Research

Research & Scholarship at the School of Social Work

Our nationally and internationally recognized faculty, as well as our graduate students, conduct research and scholarly work to inform social policy and generate knowledge for the future of the profession. Research at the school spans a range of topics: child welfare, violence and trauma, mental health and substance misuse, political participation, and human rights at home and internationally. Utilizing state-of-the-art quantitative and qualitative methods, faculty and graduate students investigate issues here in Connecticut, as well as elsewhere in the United States and abroad.

We recently welcomed to our School the Innovations Institute, an interdisciplinary, translational research center, which builds research-based, inclusive, culturally-responsive, and transformative child-, youth-and family-serving systems and services, and develops the capacity of the workforce within these systems.

In addition, the school works alongside various Connecticut state agencies including the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and the Office of Early Childhood to conduct research and evaluation projects to advance our community's response to some of the most pressing issues in social work today. Read more about our state partnerships

The Office of Research and Scholarship

The UConn School of Social Work's Office of Research & Scholarship (ORS) aims to support faculty in the conduct of both basic and applied research. We also highlight recent research activity, active grant awards, and other updates on our Research News page.

Vision

The UConn School of Social Work’s Office of Research and Scholarship promotes the integration of research and scholarship with the core values of the school. ORS is committed to supporting research and scholarship that serves as an engine of growth for the State of Connecticut.  We foster research and scholarship that informs policy and practice and that prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Goals

  • Promote and expand research and scholarship activities in collaboration with School of Social Work students, faculty, and staff.
  • Connect the school community with extramural support opportunities.
  • Raise the UConn SSW research and scholarship profile.
  • Assist members of the SSW community with the grants management process (both at submission and after awards are obtained).
  • Foster engagement and collaborations between the SSW community members and other scholars, agencies, organizations, and communities.

Questions? Please contact the Office of Research & Scholarship at ssw-ors@uconn.edu.

    Faculty Areas of Expertise

    Our expert faculty is committed to the generation and wide dissemination of cutting edge and impactful knowledge, informed by social justice and anti-oppressive lenses, through traditional and innovative research methodologies.

    Megan Berthold

    S. Megan Berthold, PhD

    Professor

    F. Tony Bonadio

    F. Tony Bonadio, PhD

    Assistant Research Professor

    Associate Research Professor Margo Candelaria

    Margo Candelaria, PhD

    Associate Research Professor

    Patricia Carlson, PhD

    Patricia Carlson, PhD

    Assistant Research Professor

    Kelsi Carolan

    Kelsi Carolan, PhD

    Assistant Professor

    Headshot of Dean Laura Curran

    Laura Curran, PhD

    Dean and Professor

    Caitlin Elsaesser, PhD

    Caitlin Elsaesser, PhD

    Associate Professor

    Kimberly Estep

    Kimberly Estep, MA

    Director for Systems Design and Implementation Strategies and Assistant Extension Professor

    Megan Feely

    Megan Feely, PhD

    Associate Professor

    Professor Bob Fisher head shot

    Robert Fisher, PhD

    Professor

    Photo of Dr. Alexandria Forte

    Alexandria Forte, PhD

    Assistant Professor

    Ann Marie Garran

    Ann Marie Garran, PhD

    Associate Professor

    Elizabeth Greeno

    Elizabeth Greeno, PhD

    Associate Research Professor

    Deborah Harburger, MSW

    Deborah Harburger, MSW

    Director of Policy and Financing and Assistant Extension Professor

    Scott Harding, PhD

    Scott Harding, PhD

    Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor

    Professor Nina Heller

    Nina Rovinelli Heller, Ph.D.

    Professor and Dean Emerita

    Chenglin Hong picture

    Chenglin Hong, PhD

    Assistant Professor

    Gio Iacono, PhD

    Gio Iacono, PhD

    Assistant Professor

    Samantha Lawrence, PhD

    Assistant Research Professor

    Joy Learman, Ph.D.

    Joy Learman, PhD

    Assistant Professor in Residence

    Regina Lester-Harriat

    Regina Lester-Harriat, LMSW

    Assistant Professor in Residence

    Associate Professor Kathyrn Libal

    Kathryn Libal, PhD

    Professor and Director, UConn Human Rights Institute

    Hsiu-Ju Lin, PhD

    Hsiu-Ju Lin, PhD

    Associate Research Professor

    Elizabeth Manley

    Elizabeth Manley, LSW

    Senior Advisor for Health and Behavioral Health Policy and Assistant Extension Professor

    Associate Dean Jennifer Manuel

    Jennifer Manuel, Ph.D.

    Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Research

    Marlene Matarese

    Marlene Matarese, PhD

    Associate Research Professor

    BSW Director Paula Nieman

    Paula Nieman, PhD

    Assistant Professor in Residence and BSW Program Director

    Assistant Professor Nathanael Okpych

    Nathanael Okpych, PhD

    Associate Professor

    SSW building entrance, placeholder pic

    Meg Paceley, PhD

    Associate Professor

    Rupal Parekh

    Rupal Parekh, PhD

    Assistant Professor

    SSW building entrance, placeholder pic

    Kathryn Parr

    Assistant Research Professor

    Jon Phillips

    Jon Phillips, PhD

    Assistant Professor

    Lisa Werkmeister Rozas, PhD

    Lisa Werkmeister Rozas, Ph.D.

    Professor

    Lesly Sanchez-Villar

    Lesly Sanchez-Villar, LCSW

    Assistant Professor in Residence

    Rachel Schwartz, PhD

    Director of the MSW Program and Associate Professor in Residence

    Sukhmani Singh

    Sukhmani Singh, PhD

    Assistant Professor

    Tanya Rhodes Smith

    Tanya Rhodes Smith, MSW

    Instructor in Residence and Director, Nancy A. Humphreys Institute for Political Social Work

    Ellen Smith

    Ellen Smith, PhD

    Associate Professor in Residence

    Linda Sprague Martinez, Ph.D.

    Linda Sprague Martinez, PhD

    Faculty Affiliate, Professor in the Department of Medicine, and Director of the Health Disparities Institute at UConn Health

    Denise Sulzbach, JD

    Denise Sulzbach, JD

    Director of the TA Network and Assistant Extension Professor

    Assistant Extension Professor Kate Sweeney

    Kate Sweeney, MSW

    Assistant Extension Professor

    Professor Rebecca Thomas

    Rebecca Thomas, PhD

    Professor and Director, Center for International Social Work Studies

    Wendy Ulaszek, PhD

    Wendy Ulaszek, PhD

    Associate Research Professor

    Professor Cristina Wilson

    Cristina Wilson, PhD

    Henry M. and Judith M. Zachs Chair in Social Work, Professor, Director of the Ph.D. Program

    Innovations Institute Director Michelle Zabel

    Michelle Zabel, MSS

    Executive Director of the Innovations Institute and Associate Extension Professor