PhD Students
Representing the next generation of social work’s scholarly leaders, our PhD students are researching novel approaches to micro, mezzo, and macro practice, examining ways to enhance systems, and driving the profession’s role in social and economic justice.
Current Ph.D. Students
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Emmanuel Agyei-Poku, MSW Research interests: Child rights and welfare, childhood trauma, adolescent mental health, family systems, human trafficking, migration and resettlement, community-based practices |
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Rodney Allen, AM Research interests: Parental inclusion in IEP and 504 Plans, children and adolescents with mental health diagnoses |
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David Apopo, MSW Research Interests: Equity, social justice, social and public policy, poverty, inclusion |
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Yigermal Demissie Ayalew, MSW Research Interests: Nonprofit organizational change and adaptation strategies; participatory program development and evaluation; intergenerational dynamics in immigrant-serving organizations; methodology and the nature of knowledge in social work |
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Zaynab Berety, MSW Research Interests: Resettlement practices of immigration agencies, Black immigrants navigation of racial identity within the context of their new lives in the U.S. |
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Alicia Bradford, MSW Research Interests: Intersections of policy advocacy and community organizing, health policy, policy advocacy and Black maternal health, social justice interventions |
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Marjorie Colindres, MSW, LSW Research Interests: School social work, mental health in school settings, school social workers education, Latinx students and bilingualism, social workers working with immigrants and refugees |
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Larry (Leo) B. Davis, MPH, MSW Research Interests: Black fatherhood engagement, child/ foster youth development, social policy, mass incarceration, homelessness, mental health, social entrepreneurship, poverty, and racism |
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Kimberly Dressman, MSW Research Interests: LGBTQIA+ community and the intersection of research, social work practice, and social justice. Implications of health care policies and practices on gender diverse individuals |
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Chinwe (Blessing) Egbuogu, MSW Research Interests: Health equity, maternal and child health, family-centered treatment for substance use disorders, social justice activism to promote inclusivity |
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Katrina Herweh, MASW, LISW, CDCA Research Interests: Pediatric trauma and medical trauma, screening tool for pediatric trauma, hospital discharge and mental health treatment referral, impact of medical events |
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Ruri Kim, MA, LPC Research Interests: Mental health and social justice, mental health and workforce development; culturally-responsive and anti-oppressive mental health prevention, intervention, and postvention |
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Sungsim Lee, MA, MSW Research Interests: Spirituality, religion, and mental health for older adults, eco-spiritual social work, spiritually based practices/interventions for human service organizations |
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Kai Lehocky, MSW Research Interests: Sexual and gender minorities (with a focus on gender-diverse identities), neurodiversity (with a focus on Autism and twice-exceptionality), post-colonial resilience, and public policy advocacy |
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Elisa E. Leyva Cea, MA Research Interests: Clinical interventions for immigrants, refugees, and mixed-status communities; transgenerational, complex trauma, and PTSD; community-based interventions |
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Sabina Lumesberger-Draschl, AM Research Interests: Environmental justice; eco-social work theory and practice; international comparative welfare studies; and the application of human rights–based approaches to social policy and practice |
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Neeraj Mishra, Ph.D., MSW Research Interests: History and philosophy of social work; critical disability studies and social work pedagogy; mindfulness and social justice; Qualitative research methodology |
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Ahyun Moon, MSW, MA, MPP Research Interests: Domestic violence, adverse childhood experience, attachment, psychological self-sufficiency, economic self-sufficiency, transition of vulnerable youth to adulthood |
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Sharitza Rivera, AM, LCSW Research Interests: First-generation and low-income college students, peer mentorship, social and cultural capital, poverty and welfare in the United States, social class, systematic change and innovation |
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Brianna Sorensen, MSW, LCSW, CADC Research Interests: LGBTQ+ studies, fat studies, mezzo and macro practice, harm reduction with eating disorders and substance use |
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Adriane "Addie" Van Zwoll, MJ, LCSW, Ph.D. (2025) Research Interests: School-based mental health, juvenile justice, trauma-informed care, interprofessional practice |
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Heather Watson, MSW, Ph.D. (2025) Research Interests: Mental health, factors leading to healthy child development, evidence-based clinical practice, disadvantaged youth and families, social justice, social services disparities |
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Diane Williams, MSW, MPP, Ph.D. (2025) Research Interests: Aging and social welfare, aging social policy, barriers to housing stability for older adults, housing security and aging, senior housing, successful aging, productive aging |
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Nora Wynn, AM Research Interests: Adolescent sexual health and development, sex education, peer-led education, positive youth development, feminist theory, participatory research methods |
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Rachel Young, MSW Research Interests: Environmental social work; use of nexus thinking to analyze interrelationships among systems to address resource challenges; technology and social policy; equitable housing and food systems |
Representing the next generation of social work’s scholarly leaders, our PhD students are researching novel approaches to micro, mezzo, and macro practice, examining ways to enhance systems, and driving the profession’s role in social and economic justice.
