, Washington, DC.
2022 Kattari L., Kattari, S. K., & Paceley, M. (2022, January). Examining the impact of the LGBTQIA policy landscape on the field of social work. Roundtable accepted for presentation at the Society for Social Work Research Annual Conference, Washington, DC.
2022 Alvarez, L., Seelman, K., Kattari, S. K., & Vassi, A., (2022, January). Predictors of health care mistreatment among transgender and nonbinary individuals: Are there different patterns by patient race and ethnicity? Paper presented at the Society for Social Work Research Annual Conference, Washington, DC.
2022 Paceley, M. S., Fish, J. N., Watson, R., Ramseyer Winter, V., & Kattari, S. K. (2022, March). The relationship between the family environment and community context on sexual and gender minority youth’s disordered eating behaviors. Poster presented virtually at the Society for Research on Adolescence, New Orleans, LA.
2022 Escobar-Viera, C. G., Kattari, S. K., Melcher, E. M., Hsiao, L., Brown, Jr., A., Egan, J. E.(2022, April). Comparing social media experiences of sexual and gender minority youngadults with and without depressive symptoms. Poster presented at 43rd Society ofBehavioral Medicine Annual Meeting. Baltimore, MD
2022 Robb, D., Kattari, S. K., Lacombe-Duncan, A., Call, J., & Misiolek, B. A. (2022, July). Examining PrEP cascade engagement in a statewide sample of transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse adults in the United States. Poster presented at the 24th International AIDS Conference. Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
2022 Kattari, S. K., Kynn, J., Verdino, A., & Kattari, L. (2022, August). We’re here, we’re queer: Defining, conducting, and engaging queer research in the cis het academy. Workshop presented at the Woodhull Sexual Freedom Summit, Washington, DC.
2022 Kattari, S. K. & Gross, E. B. (2022, November). Mental health of transgender/gender diverse university students in the Midwest. Paper accepted for presentation at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Anaheim, CA.
2021 Kattari, S. K. (2021, November). Differential experiences of mental health among transgender and gender diverse adults. Paper accepted for presentation at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Orlando, FL
2021 Walls, N. E., Atteberry-Ash, B., Kattari, S. K., & Kattari, L. (2021, November). Next practices in research on LGBQ and transgender/nonbinary people and communities. Poster presented virtually at the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality annual conference, San Juan, PR.
2021 Kattari, S. K., Walls, N. E., Atteberry-Ash, B., & Kattari, L. (2021, November). Intentionally queering the academic enterprise: Community research, multi-directional mentoring, and doctoral education. Poster presented virtually at the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality annual conference, San Juan, PR
2021 Escobar-Viera, C. G., Kattari, S. K., Melcher, E. M, Hsiao, L., Brown, Jr., A, Egan, J. E. (2021, December) Social media experiences of LGBTQ people of color with and without depressive symptoms: A qualitative study. Paper presented at the 6th Annual Promoting Research in Social Media Health Symposium (PRISM). San Francisco, CA.
2021 Jackson Levin N., Zhang A., Kattari S.K., Moravek M. B., & Zebrack B. J. (2021, December) Sexual and gender plurality: Considerations for a diverse and inclusive approach to oncofertility care. Paper presented at the 4th Global Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Congress. Virtual.
2021 Matijcak, A., McDonald, S. E., Nicotera, N., Applebaum, J. W., Kremer, L., Natoli, G., O’Ryan, R., Booth, L. J., Murphy, J. L., Tomlinson, C., & Kattari, S. K. (2021). “Living in a household with a pet is a relief”: A mixed methods approach to understanding whether and how pets promote wellbeing among sexual and gender minority emerging adults. Paper presented at the Society for Social Work ResearchAnnual Conference, Washington, DC
2021 Jackson Levin, N., Kattari, S. K., Piellusch, E. , & Watson, E. (2021, January). Chosen family and queer kinship: Navigating chosen family in the context of health, illness, and the mutual provision of care amongst queer and trans young adults. Paper presented virtually at the Society for Social Work Research Annual Conference.
