2025 SSW Impact Magazine

IMPACT

VOLUME III

MAGAZINE

BRIDGES OF KNOWLEDGE:

WHERE COLLABORATION MEETS IMPACT

UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH AND INNOVATION REPORT

Addressing the Grand Challenges Through Research Eliminate racism Promote smart decarceration End homelessness Eradicate social isolation Close the health gap Advance long and productive lives Harnessing technology for social good Create social responses to a changing environment Build healthy relationships to end violence Ensure healthy development for youth Prevent gun violence Build financial capability and assets for all Reduce extreme economic inequality Achieve equal opportunity and justice

Table of

Contents Page 3

01 Welcome from the Dean and Associate Dean Year In Numbers 02 A Facts and Figures from 2024-25

03 Faculty and Student Accolades and News Faculty Recognitions Welcoming New Faculty

09 Alabama Social Work Researchers Were

Page 9

Searching For Connection UA Had The “ANSWR”

Building research collaborations statewide.

10 Preparing Social Workers to Navigate the AI Revolution

11 Parks, Crime, and Community Health: A Data-

Page11

Driven Partnership for Safer and Healthier Neighborhoods

Creative partnerships leading to innovative data integration

12 Building Bridges Across Continents: Dr. Abigail Mills' Fulbright Journey at UA

13 Seeds of Collaboration:

How Social Work Research Took Root in A Community Garden

Bridging research, education, and community service

19 Research and Scholarship News Driving #Legendarychange

Office of Social Work Research news p. 19 Dissemination Celebration: A year of conferencing p. 21 Recent grants and contracts p. 22 Faculty and Student Achievements 2021-2025 p. 24

Page 13

WELCOME

From left: Drs. Nicole Ruggiano (Associate Dean of Research), Ravi Majeti (Assistant Vice President for Interdisciplinary Research), and Schnavia Hatcher (Dean of the School of Social Work)

From the Dean and Associate Dean

On behalf of the Office of Social Work Research (OSWR), I'm thrilled to present this year's Impact Magazine, our annual celebration of research, scholarship, and innovation that drives meaningful change in our communities.

This year's theme, "Bridges of Knowledge: Where Collaboration Meets Impact," recognizes the transformative research partnerships that have advanced social work science throughout the year. Despite significant disruptions and uncertainty in the research landscape, our discipline has demonstrated remarkable resilience. Social work researchers, true to our profession's core values, have not only risen to meet these challenges but have flourished through strategic collaborations between faculty, students, community partners, and interdisciplinary colleagues.

The stories featured in this issue illuminate how discovery and impact emerge from the creative intersections of research, education, policy, and practice. These collaborative efforts have yielded extraordinary results: a notable increase in faculty and student publications, the development of new partnerships with community organizations and government agencies, the launch of an innovative research training certificate program for BSW and MSW students, and the establishment of a robust network of social work researchers spanning institutions across Alabama.

Each article in this issue represents more than individual achievement—it showcases the power of connection, the strength found in partnership, and the profound impact that emerges when we bridge different forms of knowledge and expertise.

As you explore these pages, I invite you to consider how these collaborative models might inform your own work and inspire new partnerships. The research highlighted here demonstrates that our greatest breakthroughs occur not in isolation, but at the intersection of diverse perspectives, shared commitment, and collective action.

Thank you for your continued dedication to advancing social work research and for building the bridges that connect knowledge to meaningful impact in our communities and beyond.

Nicole Ruggiano, PhD, MSW Professor and Associate Dean of Research Greetings, Welcome to The University of Alabama’s School of Social Work Annual Research Report!

This report was created to provide the latest news in social work research and scholarship from our faculty, upcoming research events related to social work, and profile some of the accomplishments from our doctoral students who are preparing to launch social work careers. The report will also highlight the impact of our work with vulnerable communities, particularly as we focus on the Grand Challenges of Social Work.

It is my privilege to introduce the 3rd edition of the School of Social Work’s Impact Magazine, our Annual Research and Innovation Report from the Office of Social Work Research. Enjoy!

Dean Schnavia Smith Hatcher 1

9

New Awards Led

by SSW

New Awards supported by SSW

NSF Ranking Among Social Work Programs In Federal Research Expenditures

6

13th

New and Continuing External FundingFor SSW FacultyInvoled Research Projects

$19.3 Million

Grant Funding

New Awards Led or Supported By SSW

$6 Million

Percent of partnerships involving undergraduate Students

100% of Tenure Track Assistant Professors With Grant Funding

32%

Increase in Annual Peer-reviewed Publications

Number of facultystudent partnerships for Research

27%

96

Dissemination Research education

Number of faculty-student collaborations on conference presentations

56

Conference and Workshop Presentations

Number of BSW and MSW students with extracurricular research training

124

23 A YEAR IN NUMBERS

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Research and Scholarship News and Accolades Breaking New Ground: Dr. Lindamarie Olson Bridges Neuroscience and Mental Health Dr. Lindamarie Olson is pioneering an unusual combination: social work and neuroscience. As an inagural fellow at the Alabama Life Research Institute (ALRI), she's using brain imaging technology to better understand trauma and help young people heal.

Olson's current research focuses on former foster youth, using MRI technology to study how the brain responds to traumatic, neutral, and happy memories. The goal is to understand the neural basis of dissociation—a common response to trauma that affects daily functioning.

"One of the things that I love about social work is that it incorporates aspects of so many other disciplines within it.

But the one area where I feel like we are lacking in training and knowledge is the effects of things on the brain, and how that relates to the rest of our biopsychosocial health," Olson explains. Her journey into neuroscience began during an internship at a residential treatment facility that used neurofeedback and EEGs to treat children with severe emotional disturbances.

The ALRI fellowship program brings together faculty from different disciplines to learn neuroimaging techniques, write grants, and develop pilot studies. For Olson, it's been transformative. "It's changed the way I view the entire research process," she notes.

What struck her most was the power of showing adolescents actual images of their brains. "I think it's so helpful to be able to sit down with an adolescent and show them pictures of their brain, and especially at the end of treatment, to show how treatment can cause their brain to change," she says.

The research has practical implications beyond academia.

Olson is working with Alabama's Department of Mental Health and Department of Youth Services to identify gaps in care across the state. She's also expanding neurofeedback services to children's advocacy centers throughout Alabama.

Her work represents a growing trend of interdisciplinary collaboration, showing how brain science can enhance traditional social work approaches to help vulnerable populations heal and thrive.

Dr. Olson uses MRI images to study the role of neuroscience in social work.

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Dr. Nicole Ruggiano Selected as a Research Leadership Fellow by the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU)

Dr. Nicole Ruggiano participating at UA’s annual Faculty Research Day, which encourages undergraduate student engagement with faculty research projects.

Associate Dean of Research and Development, Dr. Nicole Ruggiano, has been named a Research Leader Fellow by the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities’ Council on Research (APLU COR). The COR Research Leader Fellowship is a 12-month leadership development program designed to prepare emerging university research leaders for senior roles in research administration. During her time as a fellow, Dr. Ruggiano will engage with experienced research executives, have ongoing mentoring and learning opportunities about the current state of academic research, and attend site visits at research institutions across the U.S. As part of her participation in the program, Dr. Ruggiano will complete a project for the University of Alabama to support research security. “Research security is an ongoing challenge for academic institutions and is currently a national priority,” she explains. “As UA advances its research enterprise, it will be extremely important to maintain competitiveness for federal research funding.” Dr. Ruggiano has particular interest in learning about research security issues specific to research involving artificial intelligence.

Data-Driven Change: Black Belt Initiative Reveals Critical Youth Protection Needs The School of Social Work's Black Belt Internship Initiative is generating significant research insights that translate directly into community action. What began as a student placement program has evolved into a powerful data collection and analysis project uncovering patterns in youth services across rural Alabama.

From left: Director of Experiential Programs and Community Partnerships Dr. Courtney Chapman Thomas, MSW student Swantrese Waver-Johnson, Judge Vernetta Perkins Walker, Dean Schnavia Smith Hatcher, and MSW student Keely Campbell. Following the success of her practicum placement, Swantrese Waver-Johnson was hired by the Dallas County Juvenile Probation Office.

Working alongside the Dallas County Juvenile Probation Office, MSW students conducted a comprehensive six-month analysis of juvenile intake forms. This systematic data review revealed a previously unquantified pattern: familial sexual abuse emerged as a significant and recurring concern among referred youth in the region.

The research approach demonstrates how embedded student practitioners serve as effective data collectors, utilizing direct access to case files and community systems to identify trends that might otherwise remain invisible. Based on the data analysis, the initiative developed targeted training programs for school professionals and community members. These evidence-based interventions focus on enhancing early identification of warning signs and improving access to resources for victims.

This represents a significant shift from reactive to proactive intervention strategies, with training programs now being implemented across Selma and Dallas County. The initiative established the Selma-Dallas County Children's Policy Alliance, bringing together over 21 community partners as both a research collaborative and implementation network. Through this model, the School builds sustainable research infrastructure in communities that historically lacked comprehensive data analysis capabilities, contributing to the initiative's $2.7 million economic impact across 17 Alabama counties.

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PhD Student Uche Nwatu Selected for National Pre-Doctoral Fellowship in Gerontology PhD student, Uche Nwatu, was selected this year by the Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGESW) as a 202 Pre-dissertation Fellow. AGESW is the flagship organization for gerontological social work. Its' pre-dissertation Fellowship is awarded to doctoral students who demonstrate a commitment to the field of aging and plan to pursue dissertation research in gerontology. The goal of the Fellowship is to prepare promising scholars for a career as a gerontological social work faculty member.

The program provides significant opportunities for mentoring, methodological training, and professional development by leading scholars in the field. It also provides support for the awardee to travel to the annual scientific meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, which will be held in Boston in November 2025.

PhD Student Uche Nwatu As part of her Fellowship, Nwatu's research addresses a critical yet often overlooked crisis: how extreme heat affects older adults in Alabama's Black Belt, one of the nation's most underserved regions. Drawing from her childhood in rural Nigeria—where she witnessed firsthand how flooding and climate disasters disproportionately harm older community members—Nwatu is now investigating how extreme temperatures impact the daily lives, mental health, and resilience of older adults living in poverty. Her study focuses on understanding their experiences and coping strategies in the face of brutal heat waves, with the goal of developing community-driven solutions that honor their voices and strengths. In a region already marked by limited infrastructure and persistent health disparities, Nwatu's work aims to ensure that older adults aren't left behind as climate change intensifies, ultimately informing policies that promote both climate resilience and healthy aging in marginalized communities across the rural South.

PhD Student Terrell Richardson Receives Two National Awards for His Dedication to Improving Mental Health Among At-Risk College Students PhD student Terrell Richardson is making waves in higher education with research that hits close to home—and close to campus. Last year he has earned back-to-back national honors for his groundbreaking work on mental health support for atrisk college students, particularly Black men navigating higher education.

Richardson's most recent accolade, the 2025 Outstanding Student Award from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), recognizes his commitment to higher education's core principles: integrity, innovation, inclusion, and inquiry. He also received the prestigious 2024 Minority Fellowship Program Doctoral Fellow award from the Council of Social Work Education.

But Richardson's impact extends far beyond awards ceremonies. When COVID-19 disrupted campus life, he didn't just observe the crisis—he studied it. Working under faculty guidance, Richardson designed and executed a study examining how the pandemic affected student leaders at Minority Serving Institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. His findings are now helping college administrators better support student leaders during future crises and periods of civil unrest.

Richardson has also taken his expertise directly to practitioners, facilitating training sessions on culturally informed suicide prevention for young adults of color through NASW-NC Guilford County. His hands-on experience spans clinical services for college students, academic advising, housing assistance for the unsheltered, and helping low-income families navigate public assistance programs. With his research laserfocused on college students, Richardson is addressing a critical gap in mental health From left: Dr. Daphne Cain, Dr. Leah Cheatham, and PhD student, Terrell Richardson at the annual support—one student, one study, and one training session at a time.

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meeting of the Society for Social Work and Research

Dr. Barbara Lester Selected as Top Ten Finalist for Student Research Award for Her Work Combatting Ageism in Healthcare

Dr. Barbara Lester (center) presenting her research at the 2024 GSA Scientific Meeting of along with her Capstone committee members, Drs. Nicole Ruggiano (left), and Troy Anderson (Univ. of Utah, right).

