Rachel Schwartz, Ph.D., has spent the past 15 years of her career working with MSW students focusing on online education and student success.
She joins the UConn School of Social Work as the new director of the MSW program and associate professor in residence. Some of her most recently published work can be viewed here. Schwartz also serves as co-chair of the Technology and Social Work Practice track with the Council on Social Work Education.
“Most recently, I have completed research that focused on the experiences of online social work students who identify as women and hold multiple roles and responsibilities. This research found that online education provided the opportunity for these students to complete their degree because of the flexibility and access that programs provided,” she said. “However, it also raised important considerations related to gender roles and expectations around gender, finding that as women took on the role of student, their other roles as caretaker (and all associated roles within the home), and employee did not diminish. The research found that women had to negotiate and prioritize different roles and that meeting expectations (from themselves, family, society overall) particularly around their caregiving roles often created role conflict. The findings provide recommendations for how social work programs can support students, by considering intersectional critical feminist pedagogy and practices, and applying the community of inquiry framework.”
Schwartz has noticed particularly over the last few years a shift in the social work field to virtual, as many agencies pivoted to telehealth during the pandemic.
“Many students are doing a lot of their work online and in the field and practice. We’re recognizing more and more the importance for students to gain valuable skillsets with virtual education,” she noted.
Schwartz received her Ph.D. in higher education from the Rutgers University Graduate School of Education in October 2024. Her most recent experiences with online education included the development and management of an online and blended MSW program. She has also worked closely with faculty teaching across the MSW curriculum to provide pedagogical support and expertise in teaching as well as developing courses. Schwartz’s scholarship regularly reaches a national audience on issues related to social work education including online education, student supports, practicum education, and technology.
“The online program I previously developed grew to support many students across the country, so it’s exciting to be here at UConn to offer expertise and providing access to students to quality online and in-person social work education. I am glad to be part of a program that offers so many different options to meet the needs of students across the state of Connecticut,” she said.