Paula Nieman, PhD

Assistant Professor in Residence and BSW Program Director

Paula Nieman is the Director of the BSW program and Assistant Professor in Residence.

Paula earned her MSSW from Columbia University and brings over a decade of post-master’s practice experience to her teaching and program administration. Her background includes: direct practice and program oversight with individuals experiencing homelessness and mental illness; group work with youth; case coordination for children and youth in foster care; recruitment, training, and supervision of foster parents; and supervision of bachelor- and master’s-level colleagues.

From 2005 to 2021, Paula served on the faculty at Western New England University, where she taught a wide range of BSW courses and oversaw practicum education. She has taught courses in social work theory, research, generalist practice, and micro and macro practicum seminars. She is especially interested in supporting students’ development as reflective practitioners, helping them integrate classroom learning with practicum experiences, and preparing them for meaningful, ethical, and critically informed social work practice.

Paula completed her PhD in Social Work at the University of Connecticut in 2021. Her dissertation explored the lived experiences of early-career BSW practitioners, examining how organizational structures and broader social, political, and economic forces shape their practice experiences and emerging professional identities. Her ongoing scholarship continues to explore facets of BSW education and the contexts that shape BSW practice.

Curriculum Vitae

View Paula Nieman’s CV