School of Social Work News

Associate Professor Kristin Seefeldt has been appointed new associate faculty director at the University of Michigan Poverty Solutions. Poverty Solutions is a presidential initiative that aims to prevent and alleviate poverty through action-based research that informs policymakers, community organizations, government entities and practitioners about what works in confronting poverty.  Seefeldt in her new role will engage more faculty and students in meaningful research opportunities.

Associate Professor Daphne Watkins' research on black men is featured in U-M Record.  Watkins researches how men and boys define themselves as men and boys, and how that influences their mental health.

We welcome four new faculty members to Michigan Social Work — a community joined together by a strong commitment to diversity, respect, inclusion and learning from one another.
 

Fernanda L. Cross
Transitional Postdoctoral Research Fellow
 

Area of Expertise
Latinx mixed-status families, undocumented immigrants, ethnic-racial socialization, discrimination experiences, adolescent mental health and academic outcomes

Jessica A. Wojtalik
Transitional Postdoctoral Research Fellow
 

Area of Expertise
Child abuse and neglect, child maltreatment prevention, neighborhoods, poverty, program evaluation, social policy, parenting

Kathryn L. Maguire-Jack
Associate Professor of Social Work
 

Area of Expertise
American Indian/Alaska Native Suicide Prevention, Indigenous Youth Resilience, Culturally-Specific Behavioral Health Services, Digitally-Enhanced Participatory Research

Lisa M. Wexler
Professor of Social Work
 

Area of Expertise
Psychosocial and cognitive interventions, schizophrenia, severe mental illnesses and pathophysiology of mental illness and cognitive impairment

Assistant Professor Lisa Fedina's research on child sex trafficking in the United States was cited in the USA Today story, "Jeffrey Epstein's alleged sex trafficking targets: 'The more vulnerable the better,' investigator says."

Associate Professor Daphne Watkins was appointed to the 2020 American Psychological Association Presidential Task Force on Advancing Social and Emotional Development of Black Boys through Research, Advocacy and Community Engagement. The task force was recently appointed by President-Elect Erlanger Turner, with the goal of advancing research and advocacy efforts related to black boys. The task force is composed of researchers, clinicians and public policy advocates.

Associate Professor David Córdova was selected as an ambassador. for the 2019 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. Ambassadors mentor students and develop learning strategies for facilitating student success. 

Joseph Himle, Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs, Howard V. Brabson Collegiate Professor of Social Work, was honored with the 2019 Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research Distinguished Clinical and Translational Research Mentor Award. This prestigious award recognizes faculty who foster the intellectual, creative, scholarly and professional growth of students, fellows and trainees in the areas of clinical and translational health and research. 

Patrick Meehan successfully defended his dissertation "Making Change Where it Counts: Social Work and Elected Office." His committee consisted of Barry Checkoway, Ann Lin (co-chairs), Katie Richards-Schuster and Vincent Hutchings.