Recent DSW graduate, Dr. Barbara Lester was a top ten finalist for the best student research award at the 2024 scientific meeting of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) in Seattle last November. She presented her Capstone research, Combatting Ageism: Evaluating the Impact of an Age-Positive Training in Health Care. For her study, she developed an evidence-based anti-ageism training for health care employees to improve care for older adults. Dr. Lester implemented her training intervention through the employee continuing education program at her healthcare organization, Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City, Utah.

She conducted pre- and post-tests among participants that evaluated their attitudes towards aging and older adults. Over the course of eight trainings 167 employees, with 64% completing both pre- and postevaluation. She found that there was a significant improvement in participants’ knowledge about aging and reduction in ageist beliefs.

Dr. Matthew Anderson Receives 2024 STRONG STAR Combat PTSD Conference Student Poster Award

Dr. Matthew Anderson with his research poster at the 2024 STRONG STAR Combat PTSD Conference.

Recent DSW graduate, Dr. Matthew Anderson received the Student Poster Award for Self-Starter for Research Done Independently at the 9th Annual Combat PTSD Conference in San Antonio, Texas. His research was titled, Trends of adverse childhood experiences among Veterans referred to a PCT at a Veterans Healthcare Medical Center. As part of his research, Dr. Anderson analyzed data available at a VA Medical Center in Mississippi to examine adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among veterans who had been referred for specialty PTSD services and compared the findings from a prior study that examined a non-veteran population. His findings demonstrated veterans were more likely to report having an ACE, more likely to report multiple ACEs, and were more likely to experience specific ACEs, compared to the general public. The findings may inform new assessment and clinical practices to better address mental health among veterans.

Two MSW Students Selected as Office of Social Work Research Practitioner Scholars MSW students Leigh McMullin and Bigvai Estrada have been selected as the first Office of Social Work Research Practitioner Scholars for the 2024-2025 academic year. As part of their practicum experience, the students will learn more about the intersection of social work practice, research, and policy. They will receive hands-on experience in community assessments and policy practice through a project where the team will survey and interview local policymakers across the state to learn what their policy priorities are as well as their needs are for evidence and information that can inform their policy decisions. They will also assist faculty in the School with identifying grant opportunities that address the Grand Challenges of Social Work and support grassroots organizing activities that support social work researchers and students across the state of Alabama. Leigh and Bigvai are both 1st year students in the online MSW Program.

MSW Students Leigh McMullin (left) and Bigvai Estrada (right), who are completing their MSW practicum in the Office of Social Work Research.

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NEW EDITIONS

Dr. Lacey Jenkins

WELCOMING OUR

The School of Social Work is excited to welcome five new clinical and tenure track faculty members to the school. These talented and innovative scholars will make positive contributions to the School’s efforts in addressing the Grand Challenges for communities locally, nationally, and globally.

r. Lacey Jenkins is a recent PhD graduate from the University of Texas at Arlington, where she completed her research on child wellbeing. Her research, titled, "Strengthening Child Well-Being: Evaluating the Role of Family Resource Centers in Preventing Child Maltreatment," represents innovative thinking in prevention-focused child welfare.

Rather than studying interventions after problems occur, Jenkins examines how community-based resources can proactively support families, potentially preventing their

Dr. Donna Hornsby r. Donna T. Hornsby is joining the School as a Clinical Assistant Professor. She received her DSW from the University of Kentucky and is a licensed master social worker. She is also the Executive Director and co-founder of the Cancer Caregiver Alliance, a non-profit she established in 2024, where her goal is to support caregivers of cancer patients who are receiving CAR-T cell therapy and stem cell transplants.

In addition to this work, Dr. Hornsby has more than 31 years of social work practice experience, mostly in child welfare, where she has experience working at the local, state, and national levels. As a clinician, she is certified as a Trauma and Resiliency Practitioner, trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy.

Dr. Hornsby’s research and scholarship centers around her practice expertise. She is interested in studying child welfare and also cancer caregiving, with the goal of reducing caregiver burden to support both caregiver and patient outcomes.

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involvement with child protective services altogether.

Jenkins brings both academic rigor and real-world experience to her research. Her professional background includes direct practice as a child welfare caseworker, school social worker, and adoption specialist— experiences that deeply inform her scholarly pursuits.

This combination of frontline knowledge and research expertise positions her uniquely to understand the complexities families face.

Jenkins' research productivity is impressive, with multiple peer-reviewed publications already in print and several more under review. Her collaborative work spans topics from state-level reunification policies to equity in child welfare workforce development. r. Vanessa L. Jones is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Doctor of Social Work with extensive experience in clinical practice, supervision, and teaching. She earned her bachelors degree in Sociology from the University of California, Davis, her Master of Social Work from Columbia University, and her Doctor of Social Work from The

Dr. Vanessa Jones

poverty, race, and sexuality--compound barriers to accessing health and social services. His work hopes to inform stigmareduction and promote equitable service delivery for marginalized groups.

Prior to joining the faculty at UA he was the social work supervisor at Unity Wellness Center, an AIDS Service Organization in Opelika, AL.

Dr. Peiyuan Zhang

Dr. Jones recently served as a therapist, administrative and clinical supervisor at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Prior to this role, she spent 12 years working in the California prison system, where she provided a broad range of mental health services—including crisis intervention, individual therapy and supervised unlicensed social workers for more than a decade. Prior to that Dr. Jones worked with

r. Peiyuan Zhang joins the UA faculty with a

active duty military personnel providing behavioral interventions, and with emotionally challenged foster children. She also served as an adjunct lecturer at California State University, Monterey Bay, for three years.

Her research interests focus on three key areas: social workers’ exposure to workplace trauma, the importance of robust clinical supervision, and the emotional well-being of incarcerated men.

unique combination of research excellence and real-world impact in end-of-life care. Fresh from completing her PhD at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, Dr. Zhang has already established herself as a rising star in gerontological social work, with publications in top-tier journals including Alzheimer's & Dementia and the Journal of Applied Gerontology.

Her research tackles one of healthcare's most challenging areas: ensuring quality end-of-life care for older adults, particularly those from immigrant communities who often face cultural and language barriers in navigating the healthcare system. Dr. Zhang's current focus on developing assessment tools for advance care planning in nursing homes addresses a critical gap in supporting residents with cognitive impairment.

What sets Dr. Zhang apart is her hands-on clinical experience

Dr. Philip Kierce

spanning two continents. She's provided direct palliative care services in both U.S. and Chinese healthcare settings, giving

r. Philip Kierce is from Auburn, Alabama, and

her research an authenticity that comes from understanding

recently completed a DSW from the University

patients' needs firsthand. As a new faculty member, she is

of Kentucky. He has extensive experience as a medical case

already focused on grant writing to support her work, which

manager, focusing on holistic support and advocacy for

further demonstrates her commitment to transforming how

individuals living with HIV. His research explores how

we approach end-of-life care for our most vulnerable

intersecting social stigmas--HIV status, gender expression,

populations.

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Alabama Social Work Researchers Were Searching For Connection

UA Had The ANSWR

While changes to federal research priorities and government restructuring have presented new challenges for social work research across Alabama, something remarkable happened: instead of retreating, researchers have been coming together to increase their capacity for pursuing their research agendas that tackle the Grand Challenges of Social Work.

Initiated by the UA Office of Social Work Research, the Alabama Network of Social Work Researchers (The ANSWR) emerged from a simple but powerful idea—that collective action and grassroots organizing could strengthen the discipline's ability to tackle the most pressing health, social, and economic needs facing Alabamians. What started as informal conversations has blossomed into a 52-member network spanning 11 colleges and universities across the state, from major research institutions to historically black colleges and universities.

The network brings together faculty at every career stage, from doctoral students and assistant professors seeking mentorship to seasoned researchers looking for fresh collaborations. For junior faculty at smaller institutions,

the connection has been particularly valuable—offering access to resources and opportunities that might otherwise remain out of reach.

The group's first in-person retreat in June 2025 drew more than 30 researchers to The University of Alabama campus, where they mapped out ambitious plans for the future. Their mission is clear: develop and share resources, training, and support to strengthen social work research across Alabama while connecting researchers to engage in impactful scholarship. By pooling expertise and resources, these researchers are ensuring that Alabama's social work programs can continue contributing meaningful solutions to the Grand Challenges.

Other states are watching closely, considering similar grassroots organizing efforts. The ANSWR proves that when researchers unite, they can create something greater than the sum of their parts—a model that could reshape how academic disciplines protect and advance their work in challenging times.

“Social work has always been about collective action to improve community wellbeing. We realized we needed to apply that same spirit to protecting and advancing our own research capacity." ~ Dr. Nicole Ruggiano

Members of The ANSWR include researchers from: Alabama A & M University, Auburn University, Jacksonville State University, Oakwood University, Samford University, Troy University, Tuskegee University, University of Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of North Alabama, University of South Alabama. (Below photo: In June 2025, members of The ANSWR 9 participated in a full-day research and scholarship retreat the the UA Bryant Conference Center.

PREPARING SOCIAL WORKERS TO NAVIGATE THE AI REVOLUTION Like many professions, artificial intelligence (AI) has played an increasing role in social work education and practice, though the benefits and challenges of using AI in social work remain unclear. As a discipline built on human connection and empathy, the question remains: How do you prepare students for a field rooted in human relationships while embracing technology that could reshape how they serve clients?

A team of faculty and administrators recently completed a study to shed more light on AI in social work. As one respondent from the study noted, "AI is not going away and learning how it can assist us in a proper and ethical manner is important."

The Reality Check Through a grant from the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, the research team surveyed 137 social work students, faculty, and practitioners across the state. While more than a third considered themselves knowledgeable about AI, only 8.5% felt very knowledgeable, and just 25% had ever taken AI training.

"Many of the students who participated thought that ChatGPT was the only AI tool available," said Dr. Nicole Ruggiano, who led the study team. "They were quite surprised that the landscape of AI is much more complex."

Where AI Actually Helps The study revealed where AI shows the most promise: administrative tasks and data analysis. Social workers spend countless hours on paperwork—time that could be spent directly helping clients. AI could handle routine work, freeing professionals to focus on building relationships and providing emotional support.

Teaching the Next Generation The research team didn't just study the problem—they created a solution. They developed pilot content for a pilot BSW course that taught students to integrate AI into social work practice responsibly.

The research team measured students’ AI readiness before and after the course, and the results showed that they made significant improvements in their self-efficacy in using AI in social work practice settings. Students were surprised by the range of AI applications they discovered, from practicing interview skills to analyzing community needs.

Navigating Ethics The study highlighted the profession's biggest concern: ethics. Over 100 participants cited ethical issues as their primary worry, followed by privacy concerns. Social work deals with vulnerable populations and sensitive information, making these concerns well-founded.

Rather than avoiding these challenges, the Alabama approach suggests addressing them through education and clear guidelines.

Looking Forward The study points toward a future where AI becomes a tool in the social worker's toolkit—not a replacement for human judgment, but a way to handle routine tasks more efficiently. The key is preparation through proper training in how to use AI tools ethically and effectively.

The challenge now is ensuring that social work education keeps pace with technological change while preserving the human-centered values that make the profession unique.

But participants were clear about boundaries. Activities requiring human judgment—like client assessments and case management—scored lower on usefulness. "I worry that social workers could rely too much on AI," one participant explained. "AI is not empathetic and cannot make real human connections for us."

This project was led by several SSW faculty and administrators: Dr. Nicole Ruggiano (Project Lead), Dr. Schnavia Hatcher, Dr. Sebrena Jackson, Dr. Dalila John, PhD Student Denise Kan, Dr. Hyunjin Noh, Ms. Jade Scales, and Dr. Sherron Wilkes

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Parks, Crime, and Community Health: A Data-Driven Partnership for Safer and Healthier Neighborhoods When UA Associate Professor Dr. Lewis Lee received an unexpected invitation from a colleague in 2022, he couldn't have imagined it would lead to groundbreaking research that could reshape how cities design their neighborhoods. The proposal was intriguing: analyze data from nearly 1,000 urban parks across Alabama to understand their impact on community health and safety.

What started as a "lighthearted invitation" quickly evolved into a robust collaboration between researchers from The University of Alabama, UAB, and the University of New Hampshire. The interdisciplinary team—spanning social work, occupational therapy, nursing, and public administration—was united by a shared belief that urban parks, often overlooked as critical infrastructure, play an essential role in shaping neighborhood safety and quality of life.

pathway that could inform future urban planning strategies.

