Faculty News

Associate Professor Sandra Momper's project, ''When We Work Together, Then We Are Wise "Pii Maamwinokiyaang, Miidash Nibwaakaayaang" was funded by American Indian Health and Family Services of Southeastern Michigan, Inc The project goals include increasing involvement of youth and family members in the System, making AIHFS behavioral health services fully sustainable through Medicaid Funding, and identifying and implementing system changes recommended by a Cultural and Linguistic Competency Assessment.

Associate Professor Trina Shanks, through the Technical Assistance Center, was awarded a Poverty Solutions grant to support Detroit-based Alternatives for Girls as they strengthen and evaluate their child savings account program. The program is designed to promote post-secondary education and degree attainment for girls of color and increased financial capability for families.

Professor Brad Zebrack chaired the advocacy panel of adolescent and young adult cancer patients at the 2017 2nd Global Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Congress in Atlanta.

LEO Lecturer Tony Alvarez gave the 2017 Kurt Hahn Address at the Association for Experiential Education International Conference in Montreal. The Address is presented annually by a person designated by the Board of Directors who has contributed to the development and advancement of experiential education with the tenacity and conviction exemplified by Kurt Hahn.

Associate Professor Andy Grogan-Kaylor’s article, “Income inequality and high blood pressure in Colombia: a multilevel analysis” was published in Cadernos de Saúde Pública.

Professor Brad Zebrack’s article, “Sexual functioning among young adult cancer patients: A 2-year longitudinal study” was published in Cancer.

Assistant Professor Xiaoling Xiang and Associate Professor Emily Nicklett received a grant from the Community Memorial Foundation via the Aging Care Connections for their community-engaged project which aims to evaluate the Aging Well Neighborhood initiative in Illinois. The Initiative is a collaboration of businesses, health care agencies, and nonprofits to create "health neighborhood" that assists the whole person aging in place and affirms the benefits of a life-long process of wellness and prevention.

Director of Joint PhD Program and Associate Professor Daphne Watkins is one of five social work scholars selected to be featured at the Society for Social Work and Research's (SSWR) Brief and Brilliant TEDx-style session in January. This year’s conference theme is "Achieving Equal Opportunity, Equity and Justice". Related to this theme, each speaker will be asked to complete the statement “I dream a world….”. The Brief and Brilliant session was developed last year with the goal of translating social work research to engage a broad audience and emphasize the public relevance of this work.