School of Social Work News

Professor Lisa Wexler was awarded an NIMH R01 grant for her project “Efficacy-Implementation Study for PC CARES in Rural Alaska” through the NIH Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health.  The trial evaluates the impact of Promoting Community Conversations About Research to End Suicide (PC CARES) on adult participants and the adults and youth they are close to, and who could benefit from the intervention. This project contributes to the long-term goal of translating suicide prevention research into culturally responsive community practice to reduce suicide risk and promote youth well-being in Alaska Native communities.

“I am excited about our new project, which trains and supports local leaders in sharing suicide prevention best practices within their communities in order to spark community-led actions,” said Wexler. “We believe that the project builds a sustainable way to offer community members tools through PC CARES that they can use to promote positive community change that promotes mental wellness and reduces suicide risk.”

PhD student Lauren White will be leading a project aim. “The implementation aim on this grant is among the first NIH funded studies that use Implementation Science frameworks to assess the contextual determinants of implementation in a rural Tribal community. By studying how PC CARES is carried out with our partners, we will also build general knowledge of what Tribes and interventionists need to know about using newly developed evidence-based interventions to drive healthy change in Native communities,” said White.

Lecturer Brooke Buys was named the 2024 Student Union Teacher of the Year. This award is given by the School of Social Work student government and recognizes faculty who have demonstrated commitment to improving DEI, made an outstanding and positive contribution to the School’s climate, and whose skills, dedication, understanding and caring have made a positive impact on students.

Academic Program Analyst Jason Harrison and Field Education Coordinator Talia Ingham received the 2024 Colleen Karim Staff Excellence Award. This award recognizes staff members who accomplish exceptional performance and achievements in their job role, going above and beyond in their day-to-day efforts, championing and supporting the work of others, and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion.

Lecturer Laura Yakas has received the 2024 Distinguished Lecturer Award. This highly esteemed peer award recognizes excellence in teaching and mentoring students and the very highest ideal of a School of Social Work lecturer.

Professor Linda Chatters has received the 2023 Distinguished Faculty Award. This highly esteemed peer award recognizes governing faculty members who demonstrate excellence in domains including longevity of service to the School; national recognition in scholarship and service; excellence in teaching and mentoring; outstanding service to the School and the University; and contribution to the professional community.

Chatters is the Paula Allen-Meares Collegiate Professor of Social Work.  In addition, she is Professor of Health Behavior and Health Education at the School of Public Health and a faculty associate at the ISR’s Research Center for Group Dynamics.

Assistant Professor Odessa Gonzalez Benson has received the 2024 Doctoral Student Organization Faculty Award. The Doctoral Student Organization bestows this award to a faculty mentor who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to mentoring, developing and supporting doctoral students.

Professor Daphne Watkins is the principal investigator in a new R01 research grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute titled “Addressing Structural Racism in Heart Failure Care and Outcomes: A Mixed Methods Evaluation of The Social Structure of Care Delivery.” The goal of the project is to develop a comprehensive understanding of structural barriers as well as facilitators for equitable care and outcomes, and to develop a best practices toolkit to address structural racism and discrimination in heart failure care. 

"Addressing racism and discrimination at the structural level is essential if we want to move toward health equity in heart failure care and outcomes,” said Watkins.  “I am excited to be a part of such a dynamic team of researchers and clinicians who want to understand and improve heart failure delivery networks within the social structure of care delivery. In the long term, our goal is to advance equitable care and outcomes for patients.”

Associate Professor Shanna Kattari’s book “Exploring Sexuality and Disability: A Guide for Human Service Professionals,” has received the  American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists 2024 Book Award (Sexuality Professional Focus).

Chapter editors include Lecturers Jax Kynn, Erin Martinez and Laura Yakas; and PhD students E.B. Gross, Nicolas Juarez and Kari Sherwood.