Current Ph.D. Students
| Picture | About |
|---|---|
|
Emmanuel Agyei-Poku, MSW Research interests: Child rights and welfare, childhood trauma, adolescent mental health, family systems, human trafficking, migration and resettlement, community-based practices |
|
Rodney Allen, AM Research interests: Parental inclusion in IEP and 504 Plans, children and adolescents with mental health diagnoses |
|
David Apopo, MSW Research Interests: Equity, social justice, social and public policy, poverty, inclusion |
|
Yigermal Demissie Ayalew, MSW Research Interests: Nonprofit organizational change and adaptation strategies; participatory program development and evaluation; intergenerational dynamics in immigrant-serving organizations; methodology and the nature of knowledge in social work |
|
Zaynab Berety, MSW Research Interests: Resettlement practices of immigration agencies, Black immigrants navigation of racial identity within the context of their new lives in the U.S. |
|
Alicia Bradford, MSW Research Interests: Intersections of policy advocacy and community organizing, health policy, policy advocacy and Black maternal health, social justice interventions |
|
Marjorie Colindres, MSW, LSW Research Interests: School social work, mental health in school settings, school social workers education, Latinx students and bilingualism, social workers working with immigrants and refugees |
|
Larry (Leo) B. Davis, MPH, MSW Research Interests: Black fatherhood engagement, child/ foster youth development, social policy, mass incarceration, homelessness, mental health, social entrepreneurship, poverty, and racism |
|
Kimberly Dressman, MSW Research Interests: LGBTQIA+ community and the intersection of research, social work practice, and social justice. Implications of health care policies and practices on gender diverse individuals |
|
Chinwe (Blessing) Egbuogu, MSW Research Interests: Health equity, maternal and child health, family-centered treatment for substance use disorders, social justice activism to promote inclusivity |
|
Katrina Herweh, MASW, LISW, CDCA Research Interests: Pediatric trauma and medical trauma, screening tool for pediatric trauma, hospital discharge and mental health treatment referral, impact of medical events |
|
Ruri Kim, MA, LPC Research Interests: Mental health and social justice, mental health and workforce development; culturally-responsive and anti-oppressive mental health prevention, intervention, and postvention |
|
Sungsim Lee, MA, MSW Research Interests: Spirituality, religion, and mental health for older adults, eco-spiritual social work, spiritually based practices/interventions for human service organizations |
|
Kai Lehocky, MSW Research Interests: Sexual and gender minorities (with a focus on gender-diverse identities), neurodiversity (with a focus on Autism and twice-exceptionality), post-colonial resilience, and public policy advocacy |
|
Elisa E. Leyva Cea, MA Research Interests: Clinical interventions for immigrants, refugees, and mixed-status communities; transgenerational, complex trauma, and PTSD; community-based interventions |
|
Sabina Lumesberger-Draschl, AM Research Interests: Environmental justice; eco-social work theory and practice; international comparative welfare studies; and the application of human rights–based approaches to social policy and practice |
|
Neeraj Mishra, Ph.D., MSW Research Interests: History and philosophy of social work; critical disability studies and social work pedagogy; mindfulness and social justice; Qualitative research methodology |
|
Ahyun Moon, MSW, MA, MPP Research Interests: Domestic violence, adverse childhood experience, attachment, psychological self-sufficiency, economic self-sufficiency, transition of vulnerable youth to adulthood |
|
Sharitza Rivera, AM, LCSW Research Interests: First-generation and low-income college students, peer mentorship, social and cultural capital, poverty and welfare in the United States, social class, systematic change and innovation |
|
Brianna Sorensen, MSW, LCSW, CADC Research Interests: LGBTQ+ studies, fat studies, mezzo and macro practice, harm reduction with eating disorders and substance use |
|
Adriane "Addie" Van Zwoll, MJ, LCSW, Ph.D. (2025) Research Interests: School-based mental health, juvenile justice, trauma-informed care, interprofessional practice |
|
Heather Watson, MSW, Ph.D. (2025) Research Interests: Mental health, factors leading to healthy child development, evidence-based clinical practice, disadvantaged youth and families, social justice, social services disparities |
|
Diane Williams, MSW, MPP, Ph.D. (2025) Research Interests: Aging and social welfare, aging social policy, barriers to housing stability for older adults, housing security and aging, senior housing, successful aging, productive aging |
|
Nora Wynn, AM Research Interests: Adolescent sexual health and development, sex education, peer-led education, positive youth development, feminist theory, participatory research methods |
|
Rachel Young, MSW Research Interests: Environmental social work; use of nexus thinking to analyze interrelationships among systems to address resource challenges; technology and social policy; equitable housing and food systems |