2021 Kattari, S. K., Bakko, M., Hecht, H. K. & Kinney, M. K. (2021, January). Intersecting experiences of healthcare denials among transgender and nonbinary patients. Poster presented virtually at the Society for Social Work Research Annual Conference.
2021 Kattari, S. K., Bakko, M., Curley, K. M., & Misiolek, B. A. (2021, January). Trans-Inclusive Provider Scale. Paper presented virtually at the Society for Social Work Research Annual Conference.
2020 Kattari, S. K., Bakko, M., Langenderfer-Magruder, L., & Holloway, B. (2020, October). Transgender and nonbinary experiences of victimization in healthcare. Paper accepted for presentation at the American Public Health Association Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA
2020 Kattari, S. K., Bakko, M., Langenderfer-Magruder, L., & Holloway, B. (2020, October). Transgender and nonbinary experiences of victimization in healthcare. Paper accepted for presentation at the American Public Health Association Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA.
2020 Walls, N. E., Kattari, S. K., & Kattari, L. (2020, November). Intentionally queering the academic enterprise: Community research, multi-directional mentoring, and doctoral education. Paper to be presented virtually at the Joint World Conference on Social Work Education and Social Development, Rimini, Italy.
2020 Kattari, S. K., Lacombe-Duncan, A., Schultz, K., Hawkins, J., & Kattari, L. (2020, November). Reconceptualizing the teaching of social justice and diversity: Co-creating a more critical foundation course. Paper to be presented virtually at the Joint World Conference on Social Work Education and Social Development, Rimini, Italy.
2020 Kattari, S. K., Bakko, M., Hecht, H. K., & Kattari, L. (2020, November). Correlations between healthcare provider interactions and mental health among transgender/nonbinary adults. Paper presented virtually at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting.
2020 Guz, S., Kattari, S. K., Hecht, H. K., & Ross, E. (2020, November). The process and benefits of fostering a multi-generational team of queer researchers. Panel accepted for virtual presentation at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting.
2020 Gartner, R., Whitfield, D. L., & Kattari, S. K. (2020, November). Intersectionality and social work: Opportunities for education and research. Interactive workshop accepted for virtual presentation at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting.
2020 Walls, N. E., Kattari, S. K., Gupta, R, & Rusow, J. (2020, June). Differential risk of mental health outcomes, sexual risks, and relational/sexual violence among youth based on gender identity and sexual orientation. Paper accepted for presentation at the Diversity in Organizations, Communities, and Nations Twentieth Annual Conference, Milan, Italy.
2020 Speer, S. R., Atteberry-Ash, B., & Kattari, S. K. (2020, January). Bottling up: Examining the impact of microaggressions on racial/ethnic minorities qualitatively. Poster to be presented at the Society for Social Work Research Annual Conference, Washington, DC.
2020 Guz, S., Kattari, S. K., Atteberry-Ash, B., Call, J., & Klemmer, C. (2020, January). Depression and suicide risk at the cross-section of sexual orientation and gender identity for high school youth. Paper to be presented at the Society for Social Work Research Annual Conference, Washington, DC.
2020 Bakko, M. & Kattari, S. K. (2020, January). Insurance-based discrimination as barriers to transgender healthcare: Differences in experience by insurance type. Paper to be presented at the Society for Social Work Research Annual Conference, Washington, DC.
2019 Kattari, S. K. & Misiolek, B. A. (2019, June). Findings from the 2018 Michigan Trans Health Survey. Paper presented at the Michigan LGBTQ Health Conference, Detroit, MI.
2019 Seelman, K. L., Kattari, S. K., & Bakko, M. (2019, October). Trans men’s access to knowledgeable providers and experiences in healthcare settings. Paper presented at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Denver, CO.
2019 Kattari, S. K., & Beltran, R. (2019, October). “The pain is real”: A [modified] photovoice exploration of chronic pain/illness in(visibility). Paper presented at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Denver, CO.
