Joint PhD Program News

Along with the Program for Research on Black Americans  – part of the Institute for Social Research – and the Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research, the School of Social Work hosted a three-day summer mentoring workshop.  Created by Professor Robert Taylor, the workshop provides career advice and guidance to approximately 40 social work doctoral students whose research involves African American and Latinx populations. Conference attendees took advantage of concurrent programming at U-M by holding joint sessions with the 25th Annual National Black Graduate Conference in Psychology and the Summer Meeting of The St. Louis Group.

Associate Professor Shawna Lee and PhD student Joyce Lee’s research “The effect of paternal cues in prenatal care settings on men’s involvement intentions” is cited in the Huffington Post. Most photos and brochures in a typical OB-GYN waiting room focus on mothers, but adding some subtle father-friendly visual cues could be a simple way to boost a dad’s parenting confidence, according to Shawna Lee and Joyce Lee's new study.

Associate Professor Karen Staller received an award from the Doctoral Student Organization for her dedication to the education and mentorship of joint social work and social science doctoral students. 

PhD Candidate Nkemka Aniywo successfully defended her dissertation "'We gon' be alright': Racism, Media, and the Sociopolitical Development of Black Youth." Her committee consisted of Daphne Watkins, Stephanie Rowley (co-chairs), Katie Richards-Schuster, and Monique Ward. She has accepted a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania.

PhD Candidate Paige Safyer successfully defended her dissertation "M(other) Nurture: Exploring the Influence of Maternal Care on the Development of Infant Emotion Processing, Regulation, and the Emotional Brain." Her committee consisted of Richard Tolman, Brenda Volling (co-chairs), Katherine Rosenblum, Julie Ribaudo and Ioulia Kovelman. Safyer has accepted an assistant professor of social work position at Arizona State University.

PhD Candidate Peter Felsman has successfully defended his dissertation entitled "Improvisational Theater for Psychological Health." His committee consisted of Joseph Himle, Colleen Seifert (co-chairs), Richard Tolman and Ethan Kross. He has accepted a postdoctoral associate position at Stony Brook University. The position is a joint appointment at the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science and the Social Competence and Treatment Lab.

Nkemka Aniywo successful defended her dissertation "'We gon' be alright': Racism, Media, and the Sociopolitical Development of Black Youth." Her committee consisted of Daphne Watkins, Stephanie Rowley (co-chairs), Katie Richards-Schuster and Monique Ward. She has accepted a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania.

Paige Safyer defended her dissertation "M(other) Nurture: Exploring the Influence of Maternal Care on the Development of Infant Emotion Processing, Regulation, and the Emotional Brain."  Her committee consisted of Richard Tolman, Brenda Volling (co-chairs), Katherine Rosenblum, Julie Ribaudo and Ioulia Kovelman. She has accepted an Assistant Professor of Social Work position at Arizona State University.