Our new faculty members are sure to enrich learning in the classroom, deepen connections in the community and with our student body and contribute to social work research and practice within the School and beyond.
New Faculty 2019:
Ijeoma Opara, Ph.D, LMSW, MPH, Assistant Professor
Areas of interest: HIV/AIDS and STI prevention, substance abuse prevention, adolescent girls of color, youth empowerment, intersectionality, community-based participatory research
Faculty who joined the School of Social Welfare in 2017:
Zachary A. Morris, Ph.D, Assistant Professor
Areas of Interest: Disability policy; comparative social policy; social isolation; poverty; program evaluation; management and leadership in the nonprofit and public sectors
Sana Malik, Ph.D, Assistant Professor
Areas of Interest:Social determinants of health, international public health, health systems strengthening, health disparities among minority, immigrant, and refugee populations, health education & behavior, culturally and religiously tailored programming, maternal & child health and welfare, program design & evaluation
Faculty who joined the School of Social Welfare in 2016:
Michelle Ballan, Ph.D, Professor
Areas of Interest: prevention and treatment interventions for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families; research focused on sexuality, intimate partner violence and direct practice for individuals with disabilities; bioethics; disability studies; human rights and social justice for underserved populations
Melissa Bessaha, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Areas of Interest: Adolescent and emerging adult development; educational and health equity; multicultural and immigrant issues; mental health services research; higher education policy; program development and evaluation
Amy Hammock, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Areas of Interest: Intimate partner violence intervention and prevention; Community-based participatory research; Community practice with immigrant populations; Qualitative methods; Feminist theory and practice
(photo credit: Oceana Photography)
George Leibowitz, Ph.D, Professor
Areas of Interest: Research on trauma and victimization among child welfare and juvenile justice involved youth; Addictions and public health issues in the criminal justice system; Assessment and Treatment with Sexually Abusive Youth; Global mental health