"This project would not have been possible without genuine interdisciplinary collaboration," explains Dr. Lee. "By bringing together expertise from social work, occupational therapy, public health, and nursing, we were able to approach complex questions about health, crime, and urban infrastructure from multiple angles."

The research faced significant challenges early on, including data quality issues that initially produced contradictory results. Rather than abandoning their research questions, the team brought in geospatial analysis expert Dr. Akhlaque Haque, whose expertise helped them transition to more rigorous measurement methods using satellite technology.

Their innovative approach combined high-resolution satellite imagery from Google Earth Pro with crime data and CDC health indicators to create a comprehensive picture of how park size affects communities. This wasn't just academic curiosity—the team was addressing urgent questions about health equity in urban areas, where disparities in access to green space often compound existing inequalities.

For communities across Alabama and beyond, these findings offer concrete evidence for public investment in larger, accessible parks as part of comprehensive strategies to improve safety and health. The research provides social workers, urban planners, and policymakers with scientific backing to advocate for green space expansion that addresses local needs while promoting equity.

The findings, published in leading health journals, revealed surprising connections. Larger urban parks were consistently associated with lower neighborhood crime rates and better physical health outcomes. Most notably, the team discovered that parks' mental health benefits work primarily through enhanced neighborhood safety—a previously unknown

The team is now preparing to expand their research nationally, seeking to test these relationships across diverse geographic contexts and generate policy-relevant evidence to support health-promoting urban infrastructure nationwide.

Interdisciplinary team members for this project included (from left): Dr. Gibran Mancus from the University of New Hampshire, Dr. Hon K. Yuen from The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Dr. Lewis Lee from the UA School of Social Work, and Dr. Akhlaque Haque from UAB. Integrating satellite data with health and crime data, the team demonstrated the important role that urban parks play in community health and crime rates.

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BUILDING BRIDGES ACROSS CONTINENTS DR. ABIGAIL MILLS' FULBRIGHT JOURNEY AT UA When Dr. Abigail Adubea Mills arrived at The University of Alabama in January 2025, she brought a vision for transformative cross-cultural collaboration.

Over five months as a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence, this distinguished Ghanaian social work scholar has left a lasting mark on campus and throughout Tuscaloosa.

Breaking New Ground in Disability Education Dr. Mills achieved a significant milestone by teaching the first disability-focused course ever offered at UA's School of Social Work. This interdisciplinary course provided crucial international perspectives on disability rights—expanding beyond typical U.S.-focused curriculum. Her guest lectures in neurodevelopmental disabilities courses further enriched student learning with global insights.

“Dr. Mills has sparked interest among current and likely future students in the area of disability rights." ~ Dr. Leah Cheatham Associate Professor and Dr. Mill’s Institutional Host

Building Lasting Partnerships Dr. Mills’ influence reaches beyond the classroom. She engaged in conversations with the College of Arts and Sciences regarding supporting the African Studies Minor program at the college, and will be teaching sessions online after returning to Ghana. Her research presentations have opened doors for future collaborations between UA and the University of Ghana.

(From Left) Dr. Tori Jessen, Dr. Teresa Wise, Dr. Abigail Mills, Dr. Leah Cheatham, and Dr. Nicole Ruggiano.

fellowshipping with First Presbyterian Church to hosting faculty for traditional Ghanaian meals, Dr. Mills created meaningful connections transcending professional boundaries.

A Legacy of Understanding As her residency concludes, Dr. Mills leaves behind partnerships, inspired students, and collaborations that promise to enrich both universities for years to come. Her work demonstrates how academic exchange creates lasting change, one meaningful connection at a time.

Dr. Mills brings impressive credentials as Senior Lecturer and PhD Program Coordinator at the University of Ghana's Department of Social Work. Her recent groundbreaking research utilizes artificial intelligence to promote sexual and reproductive health outcomes for adolescents with disabilities in Ghana.

Deep Community Engagement Beyond campus, Dr. Mills immersed herself in Tuscaloosa's disability advocacy ecosystem, volunteering with the Alabama Disability Advocacy Program and Tuscaloosa's One Place. Her engagement with Tuscaloosa City Schools provided cross-cultural insights into public education systems.

Her community involvement fostered mutual understanding—a core Fulbright mission. From

Clockwise, from top: Drs. Abigail Mills and Debra Nelson-Gardell; Ms. Christina Norris (left), Senior Case Advocate for UA’s Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program and Dr. Mills; Dr. Mills giving a presentaiton at a SSW Research Rounds Event

Special thanks to those who supported Abigail’s residency at UA, including: Dr. Debra Nelson-Gardell, Professor Emeritus and former Coordinator of International Programs, Dr. Leah Cheatham (SSW Host); Dr. Teresa White, Associate Provost for International Education & Global Affairs , Dr. Lisa 12 Pawloski, collaborator from Arts & Sciences, and Dr. Tori Jessen, Assistant Director of International Partnerships and Scholarships

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SEEDS OF COLLABORATION: HOW SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH TOOK ROOT IN A COMMUNITY GARDEN FROM IDEA TO IMPACT: THE JOURNEY OF COLLABORATIVE SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH In a small community garden tucked away in Tuscaloosa, Students didn't just learn about community practice— something remarkable was growing alongside the broccoli they lived it, getting their hands dirty tending the garden and collard greens. What started as an innovative teaching while understanding its broader social impact. practice in a community garden, led by social work faculty member Jade Scales, blossomed into an impactful research An Unexpected Research Opportunity collaboration that would transform how students learn, Assistant Professor Dr. Luciana Giorgio had been how faculty teach, and how communities benefit from watching Scales' work with interest. A specialist in sleep university expertise. health research, Giorgio was intrigued by the potential connections between food insecurity and sleep patterns Planting the Partnership and saw an opportunity that could serve multiple Five years ago, social work instructor Jade Scales first purposes. "We needed to gather more information and visited Jeremiah's Community Garden as a medical social pilot data to be able to apply for bigger grants that could worker for the Good Samaritan Clinic, which provides provide better support the garden," Giorgio explains. She medical and dental care to underserved community approached Scales with an idea: What if they combined members. What she discovered was more than just a their expertise to create a research project that would community garden—it was a place where barriers dissolved benefit the garden while providing meaningful learning and community thrived. "We got to cross a lot of barriers," experiences for students?

Scales recalls. "We met older adults, younger adults, all different ethnicities, all different religious beliefs. My social The collaboration was natural. Giorgio was teaching PhD work brain just said, 'Wow! This is a really, really special students in her qualitative analysis course and her students place.'" needed real data to work with. Scales had BSW students who needed hands-on community practice experience.

When Scales became full-time faculty in 2023, she made a And Jeremiah's Community Garden needed research data personal commitment to high-impact experiential learning to support future grant applications and tell their story centered on sustainable community partnerships. more effectively.

Jeremiah's Community Garden, a volunteer-run nonprofit garden combating food insecurity by growing over 10,000 Growing a Research Project pounds of fresh produce annually for local residents, What emerged was a carefully orchestrated collaboration seemed like the perfect fit. "They're very overlooked. They that put the community's needs first. Rather than don't have a lot of funding. They don't have a lot of imposing a research agenda, the team reached out to staffing," Scales explains. "But the work they do really can't Jeremiah's Community Garden's board to understand be described with words." what they needed most. "One of our values with the project was making sure that it was true to the narrative The relationship deepened when Scales began and the need of the organization," Scales emphasizes. incorporating service learning into her BSW course on social work with organizations and communities.

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The project was structured to maximize scientific rigor while balancing the short timeline and varying levels of research training of those involved. PhD students would design the research protocol, create interview guides, and supervise the data collection and analysis. BSW students would be trained to conduct participant interviews, be responsible for recruiting and enrolling research participants, and collecting and managing the survey and interview data they collected. Everyone would learn by doing real research that mattered to real people.

But first, they had to overcome some natural resistance from BSW students, who oftentimes are not aware of the role of research in social work. The key was showing them how research and social work practice interconnect. "I don't think you can separate research and social work," Scales reflects.

"Research is always a part of social work, because we are social scientists."

Cultivating Skills and Confidence The preparation was intensive. PhD students developed comprehensive training materials and protocols for the BSW students, walking them through everything from obtaining informed consent to practicing good interview techniques. They created physical binders with step-by-step instructions for recruiting participants, obtaining informed consent, and conducting interviews.

"At first the BSW students were like, 'What in the world did I sign up for?

What is happening?'" Scales recalls. "And then they were like, 'Oh, we got this. We don't even need you—we've got it covered!'"

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The transformation wasn't just in confidence—it was in understanding. Through mid-semester evaluations, Scales discovered that the research content of the course and their hands-on experience in using research methods to advance communities was among some of the students' most valued topics.

For PhD students, the experience provided something equally valuable: a reminder of why they became social work researchers. "As researchers, we can really get away from community work and community engagement," Giorgio notes. "This project helped connect them and reignite that passion to do research because it's making an impact in the community."

When PhD students began to analyze the interview transcripts, they learned how qualitative research can be used to communicate a community organization’s story and advocate for the support these organizations need to grow and continue to serve individuals and families in need.

Harvesting Results Over the course of one semester, the collaboration accomplished something remarkable: a series of completed interviews that provided Jeremiah's Community Garden with credible data about their impact. When Giorgio presented the findings to the garden's board, the results painted a picture of an organization whose influence extends far beyond the produce they grow.

“Being part of the project has truly been a meaningful and fulfilling experience. In addition to the hands-on learning and qualitative research skills I gained, especially in areas like teamwork, collaboration, and community-based research, what stood out most for me was the opportunity to volunteer directly in the garden. Getting my hands in the soil, experiencing nature, and connecting with fellow volunteers was remarkably soothing... Altogether, it has been a rich and cherished experience for me, one that has left a lasting impact on me both personally and professionally.” ~ Uche Nwatu, SSW PhD Student

Community Impact Beyond Food. The research revealed four major themes of community impact. While providing fresh food was universally mentioned by participants, the garden's influence ran much deeper. Education emerged as a powerful theme—community partners described learning about new foods like bok choy, discovering how to cook unfamiliar vegetables, and gaining knowledge about sustainable gardening practices.

Perhaps most remarkably, the research documented how the garden “fed souls” as well as bodies. Volunteers spoke about "the value of volunteer work" and finding gratification in "doing something larger than themselves." The garden had become what one participant called "a welcoming space" that strengthened community bonds and brought together people who might never otherwise interact.

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Facilitating Educational Goals. For students involved in the research, the project demystified research and showed them how it could serve communities. They learned to conduct interviews, understand qualitative methods, and see themselves as capable researchers. "They were no longer intimidated by engaging in research," Giorgio observes.

PhD students gained experience in project management, mentoring, and translating complex research concepts for different audiences. When they presented preliminary results to the undergraduates, "it was kind of like a quiz for them," Giorgio explains. "They had to explain qualitative analysis to somebody who's never done it before."

Lessons from the Garden The success of this collaboration offers important lessons for other faculty interested in community-engaged research education. Both Scales and Giorgio emphasized the importance of finding your niche, identifying genuine community needs, and committing to sustainability rather than one-time projects.

"Don't pressure yourself to do it because it seemed like a good idea," Scales advises. "Find your niche, find the actual need in your community, so that the work never loses its purpose."

Community partners were particularly vocal about the garden's essential role in their own missions. As Giorgio reported to the board, "Partners talked about how Jeremiah's Community Garden is the reason why they can do what they do. They directly credited Jeremiah's Community Garden for being able to feed people and making fresh food available to the community members they serve."

Emotional Impact of the Findings. When Giorgio presented these findings to the board, the emotional impact was immediate. Board member and one of the original founders of the Garden, Mr. Roy Lofton, captured the feeling many experienced: "You know it in the back of your head that you are making an impact. But when someone else tells you, ‘Yeah, you really did make a difference here,’... it's encouraging."

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The collaboration also highlighted the value of partnerships between research faculty and teaching-focused instructors. "I wouldn't have been able to execute this at the magnitude of success without Dr. Luci's expertise," Scales acknowledges.

Giorgio echoes this sentiment: "I learned so much from Jade on how to be an effective teacher and how to work with communities."

Breaking Down Silos Perhaps most importantly, the project demonstrated how breaking down traditional academic silos can benefit everyone involved. Instead of research faculty and instructional faculty working in isolation, they combined their strengths to create something neither could have accomplished alone.

"It is so counterproductive that you [tenure track faculty] have research needs associated with your position, and I have research opportunities because I'm teaching and doing experiential learning in the community," Scales reflects.

