Joint PhD Program

Associate Professor Karen Staller received an award from the Doctoral Student Organization for her dedication to the education and mentorship of joint social work and social science doctoral students. 

PhD Candidate Paige Safyer successfully defended her dissertation "M(other) Nurture: Exploring the Influence of Maternal Care on the Development of Infant Emotion Processing, Regulation, and the Emotional Brain." Her committee consisted of Richard Tolman, Brenda Volling (co-chairs), Katherine Rosenblum, Julie Ribaudo and Ioulia Kovelman. Safyer has accepted an assistant professor of social work position at Arizona State University.

PhD Candidate Nkemka Aniywo successfully defended her dissertation "'We gon' be alright': Racism, Media, and the Sociopolitical Development of Black Youth." Her committee consisted of Daphne Watkins, Stephanie Rowley (co-chairs), Katie Richards-Schuster, and Monique Ward. She has accepted a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania.

PhD Candidate Peter Felsman has successfully defended his dissertation entitled "Improvisational Theater for Psychological Health." His committee consisted of Joseph Himle, Colleen Seifert (co-chairs), Richard Tolman and Ethan Kross. He has accepted a postdoctoral associate position at Stony Brook University. The position is a joint appointment at the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science and the Social Competence and Treatment Lab.

Nkemka Aniywo successful defended her dissertation "'We gon' be alright': Racism, Media, and the Sociopolitical Development of Black Youth." Her committee consisted of Daphne Watkins, Stephanie Rowley (co-chairs), Katie Richards-Schuster and Monique Ward. She has accepted a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania.

Paige Safyer defended her dissertation "M(other) Nurture: Exploring the Influence of Maternal Care on the Development of Infant Emotion Processing, Regulation, and the Emotional Brain."  Her committee consisted of Richard Tolman, Brenda Volling (co-chairs), Katherine Rosenblum, Julie Ribaudo and Ioulia Kovelman. She has accepted an Assistant Professor of Social Work position at Arizona State University. 

Kathryn Berringer, PhD candidate Social Work and Anthropology was awarded a Rackham Program in Public Scholarship. The scholarship supports research projects created in partnership with Rackham students and community organizations.

Berringer is working with the Ruth Ellis Center in Highland Park to produce a set of multimedia products documenting the history of the center serving LGBTQ youth in metro Detroit. She will be collaborating with the center's Youth Advisory Board.

Pinghui Wu defended her dissertation, "Demand Shocks, Shift in Welfare Regime, and the Well-being of Workers and Their Families."  Her committee consisted of Luke Shaefer, Dominick Bartelme (co-chairs), Sandra Danziger, Charles Brown and John Bound. She has accepted a postdoctoral fellowship at Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan.

Berenice Castillo, Joint PhD student Social Work and Psychology was recently awarded the Jerald and Virginia Bachman Research Fellowship on Change in American Youth from the Institute for Social Research. The Bachman Fellowship is designed to support an outstanding emerging scholar who is conducting research to examine patterns and changes in the lifestyles and values of American youth and young adults.

Min Hee Kim successfully defended her dissertation “Geographic Distribution of Aging and Health-Related Resources in Urban Neighborhoods: Implications for Health Care Delivery to Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Physical and/or Cognitive Impairment.” Her committee consisted of Ruth Dunkle, Sarah Burgard (co-chairs), Sandra Levitsky and Philippa Clarke.