School of Social Work News

ENGAGE Program Manager and Lecturer Ayesha Ghazi-Edwin is one of the 100 Detroit activists featured in "i.Detroit," a mixed media project by British artist Marcus Lyon. She was selected after a 6-month nomination process as an activist who is making a significant difference in Detroit. The project includes a book of portraits, a smartphone app and a 7-inch vinyl record; it also maps the DNA of its subjects to create what Lyon calls a “human atlas” of the city.

Assistant Professor Lisa Fedina was awarded a 2020 Young Investigator Grant from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She will conduct a national survey with young adults ages 18-24 to identify protective factors for suicide that promote resilience among young adults, particularly those most at risk.

“We know that people often do not have isolated experiences with violence, but studies have not yet measured the range of victimization experiences in order to understand its full burden on mental health. This study represents an important step to build this underdeveloped area of research through theory-driven, person-centered approaches, allowing for greater accuracy in predicting suicidal behaviors by accounting for the effects of violence victimization over time and factors that may support resilient trajectories among youth,” says Fedina.

Professor Emeritus Charles Garvin was recently inducted into the NASW Social Work Pioneers. Pioneers made important contributions to the social work profession, and to social policies through service, teaching, writing, research, program development, administration and legislation.

Assistant Professor Shanna Kattari and Lecturer Leo Kattari have edited a new book “Social Work and Health Care Practice with Transgender and Nonbinary Individuals.” Assistant Professor Ashley Lacombe-Duncan and Joint PhD student Matthew Bakko contributed chapters. 

The book examines issues across the lifespan of transgender and nonbinary individuals whilst synthesizing conceptual work, empirical evidence, pedagogical content, educational experiences and the voices of transgender and nonbinary individuals.

Congratulations to Trina Shanks who was named the Harold R. Johnson Collegiate Professor of Social Work. Shanks is the director of the School of Social Work Community Engage Program as well as the newly launched Center for Equitable Family & Community Well-Being, which connects the university with community leaders in Detroit and in Washtenaw County. This is the second endowed professorship honoring the School’s former dean and supports a scholar whose teaching and research address the advancement of race relations, diversity and inclusion." Trina Shanks has made significant and influential contributions as a researcher and leader. She is a valued colleague, teacher and mentor," said Dean Lynn Videka.

Professor Lisa Wexler has received a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Grant for her project, Family Safety Net: Developing an Upstream Suicide Prevention Approach to Encourage Safe Firearm Storage in Rural and Remote Alaskan Homes. The study will support, encourage and assess safe firearm storage practices relevant to Alaska Native families. Alaska has suicide rates far above national averages, including a teen suicide rate among Alaska Natives 18 times higher than the rate for other American teens.

Student Services Admissions Coordinator Nyshourn Price has been selected by NEW: Solutions for Nonprofits as a Champions of Change fellow. Champions for Change is a racial justice fellowship shifting hearts, minds and actions away from the collective harm of white supremacy and toward a liberated path on which we all get to live into our purpose.

A new study from Parenting in Context Research Lab found parents are overwhelmed, kids are anxious and economic hardship is common during the pandemic. The pandemic presents parents with new challenges on how best to prepare and support their children for a different school experience. In the early days of the pandemic, nearly 80% of parents were educating their children at home.