"We're both working so hard in silos, instead of just coming together and making those priorities align."

Seeds for the Future The research has already begun to bear fruit beyond the data itself. The findings revealed not just the garden's impact, but also opportunities for growth. Interview participants identified key needs including funding for basic operations, increased visibility in the community (especially among university students), and the development of more structured volunteer training programs. The research highlighted the need for more formalized systems—training programs for volunteers, organizational structures that can function when key leaders are absent, and clear protocols for the many students and volunteers who want to help.

For the University, the project represents something equally valuable: a model for meaningful community engagement that serves real needs while providing transformative educational experiences. The research findings will be used to support future grant applications, but perhaps more importantly, they've created a foundation for sustained partnership between the university and one of its most vital community organizations.

As Scales puts it, "When you put that reality in front of students, if they really want to do social work, it's going to ignite a sense of motivation and courage." The same could be said for faculty: when you put real community needs in front of researchers, it can reignite the passion that brought them to academia in the first place.

In a small garden in Tuscaloosa, seeds of collaboration have taken root, promising a harvest that will feed not just bodies, but minds and communities for years to come.

Jeremiah's Garden is a nonprofit organization working to combat food insecurity in Alabama through their community garden and community programs. To learn more about their work or how to support their mission, readers can contact:

That’s where Patia “Leah” Connell, Board President for Jeremiah’s Community Garden sees the biggest advantage to partnering with researchers to achieve their programming goals. While the leadership at garden has extensive expertise in agriculture and botany, they have had less experience with writing grants. “I try to do everything [at the garden], but I can’t do everything. I don’t know that much about grant writing other than very small grants. I’d like to learn,” she stated. “So, being able to hand the grant writing piece to the https://www.jeremiahscommunitygarden.com/ researchers, that will benefit us by taking a real big load off email: volunteer@jeremiahscommunitygarden.com of me and Mr. Lofton while we are doing the day-to-day operations.”

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Office of Social Work Research News Supporting Faculty and Students in Making #LegendaryChange

Welcoming Our New Grants and Contracts Specialist!

Sierra Rogers-Farris joined the Office of Social Work Research as its new grants and contracts specialist. Sierra has been with UA since 2016 and previously provided grants and contracts support for UA’s College of Education. Sierra holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a Master of Arts in Women’s Studies from UA.

OSWR New Research Training Program for Student Research Engagement Students eager to dive into research often reach our office with enthusiasm but little direction—unsure whether they want to crunch data, conduct interviews, or coauthor publications. Enter SIR CAT: the Students in Research Collaborative Action Training program we launched in October 2024 to bridge this gap.

Sierra Rogers-Farris

This self-paced virtual training demystifies faculty research by walking students through diverse topics and hands-on activities. Participants master essential skills like research ethics with human subjects and survey design, while discovering pathways to peer-reviewed publishing and conference presentations. Graduates earn a resumeworthy certificate that signals their research readiness.

The results speak for themselves: of 24 first-year enrollees, 9 have already earned their SIR CAT credentials. Student feedback reveals the program's real value—helping them connect classroom theory to real research applications and equipping them with the right questions to ask faculty mentors. With several professors planning to integrate SIR CAT into their research courses, we expect even stronger completion rates ahead as this initiative transforms curious students into confident research collaborators.

The Productivity Paradox: Fewer Submissions, More Success The OSWR transformed faculty productivity this year with two game-changing, halfday writing retreats held at inspiring off-campus venues. These weren't your typical academic gatherings—faculty dove into collaborative research projects, carved out precious uninterrupted writing time, and received personalized mentoring from the Associate Dean of Research and Development on everything from manuscript polishing to grant strategy.

The results revealed a fascinating paradox: while faculty submitted fewer articles than in previous years, their publication success rate soared by 27%! This striking shift suggests that quality trumped quantity—faculty were crafting more targeted, well-developed manuscripts rather than flooding journals with preliminary work. The retreats appear to (From Left): Drs. Sherron Wilkes, have fostered a more strategic approach to scholarship, where dedicated time for Lindamarie Olson, Amy Traylor, and Laura Hopson at the fall OSWR Writing reflection and expert guidance translated directly into publications that journals actually Retreat. Retreats were offered in the Fall wanted. These retreats prove that strategic pauses in our busy academic lives can and Spring semesters. accelerate the very outcomes we're racing toward.

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Dissemination Celebration Sharing Discoveries to Advance Social Work Science

Council on Social Work Education October 2024

Gerontological Society of America November 2024

Society for Social Work and Research January 2025

Southern Gerontological Society April 2025

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Discoveries Driving #LegendaryChange Faculty Research Funding 2024-25

New Projects with SSW Lead Primary Investigators (PI) or Site Primary Investigators (PIs) Lead/Site PI listed first with other UA co-investigators following. SSW investigators noted by bolded font.

Brian Bride. Secondary Traumatic Stress and Trauma-Informed Programming for Social Workers at the Department of Children and Families. Contract STS Project. Funded by Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Education & Support Fund.

Brian Bride & Dione King. Social Work Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program.

Funded by the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration.

Mandi Fowler & Jill Beck. Increasing Alabama's capacity to provide a statewide system of service for youth with PSB, their families and children harmed. Funded by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Hee Yun Lee & Jiaqi Gong. Adaptation and Feasibility Testing of an AI-Enabled Web App Based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Family Caregivers of People with Dementia. Funded by the National Institute of Health.

Nicole Ruggiano & Amie Brunson. Building Our Largest Infrastructure for Dementia (BOLD) Program Evaluation.

Alabama Department of Public Health & the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Amy Traylor & Kelly Miller. Using Virtual Reality to Help Develop Discrepancy and Elicit Change Talk in Brief Motivational Interventions for Heavy Drinking Young Adults. Funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

New Projects with SSW Research Team Members

Primary Investigator listed first with other UA co-investigators following. SSW investigators noted by bolded font.

Jiaqi Gong (College of Engineering), Qiuhua Duan, & Hee Yun Lee. AI-Enhanced Flood Storytelling for Mobilizing Action and Building Resilience in Underserved Communities. Funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Mercy Mumba (Capstone College of Nursing), George Mugoya, Tricia Witte, April Kendrick, Katherine Dudding, & Hee Yun Lee. The Minds and Mentors Paraprofessional Training Program-Opiod Impacted Families (MiMPTO-OIF). Funded by the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration.

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Sharlene Newman (Alabama Life Research Institute) , Matthew Hudnall, Letisha Scott, Wanda Burton, Linda Knol, & Amie Brunson. West Alabama Cardiovascular Health (WACH) Program. Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Projects Continuing With SSW Lead or Site PIs from Previous Year Lead/Site PI listed first with other UA co-investigators following. SSW investigators noted by bolded font.

Jill Beck. Accountability Based Sex Offender Program: Continuum of Care (ABSOP:COCP). Funded by the Alabama Department of Youth Services.

Jill Beck. Youth Service Institute (YSI). Funded by the Alabama Department of Youth Services.

Daphne Cain, Schnavia Hatcher, & Kristy Holt. Title IV-E Statewide Program. Funded by the Alabama Department of Human Resources & the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Catherine Carlson & Chuong Bui. Evaluating the Move with HaRT intervention on improving mental health of human trafficking survivors. Funded by Innovations for Poverty Action & the U.S. Department of State.

Luciana Cosenzo. Examining the barriers and facilitators to optimal sleep health among English- and Spanish-speaking Latina mothers in Alabama. Funded by The University of Alabama’s Office for Research and Economic Development.

Mandi Fowler & Jill Beck. Continuum of Care Program Project Expansion in Rural Alabama. Funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention within the U.S. Department of Justice.

Karen Johnson, Chuong Bui, Jiaqi Gong, & Hee Yun Lee. CTSA K12 Program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Funded by the University of Alabama at Birmingham Center for Clinical and Translational Science & National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health.

Dalila John & Dione King. Social skills and relationship development between children with autism and their peers: Exploring the impact of peer-focused and parent-based training. UA Office of Social Work Research Pilot Grant.

Dione King. The Sociostructural Implementation Science Coordination Initiative. Funded by Northwestern University & the National Institutes of Health.

Dione King. Creating Access, Retention, and Engagement(CARE) Model. Funded by Five Horizons Health Services & Merck.

Hyunjune Lee. Understanding the Construction of Femininity and Its Link with Bullying Among Adolescent Girls Using a Trauma-Informed, Intersectional Lens. Funded by The University of Alabama’s Office for Research and Economic Development.

Hyunjune Lee & Hee Yun Lee. Understanding Artificial Intelligence Literacy and Ethical Competence Among College Students in the Social Sciences: A Comprehensive Mixed-Methods Investigation. UA Office of Social Work Research Pilot Grant.

Hee Yun Lee. Structural Racism and Health: Visualizing Anti-Asian Hate Crimes during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Funded by the The Asian American Foundation & the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

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Tenesha Littleton. Five-Year Trends in the Social Determinants of Health, 2018-2022: Implications for the Wellbeing of Black Custodial Grandmothers in the Era of COVID-19. Funded by the Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) - Deep South and the National Institute on Aging.

Hyunjin Noh, Rebecca Allen, Hee Yun Lee, & Lewis Lee. Advance Care Planning Educational Intervention for Korean American Immigrants. Funded by the Cambia Health Foundation.

Lindamarie Olson. Pilot Study of Neurofeedback for Adolescents with Histories of Trauma Exposure. UA Office of Social Work Research Pilot Grant.

Nicole Ruggiano & Jason Parton. Integration of Health Information Technology and Promotion of Personhood in Family-Centered Dementia Care. Funding by the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health.

Nicole Ruggiano, Schnavia Hatcher, Sebrena Jackson, Dalila John, Dione King, Hyunjin Noh, Jade Scales, & Sherron Wilkes. Ethical AI Use in Social Work Practice Training Development Program. Funded by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education.

Karen Johnson, Chuong Bui, & Pamela Payne-Foster. Project E-WORTH South: Targeting Health Equity and the HIV Epidemic among Black women who use substances of abuse in community corrections in the Deep South. Funded by the University of Alabama at Birmingham & the National Institutes of Health.

Hee Yun Lee & Joshua Eyer. Implementation of an Integrated TeleECHO and Health Outpost Model for Opioid Prevention Treatment, and Recovery in Rural Alabama. Funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Tenesha Littleton. Protecting children in Alabama's Black Belt: The role of social support networks. Funded by The University of Alabama’s Office for Research and Economic Development.

Hyunjin Noh & Lewis Lee. Understanding the Attitudes toward Deprescribing and Knowledge and Views of NonPharmacological Pain Management among Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Multiple Chronic Health Conditions. Funded by the Northern California Institute for Research and Education.

Nicole Ruggiano & Jason Parton (Culverhouse College of Business). Integration of Health Information Technology and Promotion of Personhood in Family-Centered Dementia Care. Funding by the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health.

Amy Traylor. Leadership Education in Adolescent Health. Funded by the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Projects Continuing with SSW Research Team Members

Primary Investigator listed first with other UA co-investigators following. SSW investigators noted by bolded font.

Martha Crowther (College of Community Health Sciences), Cassandra Ford, Sharlene Newman, Hyunjin Noh, & Nicole Ruggiano. Deep South Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR). Funded by the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

George Mugoya (College of Education), Joy Burnham, Ryan Cook, Heather Frye, Laura Hopson, Abby Horton, Sebrena Jackson, Hee Yun Lee, Emily Lund, & Mercy Mumba. Promoting Mental health Services and Equity (PROMISE). Funded by the U.S. Department of Education.

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SELECT FACULTY AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS FROM 2021-2024 Want to know more?

Scan the QR Code!

Tania Alameda-Lawson Associate Professor

Publications: Bride., B.E. (2025). Development and initial validation of the Secondary Trauma Impact Scale. Social Work Research, 49(1), 35-43. https://doi.org/10.1093/swr/svae027 Bride, B.E., Sprang, G., Hendricks, A, Walsh, C.R., Mathieu, F., Hangartner, K., Ross, L.A., Fisher, P., & Miller, B.C. (2024).

Principles for STS-responsive practice: An expert consensus approach. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 15(8), 1301-1308. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0001575 Armes, S.E., Seponski, D.M., Bryant, C.M., & Bride, B.E., (2024). Marriage and family therapists’ exposure to trauma, access to support, and intention to leave: It takes a village.

