Laura Curran, PhD

Dean and Professor

Laura Curran (she/her) is Dean and Professor at the UConn School of Social Work. Dr. Curran’s scholarship focuses on three areas: social work and social welfare history, particularly the history of social work interventions with low-income families and children; women’s perinatal health and well-being; and social work education. Dr. Curran has an extensive record of peer-reviewed publications and her work has received funding from the New Jersey, Department of Health, the New York Community Trust, and the Association of Social Work Boards, among other entities. 

Dr. Curran earned her B.A. from Barnard College, an MSW from Columbia University, and her Ph.D. from UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare. Dr. Curran was previously at Rutgers University-New Brunswick where she served as the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the Rutgers University School of Social Work. Prior to entering academia, Dr. Curran practiced as a social worker in the areas of community mental health and child welfare. She is currently an elected member of the Board of Directors of the Council of Social Work Education.