School of Social Work News

M. Candace Christensen’s research takes a critical feminist approach to community-engaged, qualitative, arts-based research methodologies that prevent and respond to gendered, racial and anti-LGBTQ+ violence. Their commitment to this approach is grounded in their positionalities as a Femme genderqueer, poly-sexual, artist-activist and survivor of sexual violence. They aim to deconstruct paradigms and practices that perpetuate power-based violence and to build cultures focused on self-determination, a sense of connection and mutual empowerment. They use Theatre of the Oppressed to construct sexual violence prevention interventions, and they have experience with community-based theatre, sexual violence-prevention activism, queer liberation and racial justice, and with helping students implement creative approaches to social work practice. Their recent work focuses on queer and trans youth development. 

“I came to the U-M School of Social Work because the school values arts-based social justice research,” Christensen said. “Using the arts in research, teaching, and practice creates a brave space for folx to take risks that enrich and expand our understanding of social justice topics like interpersonal violence, anti-Black racism, and queer and trans phobias. Bringing an arts-infused lens to these issues shows why these problems exist and what we can do about them.”

Christensen holds a BA in theatre and literature from the University of Texas at Dallas, and an MSW and a PhD in Social Work from the University of Utah.

PhD student So’Phelia Morrow recently published an op-ed in the Chicago Tribune on the underrecognized dangers of emotional abuse. “I can’t say that I was ever hit, slapped or punched, but I know that a prison of abuse can be built without the abuser ever laying a hand on the victim.” 

Morrow is a Public Voices Fellow on Advancing the Rights of Women and Girls. Her fellowship is part of The OpEd Project and Equality Now.

Office of Global Activities Director Katie Lopez has received the 2023 U-M President’s Award for Distinguished Service in International Education. “This recognition is an amazing honor and particularly meaningful to me because I was nominated by former social work students and colleagues whom I highly respect. I feel incredibly lucky to have this job at the School of Social Work where I get to work at the intersection of my passions for social justice and international education.”

International education is a critical component of the U-M student experience. This award recognizes and celebrates the extraordinary efforts of U-M faculty and staff who advance international education. Lopez will be honored at an awards ceremony on Friday, September 15, 2023, 10:30-11:30 AM at the Michigan Union. The community is invited to watch the ceremony online.

Professor Luke Shaefer’s latest book, “The Injustice of Place: Uncovering the Legacy of Poverty in America,” is now available. Together with his co-authors, Shaefer looked at poverty, combined with health outcomes and social mobility rates to examine America’s most disadvantaged communities — almost all of which are rural, and are concentrated in three regions: Appalachia, South Texas, and the southern Cotton Belt.

“Throughout these regions, we saw the same themes emerge again and again—unequal schooling, the collapse of social infrastructure, violence, entrenched public corruption, and structural racism embedded in government programs,” writes Shaefer.

ENGAGE Program Manager and Lecturer Fatima Salman has been named to the Higher Education workgroup of the Growing Michigan Together Council. “The diverse workgroup members of the Growing Michigan Together Council will be instrumental in our effort to grow our economy and population while protecting our natural resources,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “These members represent a range of professions, communities, and perspectives—all of which are essential to developing a comprehensive strategy for growth. I look forward to hearing from the council and its workgroups later this year.”

Lecturer Susan Radzilowski, MSW ’82, spoke with Michigan Radio about the importance of psychological support for trangender kids, young adults and their families.

“Not only is cost a barrier to care, but it's sometimes just accessing therapists who understand the principles of gender-affirming care, which is to elevate the child's voice, to hear the child's voice, to offer exploration in a supportive environment, to listen and to understand what's helpful versus what's harmful,” she said.

Radzilowski is one of the mental health providers working with a new program by Stand with Trans that provides financial support for trans youth who would otherwise not be able to afford mental health counseling

Taha Rauf, Joint PhD in Social Work and Political Science, has successfully defended his dissertation, “Political Economy Impacts of Muslim Religious Institutions: The Case of Sufi Khanagah in India.” Lawrence Root (co-chair) and Karen Staller served on his committee. 

Rauf has accepted a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Louisville’s Center for Asian Democracy.

Associate Professor Camille Quinn has been awarded a National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities R21 research grant. Her study will adapt mindfulness-based stress reduction interventions for justice-involved Black teenage girls.  

"This National Institute of Health (NIH) grant is a first step in my line of research on Black girls (and their parent/caregiver) who are an understudied and underserved population. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to lead this project in partnership with the Franklin County Juvenile Court and my colleagues at Ohio State,” said Quinn. “What we learn from this study will help us develop culturally tailored interventions to promote Black girls' healing, mental health and crime desistance in a R01, the largest NIH grant in a randomized control trial here in Detroit, MI."