International Journal of Systemic Therapy, 35(2), 178-197. https://doi.org/10.1080/2692398X.2023.2223119 Presentations: Bride, B.E. (2024). Reducing the occurrence and impact of secondary traumatic stress: Guiding principles for individual professionals. Symposium presented at the National Children’s Advocacy Center 40th International Symposium on Child Abuse, Huntsville, AL. Hendricks, A, Walsh, C.R., Mathieu, F., Hangartner, K., Bride, B.E., Sprang, G. (2025, January) Understanding and Addressing Secondary Traumatic Stress - What Have We Learned and Where Are We Going? Symposium presented at the 40th Annual San Diego International Conference on Child and Family Maltreatment, San Diego, CA.

Presentations Alameda-Lawson. Panelist for the session Advancing Online Macro Social Work Education: Teambased experiential 360 photo tour at the annual meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, 2021.

T., Bennett, M. D., Murray, D. E., & Wilkes, S. K. (2019). Elevate Social Work. 2019 Social Work Month Symposium, Tuscaloosa, AL.

Bride, B.E. (2025). Patient violence in psychosocial settings: Ethical considerations. Webinar presented to the Collaborative to Advance Mental Health Treatment & Substance Use Recovery for Everyone (CARE), Center for Technology and Behavioral Health at Dartmouth College

Brian Bride Professor

Wilkes, S. K., Alameda-Lawson, T., & Johnson, K. (2020). Advancing Online Macro Social Work Education: Team-based experiential 360 photo tour. Council on Social Work Education, Virtual.

Green, S.-R. Alameda-Lawson, T., Bennett, M. D., Murray, D. E., & Wilkes, S. K. (2019). Elevate Social Work. 2019 Social Work Month Symposium, Tuscaloosa, AL.

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Amie Brunson

Clinical Assistant Professor

Publications: Richardson, T. T., Cain, D. S., & Cheatham, L. (2025).

Associations between moderately severe to severe depression and marijuana usage among Black male collegians: Results from the Healthy Minds Study. Social Work in Public Health, 40(5), 288302.

Horsley, J. S. & Cain, D. S. (2024). Integrating Mental Health in Disaster Communication Theory and Practice. In B. F. Liu & A. M. Mehta, Routledge Handbook of Risk, Crisis, and Disaster Communication, (pp. 285 – 299). NY: Routledge: Taylor & Francis Group.

Cain, D. S. (2022). Disasters in Times of Shelter-In-Place: Social Work and the COVID – 19 Pandemic. In K. Corcoran & A. R. Roberts, Social Workers’ Desk Reference, 4th ed, (pp. 61 - 68).

NY: Oxford University Press.

Publication Ruggiano, N., Sahoo, S., Brashear, A., Nwatu, U., Brunson, A., Noh, H., Cole, H., McKinney, R., Framil Suarez, C. V., Brown, E. L., & Prevost, S. (Under review). Evaluating AI-Generated Geriatric Case Studies for Interprofessional Education: A Comparison Across Five Platforms. JMIR Medical Education.

Technical Report Ruggiano, N., & Brunson, A. (2024, December). Alabama BOLD Needs Assessment Report. Report submitted to the Alabama Department of Public Health Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure Initiative.

Presentations Brunson, A., Ruggiano, N., Eldridge-Auffant, L., Dunklin, T. (2025, April). Building a Dementia-Capable Alabama: Key Findings from a Statewide Assessment of Cognitive Health Needs.

Presentation given at the 46th Annual Meeting & Conference of the Southern Gerontological Society, Birmingham, AL. Brashear, A., Ruggiano, N., Brunson, A., Cole, H., McKinney, R., Noh, H., Nwatu, U.*, Prevost, S., & Sahoo, S.* (forthcoming, 2025, April). Evaluating AI-Generated Geriatric Case Studies for Interprofessional Education: A Comparison Across Five Platforms.

Poster presentation given at the 46th Annual Meeting & Conference of the Southern Gerontological Society, Birmingham, AL. Hossain, M. D. S., Sadoo, S., Ruggiano, N., Brunson, A. (Forthcoming November 2025). Community Perceptions on Dementia-Friendly Infrastructure Needs: A Mixed-Method Study.

Poster presentation to be given at the annual scientific meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Boston, MA.

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Presentation: Richardson, T. & Cain, D. S. (January 2025). Exploring the Relationship between Moderate to Severe Depression and Marijuana Use among Black Male College Students: Insights from the Healthy Minds Network. Poster presented at the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR), Seattle, WA.

Grants/Contracts: Cain, D. S. (2024 - 2025). The University of Alabama Title IV-E Program (FY 2025) and the Child Welfare Training Contract (2024 – 2025). The Alabama Department of Human Resources (ADHR) (https://socialwork.ua.edu/childwelfare/). Received (Total Program Costs) $7,737,958 Horsley, S. J. & Cain, D. S. (grant received March 2024). A Model for Disaster Mental Health Communication: Testing a Three-Pronged Approach to Support Communicators and Affected Publics. Page/Johnson Legacy Scholar Grant: Expanding Theory for Integrity in Public Communication.

Received $10,000

Daphne S. Cain Professor

Catherine Carlson Associate Professor

Presentations Chapman Thomas, C., Perkins Walker, V. (2025 September) Addressing Systematic Inequalities and Their Impact on Children and Families through Community-Based Solutions. Oral Presentation presented at Rise and Recovery 10th Annual Conference. Selma, AL. Chapman Thomas, C. (2025 July) CommunityBased Solutions for Mental Health, Housing, and Education. Oral presentation presented at the Child Health and Welfare Summit. Tuscaloosa, AL

Publications: Cordisco Tsai, L., Domingo, C. C. G., Namy, S., De La Fuente, A., Bonachita, C. L. O., & Carlson, C. (2025).

Preliminary effectiveness of a trauma-informed mind-body intervention for survivors of human trafficking in the Philippines. Social Work in Mental Health, 10.1080/15332985.2025.2454902.

Carlson, C., Namakula, S., Nabachwa, A., Gevers, A., Gallaway, K., Giorgio, L., Ticozzi, M., & Namy, S. (2024) Feminist approaches to promoting researcher wellbeing through collective and organizational care. Frontiers in Sociology.

Presentation: Carlson, C., Cordisco Tsai, L., Baylosis, R., Fishbach, J., Wainberg, M. (2023, October). Implementing the Safety Planning for Suicide Prevention Intervention within the AntiTrafficking Sector in the Philippines, National Institutes of Mental Health 12th Global Mental Health Without Boarders Conference, Bethesda, MD.

Chapman Thomas, C. (2024 November). The Art of Leading Others: A Trauma-Informed Lens to Leadership. Oral Presentation presented at VitAL Alabama at The Help. Heal and Hope Trauma Summit Webinar.

Chapman Thomas, C., John, D., Wilkes, S. (2024 October) The Reemergence of the DSW: Where Have We Been and Where Do We Go? Oral Presentation presented at Council of Social Work Education 70th Annual Program Meeting. Kansas City, MO.

Courtney Chapman Thomas Clinical Assistant Professor Experiential Programs & Community Partnerships, Director

Grants/Contracts: Principal Investigator, 2023-2025, “Evaluating the Move with HaRT intervention on improving mental health of human trafficking survivors”. U.S. Department of State through Innovations for Poverty Action USDOS-20-10001-X17.

Co-Investigator, “Optimizing CBT Implementation among Community Providers Through Internet-based Consultation and Networking (i-CAN)”. National Institute of Mental Health R21 MH128467.

Honorific Award: 2023 President’s Faculty Research Award, Recognizing exceptional faculty researchers across the University of Alabama’s Colleges and Schools 26

Publications: Dewey, S., Kenney, J., Cheatham, L. P., Barti, E.* (in press). Culpability and fairness: Perspectives from a deep south women’s prison. Women & Criminal Justice.

Ellen Csikai Professor

Smith, N. L.*, Adams, A.*, Abshire, A.*, & Cheatham, L. P. (2025). Barriers and facilitators to healthcare access among youth transitioning out of foster care: A scoping review.

Children and Youth Services Review. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108317 Richardson, T.T.*, Cain, D.S., & Cheatham, L. P. (2025).

Associations between moderately severe to severe depression and marijuana usage among Black male collegians: Results from the Healthy Minds Study. Social Work and Public Health, https://doi.org/10.1080/19371918.2025.2475035 Gimm, G., Cheatham, L. P., Lee, J. L., Villodas, M. (2025).

All transition-age foster youth, especially those with disabilities, need continuous Medicaid coverage, Health Affairs Forefront, DOI: 10.1377/forefront.20250122.417423 Daquin, J., Cheatham, L. P., Derzis, N., Dolliver, M., Kenney, Reid, L., Shippen, M. E. (2024). Alabama Department of Corrections Women’s Risk Needs Assessment Validation Study: Final Report. Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama.

Presentation: Cheatham, L. P., Kenney, J. L., Reid, L.W., Daquin, J., Derzis, N., Dolliver, M. J., Shippen, M., & (2025, January).

Validation of the Women’s Risk Needs Assessment within Alabama Prisons: Findings and Lessons Learned from an Agency-Academic Partnership. Paper presented at the annual program meeting for the Society of Social Work and Research in Seattle, WA.

Leah Cheatham Associate Professor

Publications Csikai, E.L., & Bullock, K. (2024). ‘The growth of social work in palliative and end-of-life care in the United States: How did we get here? Palliative Care and Social Practice. 18-1, 1-10. Accepted 6-15-24. Published online first 7-26-24 DOI: 10.1177 26323524241263625 Csikai, E.L., & Maynard, Q.R. (2024). How do older adults define a ‘good death’: A scoping review, Midwest Social Sciences Journal.

Presentations: Csikai, E.L., Maynard, Q., Olmos Soria, M., & Hossain, S. “Coping Strategies among Family Caregivers for Older Adults with Serious Medical Illness: A Scoping Review†presented at Gerontological Society of America conference; held in Seattle, November 2024.

Csikai, E.L., Olmos Soria, M., Maynard, Q., & Hossain, S. “Cómo afrontan los cuidadores familiares primarios el cuidado de personas mayores cercanas al final de su vida?: Una revisión exploratoria†(“How do family primary caregivers cope with caring for older people near the end of life: An exploratory review†) presented at SECPAL conference, October, 16-18, 2024 held in Malaga, Spain.

Csikai, E.L., & Patyán, L. International Perspectives on Family Caregivers of Older Adults with Serious Illness: Challenges, Coping and Well-being†. Oral presentation online during the University of Debrecen, Faculty of Health, Gerontology Days on October 11, 2024.

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Honorific award: 'Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life and Palliative Care, Founding Editor Award. given by the Social Work Hospice and Palliative Care Network, March 2025.

Luciana Giorgio Assistant Professor

Publications: Guz, S. & Maschke, A. (accepted). “Innovation for the good”: An historical analysis of how private organizations brokered racialized evidence. Journal for the Society for Social Work and Research.

Suslovic, B., Epperson, M., Cinque, A. & Guz, S. (accepted).

Mixed methods findings on implementation of a novel pretrial diversion program for people with serious mental illness.

American Journal of Criminal Justice.

Publications: Giorgio Cosenzo, L.A., Littleton, T. Johnson, K., Albright, D.L., Lee, H.Y. (2025). The relationship among transportation-related geographic isolation, social connectedness, and depressive symptoms among adults living in rural Alabama. Journal of Rural Mental Health.

Alcántara, C. Giorgio Cosenzo, L.A., Diaz, S.V., Arias, D., Schwartz, J.E., Kronish, I., & Moise, N. (2025). Cultural Adaptation of a Digital Therapeutic for Insomnia for Spanish-Speaking Hispanic Adults in the United States. The Lancet Regional HealthAmericas.

Giorgio Cosenzo, L.A. & Alcántara C. (2024). Examining alcohol use and rumination as mediators in the association between acculturation stress and insomnia symptoms among Latinx women and men. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000723 Presentations: Giorgio Cosenzo, L.A., Littleton, T. (2025, January). The lasting effects of adverse childhood experiences on sleep health among USbased Latinx adults. Poster presentation presented at 29th Annual Conference “Strengthening Social Impact through Collaborative Research” of the Society for Social Work Research, Seattle, WA.

Washington, D.M., Toraif, N. & Guz, S. (accepted).

Beyond reform in youth justice: Conceptualizing carceral seepage across youth-serving systems. Families In Society Special Issue: Shaping the Future of the Child Welfare System: Reform or Abolish?