2019 Levin, N. J., Watson, E., Piellusch, E., & Kattari, S. K. (2019, May). Choosing family, queering kinship: A conceptual inquiry of “chosen family” for a contemporary context. Paper to be presented at the Social Work Day at the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, Urbana-Champagne, IL.
2019 Eickmeyer, A., Park, J, Haefner, J., Karl., E, & Kattari, S. K. (2019, April). Integrating interprofessional education into a first year undergraduate pre-health learning community. Poster presented at the University of Michigan Center for Interprofessional Education HPE Day Conference, Ann Arbor, MI.
2019 Kattari, S. K. (2019, January). One size does not fit all: Differential transgender health experiences by gender identity. Paper presented at the Society for Social Work Research Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA.
2019 Kattari, S. K. (2019, January). “Intimate partner violence in transgender and non-binary populations: A systematic review of the qualitative literature”. Paper presented as part of the Gender based, family, and community violence impacting transgender and genderdiverse populations: Lived experiences and strategies for resistance at the Society for Social Work Research Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA.
2018 Kattari, S. K. (2018, June). Pushing boundaries: Teaching diverse and “taboo” sexuality in higher education settings. Workshop presented at the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.
2018 Kattari, S. K. (2018, June). Pushing boundaries: Teaching diverse and “taboo” sexuality in higher education settings. Workshop presented at the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.
2018 Byers, D. S.., McInroy, L.B., Craig, S., Kattari, S. K., & Slates, S. (2018, November). Naming and addressing homophobic and transphobic microaggressions in social work education. CSWE Connect Session presented at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Orlando, FL.
2018 Kattari, S. K., Hanna, M., & McQueen, J. (2018, November). Disability and ableism in social work education: Assessing strengths and needs. Paper presented at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Orlando, FL.
2018 Kattari, S. K., Walls, E. N., Atteberry-Ash, B*. (2018, August). Social workers and the students they serve: Differential sexual health and sexual violence experiences of LGBQ and transgender young people. Paper presented at the Social Work and Sexualities Biannual Conference, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
2018 Kattari, S. K., Krautwurst, A°., Haymovitz, E°., & Arguello, T. (2018, August). When the personal is professional: Navigating professional and personal identity in LGBTQIA+ focused social work research and practice. Panel presented at the Social Work and Sexualities Biannual Conference, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
2018 Baker, A. C., Hillier, A., Ragonese, M., McKay, K., &, Kattari, S. K. (2018, January). At risk, but not defined by it: Building scaffolding to support gender and sexuality research in social work. Roundtable presented at the Society for Social Work Research Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
2018 Peitzmeier, S., Malik, M., Kattari, S. K., Marrow, E., Reisner, S., Agenor, M., & Stephenson, R. (2018, May). Transgender interpersonal violence: A systematic review of the quantitative literature. Poster presented at the Ending Gender-Based Violence Event, Ann Arbor, MI.
2018 Baker, A.C., Hillier, A., Ragonese, M., McKay, K., &, Kattari, S.K. (2018, January). At risk, but not defined by it: Building scaffolding to support gender and sexuality research in social work. Roundtable presented at the Society for Social Work Research Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
2018 Klemmer, C., Kattari, S.K., Rusow, J., Mschrager, S.M., & Rice, E. (2018, January). Transgender adolescents, gender congruence, and substance use. Poster presented at the Society for Social Work Research Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
2018 Kattari, S.K. (2018, January). Development of the Ableist Microaggression Scale and assessing the relationship of ableist microaggressions with the mental health of disabled adults. Poster presented at the Society for Social Work Research Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
2018 Kattari, S.K., Walls, E.N., Atteberry-Ash, B., & Kattari, L. (2018, March). Differential accrual of risk based on sexual orientation and gender identity: Mental health, school safety, and substance use. Paper to be presented at the Conference on Adolescent Health, Ann Arbor, MI.

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