Jean E. Balestrery

Jean E. Balestrery is a Ph.D. Candidate at University of Michigan’s Joint Doctoral Program in Social Work and Anthropology. Dually licensed in both mental health and substance abuse treatment, Ms. Balestrery began the joint doctoral program with over sixteen years of social work practice experience. This experience includes work with individuals, families, groups and communities from diverse backgrounds, across all levels of care and in multiple roles - clinical, supervisory and administrative roles. Ms. Balestrery received her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from University of Washington in Seattle, Washington and her Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Her research interests include aging, health disparities, mental health, intercultural communication and qualitative research methods with marginalized and underserved communities. Ms. Balestrery is completing her dissertation, a qualitative study based on 12-months of ethnographic fieldwork, entitled “Cultural and Communicative Factors Influencing Service Delivery: A Multi-Sited Ethnography that Explores with Alaska Native E/elders Community-Based Conventional Health and Social Services in Alaska.” Most recently, Ms. Balestrery was appointed a board member to serve for a 3-year term on the Council on Sexual Orientation and Gender Expression (CSOGE) with the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).