Presentations: Guz, S. (2025). Organizational processes of interest convergence: Social work’s response to Brown v. Board of Education. Paper presented at Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference in Seattle, WA. Guz, S. (2025). “Talking out of Both Sides:” An analysis of how street-Level discretion reshaped racially-conscious policy.

Paper presented at Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference in Seattle, WA. Guz, S. & Hinze-Pifer, R. (2024). “Talking out of Both Sides:” An Analysis of How Street-Level Discretion Reshaped Racially-Conscious Policy. Paper presented at Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management in National Harbor, Maryland

Samantha Guz Assistant Professor

Giorgio Cosenzo, L.A., da Luz Scherf, E.*, Ruggiano, N. (2024, November). Unveiling the association between social isolation and sleep disturbances among Latinx older women and men. Poster presentation presented at Gerontological Association of America Annual Scientific Meeting 2024, Seattle, WA Grant/Contract: Latina Women’s Mental Health Photovoice Project. Council on Community-Based Partnerships Seed Fund Award(Giorgio Cosenzo, PI) $5,000 28

Publications FLee, L. H., Jones, S., Hatcher, S., & Lee, H. Y. (In Press).

Investigating the social determinants of online technology use for seeking health information among Black Belt residents in Alabama. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved.

Fitzgerald, T., Teasley, M., Keyes, T., & Hatcher, S. (2023).

Reducing racialized barriers to school success for all children and youth In M. Teasley, M. Spencer, & M. Bartholomew (Eds.), Social Work and the Grand Challenge to Eliminate Racism, (pp.

459-475). Oxford University Press.

DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780197674949.003.0018

Laura Hopson

Presentations: Hatcher, S., Spencer, M., Guterman, N., Pettus, C., & Silk, K. (January, 2024). Recentering and generating equity in knowledge: How will the Grand Challenges for Social Work Go Grander? Roundtable presented at Annual Conference, Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, DC.

Associate Professor

Voisin, D., Hatcher, S., & Bryant, B. (January, 2023). Steps Towards Decolonizing Social Work Education and Research, Symposium presented at Annual Conference, Society for Social Work and Research, Phoenix, AZ.

Publications: Hopson, L. M., McGraw, K., Traylor, A., Bailey, R., MacNeil, T., Hanenberg, C. Dugard, J., & Braswell, A. (in press). Equineassisted learning for children with trauma and their caregivers.

Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma.

Honors and Awards 2024- Phenomenal Woman in Advocacy and Public Policy, National Coalition of 100 Black Women Central Alabama 2023- Paul Harris Fellow, The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International

Schnavia Hatcher Professor and Dean

Abura-Meerdink, G., Hopson, L. M., Cariaga-Lo, L., Quick, R., Hill, C., Perdomo, S., Carlson, C., Karina (in press). Review and Recommendations for Effective Practices: Developing and Implementing of a Culturally Competent Health and Behavioral Health Risk Assessment Tool for Adolescents in Rural Alabama Schools. Children and Schools.

Hopson, L. M., McGraw, K., Hanenburg, C., Bailey, R., & Braswell, A. (2024). Pilot evaluation of equine-assisted learning for children affected by trauma with concurrent parent support.

HETI Journal: International Research and Practice. https://doi.org/10.58862/HCTK3539 Hopson, L. M., O’Neal, J., Bailey, R., Dugard, J., McGraw, K., Hanenberg, C., Anderson, D., McKissock, B., Traylor, A., Parker, C., & Samples, C. (2023). Feasibility Study of an EquineAssisted Learning Intervention for Children with Disabilities.

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice, 6 (1). https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/paij/vol6/iss1/12

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Grants/Contracts: Co-Principal Investigator. “Health. Opportunity. Passion.

Equity. (H.O.P.E.) Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Initiative in Rural Alabama” funded by HRSA (2023-2027).

Co-Principal Investigator “Promoting Mental health Services and Equity (PROMISE)” funded by the US Department of Education (2023-2025).

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M. Sebrena Jackson Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Educational Programs and Student Services

Presentations: John, D. & Lynch, B. (May 2025). Still we rise: Black faculty resilience in the face of academic adversity. Workshop at National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Education, New York, NY. John, D., Fedewa, M., & Robinson, R. (April 2025).

Understanding autism: Perspectives and practices in social work.

Panelist for Noontime Knowledge virtual webinar at The University of Alabama.

Huff, A., John, D., & Pate, M. (April 2025). From click to campus: Transforming MSW student orientation with blended learning. Virtual presentation at Social Work Distance Education Conference.

John, D., Lynch, B., Turner, L. & Wilkes, S. (November 2024).

Overlooked and undervalued: Strategies for cultivating success and retaining Black faculty. Roundtable presentation at the 5th Biennial International Conference on Urban Education, Cancun, Mexico.

Publications Colvin, A.D., Jackson, M.S., Bullock, A.N. (2024).

Beyond limits: Exploring the possibilities for using the metaverse to teach social work practice skills. Advances in Social Work, 24(1), 141-155. https://doi.org/10.18060/27053 Jackson, M.S., Dozier, K., Colvin, A.D., & Bullock, A.N. (2022). Exploring youth voices in a pre-college program: Implications for policy, practice, & research.

Child Abuse & Neglect, 130(3), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105126 Jackson, M.S., Day, A., Ford, L., Salizan, A., & Lester, C. (2022). College Promise for Youth In or Aged Out of Foster Care. In C.M. Millett (Ed.), Depicting the ecosystems of support and financial sustainability for five college promise populations. Educational Testing Service. (Research Report) https://doi.org/10.1002/ets2.12350

John, D., Wilkes, S., & Chapman-Thomas, C. (October 2024).

The Reemergence of the DSW: Where Have We Been and Where Do We Go? Panel presentation at the 70th Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Kansas City, KS. Honorific Award: Recipient of The University of Alabama School of Social Work 2025 Faculty Award for Service

Dalila John

MSW Program Director Clinical Assistant Professor

Presentation Lewis, C. E., Jackson, M.S., Torres, K., Glynn, G. (2023). Foster Youth and Driving Act. Congressional Briefing Panel. Washington, D.C. Honors and Awards 2024: Selected to receive the CSWE Distinguished Recent Contributions to Social Work Education Award 2023: Selected as Co-Lead for Grand Challenges for Social Work: Harness Technology for Social Good

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Publications Johnson, K. A., Hunt, T., Puglisi, L., Chapman, B., EpaLlop, A., Elumn, J., Braick, P., Bhagat, N., Ko, E., Nguyen, A., Johnson, R., Graham, H. K., Gilbert, L., ElBassel, N., & Morse, D. S. (2023). HIV/STI/HCV Risk Clusters and Hierarchies Experienced by Women Recently Released from Incarceration. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 11(8), 1066. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11081066.

Dione King

Associate Professor Associate Dean for Professional Advancement and Assessment

Presentations Keynote speaker at the 2024 East Kentucky University's 19th Annual HERstory Conference held on April 2, 2024.

Johnson, K. A., Hunt, T., Walsh, P., Braick, P., Go, A., Schlusselberg, A., Price, C., Gilbert, L., El-Bassel, N., & Morse, D. (2024). WORTH Transitions: Racial and ethnic differences among women recently released from incarceration who use substances impacting efforts to prevent HIV/STI/HCV. Abstract Publications Keane, K., Evans, R. R., Wilkinson, L., King, D. M., Leban, L., & submitted for presentation at the 2024 InWomen Group Macrina, D. (2025). Comparing the relationship between three Conference. Virtual. resilience frameworks and mental health outcomes among children Johnson, K. A., Shah, Z., Hunt, T., Walsh, P., Braick, P., who experienced multiple adverse childhood experiences. Children Gilbert, L., El-Bassel, N., & Morse, D. (2024, June 15- 19). and Youth Services Review, 172(1), 108237.

Depression Outcomes among Women Participating in WORTH Transitions. Paper presented at the College on King, D. M., Rouland, R. S., Howell, T. H., Dyson, Y. D., Problems of Drug Dependence 86th Annual Scientific Simmons, L. D., Bencomo, B. & Becker, B. (2025).

Meeting, The Fairmont Queen Elizabeth, Montreal, Quebec, Microaggressions, students of color, and social work education: A Canada. systematic review of literature. Journal of Social Work Education, Honorific Awards 2024 University of Alabama School of Social Work Faculty Award for Research, Teaching, or Service, recognizing achievements in research.

2024 Early Career Faculty Service and Leadership in Social Work Education Award from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) (to be presented at CSWE’s 70th Annual Program Meeting (APM), held on October 24-27, 2024, in Kansas City, MO.) - should this be included in the next one?

Karen Johnson Associate Profesor

61(1), 132-144. Https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2024.2886300

Dorsey, M., Freeman, J., Priede, A., King, D. M., Howard, T., & Jaffrey, A. (2025) Provider treatment and sexual health outcomes for Black women: Historical context and post-pandemic access to reproductive resources. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Dorsey, M., Freeman, J., Priede, A., Malcome, M., Howell, T.H., King, D. M., & Jaffrey, A. (2025). Compounded correlations between anxiety and depression symptomologies and sexual health disparities among Black young adult females in the United States during the Covid-19 pandemic. Race and Social Problems, 17, 264278. Https://doi.org/10.1007/s12552-025-09435-3 Presentation: King, D. M., & Watkins, T. (2024). Centering ADEI in the classroom: Teaching strategies and historically-based experiential learning assignments. Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Conference [Interactive Workshop], Kansas City, MO Grants/Contracts: 2023-2028 National Institutes of Health (NIH-R24), Project title: Sociostructural Implementation Science Coordination Initiative (Co-P.I. Tina Kempin Reuter). Role: Co-Principal Investigator.

Amount: $502,497.876 (Funding period: 9/2023-6/2028).

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Hee Yun Lee Professor Endowed Academic Chair on Social Work and Health

Publications Lee, H., Gillani, B., & Voith. L. A. (2025). Navigating Masculinities and Bullying: Perspectives of Violence-exposed Adolescent Boys. Children & Society.

Withrow, A., Voith, L. A., Russell, K. N., Burkhart, K., KorschWilliams, A. E., & Lee, H. (2025). Exploring Approaches to Mental Health Treatment and the Critical Role of Partnerships Among Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs. Social Work in Public Health, 1–14.

Presentation: Withrow, A., Voith, L. A., Montoya, C., Xia, T., Russell, K., Berg, K., & Lee, H. (2025, January). Examining Risk and Protective Factors of Father-Child Relationship Quality Among Low-Income Dads. Abstract presented at the Society for Social Work and Research 29th Annual Conference: Strengthening Social Impact Through Collaborative Research, January 15-19, 2025. Seattle, WA.

Publications Lee, H.Y., Song, J., & Choi, E.Y.D (2023). Childhood abuse and opioid prescription use in adulthood: Differences between nonHispanic Whites and non-Hispanic Blacks in the United States.

PLoS ONE. 18(9): e0291752. https://doi. org/10.1371/journal.pone.0291752.

Lee, H. Y., Yoon, Y. J.,F Choi, Y. J., & Ham, Y-H. (2024).

Factors Associated with Korean American Women’s HealthRelated Internet Use: Findings from Andersen’s Behavioral Model. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. 26, 124–132. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-023-01540-y Presentations Lee. H. Y. (May 2024). Keynote Speaker, The Digital Revolution in Mental Health Treatment: Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality Paving the Way for Intervention Directions.

Korea Academy of Mental Health Social Work. Seoul, Korea.

Grants/Contracts: Center for Substance Use Research and Related Conditions Pilot Funding Award, 2024-2025. University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. (Project Title: Investigating the Link between Expanded Childhood Adversities and Substance Use in Young Adulthood: Uncovering Resilience Pathways) Office for Research and Economic Development Small Grants Award, 2024-2026. University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. (Project Title: Understanding the Construction of Femininity and Its Link With Bullying Among Adolescent Girls Using a TraumaInformed, Intersectional Lens) Honorific Award: Jean B. Rayfield Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Students. University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. April 2025.

Hyunjune Lee Assistant Professor

Lee. H. Y. (May 2024). Keynote Speaker, Augmenting Health Literacy among At-Risk Groups: Harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence. Asian Health Literacy Conference, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam.

Honors and Awards Blackmon-Moody Outstanding Professor Award, One of the highest honors at the University of Alabama, recognizing unparalleled excellence and impact. University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, November 2022.

President’s Faculty Research Award, Recognizing exceptional faculty researchers across the University of Alabama's Colleges 31 and Schools.

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Publications: Lee, L. H., Mancus, G., Haque, A., & Yuen, H. K. (2024).

Exploring the association between park size and crime.

International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 35(1), 129–139. https://doi.org/10.1080/09603123.2024.2346562

Tenesha Littleton Assistant Professor

Lee, L. H., Fowler, M., Beck, J., Allen, A., Hall, M. E., Kim, M., & Ticozzi, M. (2025). Exploring factors associated with girls’ recidivism in Alabama: A discrete-time survival analysis.

Crime & Delinquency. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/00111287251339649 Presentations: Lee, L. H., Kim, D., Yoon, J., & Lee, H. (2024, January).

Factors associated with perceived transportation barriers for access to opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery services.

Society for Social Work Research (SSWR), Washington, DC. Fowler, M., Lee, L. H., & Bolton, K. (2024, January).

Evaluating the preliminary effectiveness of Continuum of Care Program in youth with problematic sexual behaviors: Onegroup pre-posttest design. Society for Social Work Research (SSWR), Washington, DC. Grant/Contract: Advance Care Planning Educational Intervention for Korean American Immigrants, Cambia Health Foundation (12/2023); Role: Statistical Consultant (Lead PI: Dr. Hyunjin Noh) Honorific Award: The Dean’s Faculty Award for Research, Teaching or Service, University of Alabama School of Social Work (5/2023)

Lewis Lee

Associate Professor

Publications Smith, B. D., Wang, K., Littleton, T., & Dinata, E. (2025).

Are county-level child welfare vulnerability and protective factors associated with child welfare involvement?: An investigation of geospatial child welfare equity. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 1-26.

Littleton, T., Luo, Y., Abura-Meerdink, G., & Lee, H.Y. (2025). Associations between the social determinants of health and risk of interpersonal violence among Black Americans in rural Alabama. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. https://doi.org/10.1177/088626052413116 Palmer, L., Littleton, T., Font, S.A., & Ahn, E. (2024).

Beyond child abuse: The array of family problems brought to the child welfare system. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2024.2421272 Littleton, T., Freisthler, B., Boyd, R., Smith, A. M., & Barboza-Salerno, G. (2024). Historical redlining, neighborhood disadvantage, and reports of child maltreatment in a large urban county. Child Abuse & Neglect, 156, 107011.

Grant/Contract: · 2024 NIH NIA - University of Alabama at Birmingham Deep South Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) Pilot Grant Award

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Honorific Award: · 2025 Faculty Award for Research, University of Alabama School of Social Work

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Lindamarie Olson Associate Professor

Publications: Noh, H., Suntai, Z., Won, C., Jeong, H., & Lee, L. H. (2024).

A qualitative exploration of rural older adults’ experiences with pain from chronic illnesses and its treatment. Research on Aging, 46(9-10), 468-479. https://doi.org/10.1177/01640275241246279 Zhang, P., Nketsiah, E., & Noh, H. (2024). Service providers’ perspectives on barriers to end-of-life care planning among rural family caregivers of older adults with cognitive impairment. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 67(6), 825840. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01634372.2024.2 351071

Publications: Savani, S., Olson, L., Brewer, K.B., & Gearing, R.E. (in press).

Attitudes towards suicide treatability in Tajikistan. International Journal of Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207411.2025.2529594.

Olson, L., Raines, C. & Manners, K. (in press). Effectiveness of neurofeedback in treating trauma symptomatology among justice-involved adolescents in residential treatment.

NeuroRegulation.

Olson, L., Des Vignes, D., McLean, A., Wester, B. & Nwatu, U. (2025). Indiana Prison Writers Workshop: The Power of Group Cohesion and Creative Expression among Incarcerated Individuals. Journal of Prison Education Research.

Presentations: Noh, H., Jeong, H., Kan, D., & Lee, L. H. (2024, November 12 – 16). Reducing or stopping medications for chronic pain: Views among community-dwelling older adults. [Poster presentation]. The Gerontological Society of America’s 76th Annual Scientific Meeting, Seattle, WA. Noh, H., Lee, L. H., Jeong, H., Emrick, L., Hasnani, M., & Wadell, W. (2024, November 13 – 16). Factors associated with community-dwelling older adults’ views of deprescribing: A pilot study. [Poster presentation]. The Gerontological Society of America’s 76th Annual Scientific Meeting, Seattle, WA. Honorific Awards: Distinguished Fellow of the Social Work Academy, The National Academies of Practice (NAP) Advisory Board Member, Alabama Office of Minority Affairs

Leung, P., & Olson, L. (2025). Impact of COVID-19 on afterschool programming outcomes: Lasting implications for underserved early adolescents. Adolescents, 5(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/adolescents5010007 Presentation: Olson, L., Bowman, M., & Fowler, M. (June 2025). Youth with Sexual Behavior Problems: How do we best treat and intervene? The American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, 32nd Annual Colloquium.

Grant/Contract: Alabama Life Research Institute Inaugural Faculty Fellowship, $10,000.

Hyunjin Noh

Associate Professor PhD Program Director 33

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Publications Ruggiano, N., Brown, E. L., Clarke, P. J., Hristidis, V., Roberts, L., Framil Suarez, C. V., ... & Geldmacher, D. S. (2024). An evidence-based IT program with chatbot to support caregiving and clinical care for people with dementia: The CareHeroes development and usability pilot. JMIR Aging, 7, e57308.

Warr, R., Ruggiano, N., Daquin, J., Anderson Herzog, M., Jiang, Z., & Gray, J. (2024). Health information seeking using tech and non-tech sources among a diverse sample of caregivers in the Deep South. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, Avani Shah 67(5), 605-620.

Associate Professor Presentations: Guest Speaker at the 2025 Tech and Dementia Pre-Conference for the Alzheimer's Association International Conference, Toronto, Canada.

Brunson, A., Ruggiano, N., Eldridge-Auffant, L., Dunklin, T. (forthcoming, 2025, April). Building a Dementia-Capable Alabama: Key Findings from a Statewide Assessment of Cognitive Health Needs. Presentation given at the 46th Annual Meeting & Conference of the Southern Gerontological Society, Birmingham, AL Honorific Awards: Association of Public and Land grant Universities Council on Research Leadership Fellow Leadership Award by the Association of Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGESW)

Nicole Ruggiano

Professor Associate Dean of Research Interim DSW Program Director

Presentations Shah, A., Swain, J., & Lewy, H. (November, 2023).

Hospital closures in Alabama: National Policy Considerations. Poster presented at the Gerontological Society of America Conference Tampa, FL. Costlow Hill, K., Xiaa, M., Cundiff, J.M., Parker, J. G., Shah, A., and Parmelee, P. (November, 2023).

The Impact of Perceived Control on Stressor Reactivity Across Adulthood and Late Life. Poster presented at the Gerontological Society of America Conference Tampa, FL. Honors and Awards Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor (2024) Faculty Mentor for 2 Award Winning Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Presentation Posters (2024) 1st place Poster Award winner for the 2024 UAB Health Equity Research Symposium Faculty Advisor for the UA Outstanding Cultural and Identity Based Organization Award – South Asian Culture Club (2024)

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Publications Simon, C., & Constance-Higgins, M. (2023). Oppression an diversity: Race and social justice (47-64). In Carole Cox and Tina Maschi (Eds.).

Integrating Human Rights and Social Justice into Social Work Practice. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group: New York.

Brenda Smith Professor

Presentations: Simon, C. (2024). Defining Your Own Success in the Academy: Unbought and Unbossed. Faculty Women of Color in the Academy National Conference. Arlington, VA. Simon, C. (Guest). (2025, April 03]). The ballot & the book: Access to voting and education upon Selma’s 60th (Season 8, Episode 2) . In Kenya Bennett, Pod for the Cause. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. https://civilrights.org/podcast/s08e02/ Simon, C., Amy D. Benton, Nason, E. (2023). Factors That Influence the inclusion of social Justice in social work mission statements. Society for Social Work Research.

Simon, C., & Pryce, J. (2023). Interactive Workshop: Implementation and evaluation of a social justice education framework in social work education. Society for Social Work Research.

Honorific Award: Simon, C. (2025, October). Selected recipient of the Carl Scott Memorial Lecture. To be presented at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Denver, CO, United States. "Lecturers for the series are chosen based on their commitment to inclusive excellence and their innovative contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion in social work education."

Cassandra Simon Associate Professor

Publications: Smith, B.D., Wang, K., Littleton, T., & Dinata, E. (2025). Are county-level child welfare vulnerability and protective factors associated with child welfare involvement?: An investigation of geospatial child welfare equity. Journal of Public Child Welfare. https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2025.2462654 Dozier, K., Curington, A.M., Bell, A., & Smith, B.D. (2025). “Is she scared of me? Exploring the experiences of students of color in social work practicum. Applied Learning in Social Work Education, 15(1).

Smith, B.D., & Resendez, H. (2024). Practicing up: Teaching social work students how to challenge authority figures. Social Work Education, 55(3), 553-566.

Presentations Smith, B.D., Littleton, T., & Bell, A. (2025). Counties with fewer than 1,000 child maltreatment reports: Enigmas and opportunities. Society for Social Work and Research annual conference. Seattle, Washington, January 19, 2025.

Smith, A.M., & Smith, B.D. (2025). Sad, angry and numb: Black college students experiences following incidents of police violence. Society for Social Work and Research annual conference, Seattle, Washington, January 19, 2025.

Bell, A., Abshire, A., & Smith, B.D. (2024). Free to make mistakes: Faculty member use of a simulation lab for social work education. Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Kansas City, Missouri, October3527, 2024.

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Publication Hopson, L.M., McGraw, K., Traylor, A.C., Bailey, R., MacNeil, T., Hannenberg, C., Dugard, J., & Braswell, A. (In press).

Sherron Wilkes Equine-assisted learning for children with trauma and their BSW Porgram Director Clinical Assistant Professor caregivers. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma.

Sieving, R., Ford, C.A., English, A., Brett, L., Brown, J., CoyneBeasley, T., Davies, S.H., Deal, E., Hensel, D., Irwin, C., Koyama, A.M., Knopf, A., Mihaly, L., Pitts, S., Schneir, A., Sherer, S., & Traylor, A. (2025). Education as advocacy to improve adolescent and young adult health. Journal of Adolescent Health, 77 (1), 7-12 Presentations: Bailey, R., Hopson, L.M., Traylor, A.C., & McGraw, K. (2025, March). Equine-assisted services to address childhood trauma and enhance family well-being. Presentation made at the 2025 National Conference on Juvenile Justice, Boston, MA. Hopson, L.M., Traylor, A.C (2024, January). Equine-assisted learning for children with disabilities. Presentation made at the 28th Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, DC. Grants/Contracts: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, (1R01AA031282-01A1). “Using Virtual Reality to help develop discrepancy and elicit change talk in brief motivational interventions for heavy drinking young adults”.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources & Services Administration. “Leadership Education in Adolescent Health.”

Education Conference, Waikiki, Hawaii

Publications Johnson, K. A., Perkins, A. J., Obuya, C., & Wilkes, S. (2025).

Enhancing HIV Prevention Efforts in the Criminal Legal System: A Comprehensive Review and Recommendations.

Current HIV/AIDS Reports, 22(1), 33.

Wilkes, S., Davis, C., Cheatham, L.P., & Trosper, P. (2024).

One Click Away: Establishing a Virtual Platform to Amplify and Learn from Marginalized Voices during Crises. Professional Development: The International Journal of Continuing Education, 27 (1), 03.

Johnson, K. A., Binion, S., Waller, B., Sutton, A., Wilkes, S., Payne-Foster, P., & Carlson, C. (2022). Left behind in the US Amy Traylor Deep South: Addressing critical gaps in HIV and intimate partner violence prevention efforts targeting Black women.

Associate Professor Frontiers in reproductive health, 4.

Johnson, K. A., Boukaabar, M., Binion, S., Wright, A., Obanga, K., Cody, S. L., Mugoya, G., Wilkes, S., Shields, L., Foster, P. P., Goddard Eckrich, D., Hunt, T., Gilbert, L., El Bassel, N., & Albright, D. L. (in press). 'Oh, they can prevent it?': A structural agency framework for understanding HIV prevention among Black women in community supervision programs. Health & Justice.

Presentations: Scales, J. & Wilkes, S. (2025). Developing AI-Ready Social Workers: Policies, Education, and Ethical Considerations.

Selected to present at CSWE's 71st Annual Conference.

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Honorific Award: Selected to receive the 2025 Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) recipient of the prestigious Early Career Faculty Service and Leadership in Social Work Education Award 36

Presentations: “You are Not Trash: Helping Children Find their Worth in the Midst of their Trauma” NASWAL @ Bryant Conference Center 4/23/24 This training was developed to complement my published children's book, *Trash: A Foster Care Journey* (2022).

“Time to Talk About Trauma: Breaking the Pattern of Suffering in Silence" NASW-AL @ Sheraton Hotel, Birmingham, Alabama 4/3/25 It Takes a Village: Fostering a Community to Foster Hope” Keynote Speaker: AFAPA Conference May 2024 5/10/24 "Igniting the Light: Educating the Next Generation" Online Learning Innovation Summit (OLIS) 2024 Conference

Keisha Pickens Instructor

“It Takes a Village: Fostering a Community to Foster Hope” AAMU Child Welfare Summit 2025 6/6/25 "Invisible Baggage: Trauma, Grief, and the Power of Purposeful Practice in Child Welfare" AAMU Child Welfare Summit 2025: Pre-Conference Case Management Certification/Training In Person/Virtual Date: 6/5/25.

Doctoral Students Nwatu, U., Hossain, M. S., & Obinna, O. (2025) Exploring the Challenges of Providing and Utilizing Palliative Care for Older Publication Dozier, K., Curington, A. M., Bell, A., & Smith, B.D. (2025). "Is She Adults with Cancer in South East Nigeria: Insights from Healthcare Professionals. Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) 29th Scared of Me?': Exploring the Experiences of Students of Color in Social Work Practicum." Applied Learning in Social Work Education. Annual Conference.

Andrea G. Bell (PhD)

Presentations: Bell, A. Cain, D., & Nwatu, U. (May, 2025). Professional Coaching as a Retention Strategy to Strengthen the Frontline Child Welfare Workforce in Alabama. National Title IV-E Roundtable.

Csikai, E. L., Maynard, Q. R., Soria, M. O. & Hossain, M. S. (2024).

Coping Strategies among Family Caregivers for Older Adults with Serious Illness: A Scoping Review. The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Annual Scientific Meeting, Seattle, Washington.

Smith, B.D., Littleton, T., & Bell, A. (January, 2025). Counties with fewer than 1,000 child maltreatment reports: Enigmas and opportunities. Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference. Seattle, Washington, 2025.

Erick da Luz Scherf (PhD)

Bell, A., Abshire, A., & Smith, B.D. (2024, October). “Free to make mistakes”: Which social work competencies do faculty prioritize in simulation labs? Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Kansas City, Missouri, October 25, 2024.

Research Report: Smith, B.D., Bell, A., & Abshire, A. (2024). Faculty and Student Experiences with the University of Alabama Simulation Lab: Final Report. Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama School of Social Work.

Honorific Awards: 2025 Athena Young Professional Leadership Award Nominee (Rutherford County, TN)

MD Sarafat Hossain (PhD) Presentations: Obinna, O, Nwatu, U., & Hossain, M. S. (2025). Perspectives of Rural-Dwelling Older Adults on the Experiences with Informal Care in Southeast Nigeria. Submitted for poster presentation.

Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) 29th Annual Conference.

Publications: da Luz Scherf, E., & Badiezadeh, S. (2025). Immigration Policy as a Social Determinant of Health among Brazilian Immigrants in the United States: A Narrative Review. Health Care Analysis, 33(1), 76– 96. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10728-024-00499-7 da Luz Scherf, E. (2024). Addressing Discrimination and Healthcare Disparities for Sexual and Gender Minorities in South Africa: A Human Rights-Based Perspective. Journal of Health Management, Ahead-of-Print. https://doi.org/10.1177/09720634231216025 Presentations: da Luz Scherf, E., Naseh, M., Okine, J., Prodhan, M., and Lee, S. (2025, October). Global Scholars, Local Struggles: Navigating the Social Work Doctoral Journey as International Students [Panel discussion]. Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)'s 71st Annual Program Meeting. Denver, CO, USA. da Luz Scherf, E., and Mehrara, L. (Forthcoming 2025, October).

Mapping the Health Profile of Brazilian Immigrants in the United States: A Scoping Review [Poster session]. Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)'s 71st Annual Program Meeting. Denver, CO, 38 USA.

(Continued) da Luz Scherf, E., Lee, J., and Naseh, M. (2025, January).

Migration Policies as Social Determinants of Health among International Graduate Students in the United States [Poster session]. SSWR 29th Annual Conference: Strengthening Social Impact through Collaborative Research. Seattle, WA, USA. Honorific Award: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Doctoral Student Policy Fellowship (2025/2026) (Amount: $4000).

Holly DeVivo (DSW)

Presentations: DeVivo, H., & Bishop, J. (2025, April 3). Supporting individuals going through immigration [Invited talk]. 2025 NASW Michigan Conference, Novi, MI, United States.

DeVivo, H., & Bishop, J. (2025, October 10). U.S. immigration and the role of the social worker [Keynote address]. NASW Michigan UP Behavioral Summit, Marquette, MI, United States.

DeVivo, H. (2025, May 29). Immigration 101 for social workers [Invited talk]. NASW Michigan Lunch and Learn Series, Online.

Camilleri, S., DeVivo, H., & Bishop, J. (2025, June 26).

Immigration in SW series: The intersection of immigration status, human rights, advocacy & SW ethics. NASW-MI News. https://www.naswmichigan.org/news/704583/Immigration-in-SW-SeriesThe-Intersection-of-Immigration-Status-Human-RightsAdvocacy--SW-Ethics.htm DeVivo, H., Bishop, J., & Camilleri, S. (2025, August 27).

Immigration in SW series: Are we truly providing culturally competent care?. NASW-MI News. https://www.naswmichigan.org/news/708846/Immigration-in-SW-SeriesAre-we-truly-providing-culturally-competent-care.htm

Uche L. Nwatu (PhD) Publications Olson, L., Des Vignes, D., McLean, A., Wester, B., & Nwatu, U.L. (2025). Indiana Prison Writers Workshop: The power of group cohesion and creative expression among incarcerated individuals. Journal of Prison Education Research, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.25771/y2d4-vx42 Odo, O.C., Ekoh, P.C., Nwatu, U.L. et al. (2025).

Perspectives of Rural-Dwelling Older Adults on the Experiences with Informal Care in Southeast Nigeria. J Cross Cult Gerontol https://doi.org/10.1007/s10823-02509525-0

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Presentations: Nwatu, U. L., Hossain, M. S., & Odo, O. (January 2025). Exploring the challenges of providing and utilizing palliative care for older adults with cancer in Southeast Nigeria: Insights from healthcare professionals. Presented at the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) 2025 Annual Conference, Seattle, WA. Grant/Contract: Student Representative, Board of Directors, Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGESW) Honorific Awards: Fellow: AGESW Pre-Dissertation Fellows Program, Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGESW) Student Representative, Board of Directors, Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGESW)

Joana Okine (PhD)

Presentations: Okine, J., Muñoz, M. T. H., Brown, L. E. & Ruggiano, N (2025, April). Navigating silence: Evaluating Mobile Apps for people with dementia. A poster presented at the 46th Annual Meeting and Conference of the Southern Gerontological Society (SGS), Birmingham, Alabama.

Okine, J. & Ruggiano, N. (2024, November). Burden among informal caregivers of older adults: A scoping review. A poster presented at the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Annual Scientific Meeting, Seattle, Washington.

Okine, J., Cheatham, L. & Ruggiano, N. (2025, January).

Exploring the relationship between caregiver's perception of stress, living arrangement, and respite care utilization: Insights from the 2017 National Poll on Healthy Aging (NPHA). A paper presented at the Society for Social Work Research (SSWR) annual conference, Seattle, Washington.

Wang, F., Mukherjee, N. & Okine, J. (2025, January). Dementia Caregiving Status and Psychological Health: The Mediating Role of Coping Resources. A poster presented at the Society for Social Work Research (SSWR) annual conference, Seattle, Washington Publications: Littleton, T., Cosenzo, L, G., Okine, J., & Newman, S. D. (2025). Perceived racial discrimination, childhood adversity and self-reported high blood pressure among adults in rural Alabama.

Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1575793 Wang, F., Meyer, K., Irani, E., Okine, J., Mukherjee, N. & Marsack-Topolewski, C. (2025). Examining the indirect effect of dementia caregiving status on mental health through coping resources. Research on Aging, 1-13.

Https://doi.org/10.1177/01640275251340031

Terrell T. Richardson (PhD)

Publications Richardson, T.T. (2025). Depression and help-seeking among college-enrolled Black men: Results from the Healthy Minds Study. Journal of College Student Mental Health, 1-29. https://doi.org/10.1080/28367138.2025.2492330 Elijah, O. A., Mudathir, D., Richardson, T. T., Mugoya, G. C., & Mumba, M. (2025). Substance use and mental health of college students: A multi-substance analysis. Journal of College Student Mental Health, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/28367138.2025.2538874 Richardson, T.T., Mudathir, D., Hossain, S., Cheatham, L. (2025). Intersectional predictors of mental health problems among Black college students: A multi-level analysis examining individual, institutional, and societal level factors. Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/26408066.2025.2543920 Grants/Contracts: Council on Social Work Education Minority Fellowship Program– Doctoral, Research Trainee, NIDA-Funded Scientific Training in Addiction Research Techniques (START), Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD) Honorific Award: Outstanding Contribution to Scholarship, The University of Alabama The University of Alabama School of Social Work PhD Student Support Fund Scholarship, $1,000, 2025 Athena Young Professional Leadership Award Nominee (Rutherford County, TN)

Leila Salimova (PhD) Publications: Salimova, L. & Rusnáková, M. (2024). Collaborative strategies for adolescent suicide prevention: insights from Slovakia and Kyrgyzstan. Discover Ment Health 4, 45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44192-024-00102-4 Salimova, L. (2024). Navigating Suicidal Crisis in Kyrgyzstan: A Case Study. ASEAN Social Work Journal, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.58671/aswj.v12i2.6

Salimova, L. and Dzhunushalieva, G. (2025). A Bibliometric Review of Research on Children and Adolescents’ Mental Health Following Parental Migration. Journal of Immigrant Minority Health. https://doi-org.libdata.lib.ua.edu/10.1007/s10903025-01774-y

Max Sleep-Frankel (DSW) Publication: Yoon, Y., Ward, C., Sleep-Frankel, M., & Lee, H. Y. (in press). Understanding the impact of anti-Asian hate incidents on mental health among Asian Americans: A comprehensive scoping review. The British Journal of Social Work.

Presentations: Sleep-Frankel, M., Yoon, Y., Ward, C., Lee, H. Y. (2024, October). Understanding the impact of anti-Asian hate incidents on mental health among Asian Americans: A comprehensive scoping review. E-poster presented by Max Sleep-Frankel at the Council of Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Kansas City, MO. Lister, M., Yoon, Y., Ward, C., Sleep-Frankel, M., Lee, H. Y. (2024, March). Understanding the impact of anti-Asian hate incidents on mental health among Asian Americans: A comprehensive scoping review. Poster was presented by Miya Lister at the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Conference, Tuscaloosa, AL. Yoon, Y., Ward, C., Sleep-Frankel, M., Lister, M., Lee, H. Y. (2024, March). Understanding the impact of anti-Asian hate incidents on mental health among Asian Americans: A comprehensive scoping review. Paper was presented by Dr. Yoon at the 3rd annual National DSW Conference on Education and Social Work Practice, Tuscaloosa, AL. Sleep-Frankel, M. Tower of Babel: Language Barriers in Healthcare: Collaborated with Chicago Minds to develop and present a continuing education (CE) event to social workers and the general public in September 2023 regarding addressing language barriers in healthcare.

Salimova, L., & Egemberdieva, B. (2025). Bridging gaps in social work: Enhancing cultural competencies and understanding for suicide prevention in Kyrgyzstan. In Global perspectives on social work in transition: Navigating technological, cultural, and academic challenges. Verlag Barbara Budrich. https://doi.org/10.3224/84743109.09

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Impact Magazine is a selection of recent research and scholarship at the University of Alabama School of Social Work. Learn more about our innovation and discovery driving #Legendarychange, at: https://socialwork.ua.edu/research-engagement/

Members of the media and policymakers can also contact: Dr. Nicole Ruggiano, Associate Dean of Research and Development nruggiano@ua.edu