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 2024
Elissa Friedman, PhD, LCSW, ACSW
Clinical Lecturer
Jalana Harris, PhD, LCSW-R
Clinical Lecturer
Haylee Hebenstreit, PhD, LMSW
Clinical Lecturer
New Faculty 2023
Kristen Brock Petroshius, PhD, MSW
Assistant Professor
Nicholas Kardaras, Ph.D., LCSW-R
Clinical Assistant Professor
Yalu Zhang, PhD, MSW
Assistant Professor
New Faculty 2021:
Miguel Muñoz-Laboy, DrPH, Associate Professor
Areas of interest: Social determinants of Latinx health, HIV continuity of care, Globalization and migrant health, Co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, Bisexual health research, Masculinity and structural determinants of substance misuse, Social isolation, loneliness, and economic exclusion, Medical-legal partnerships, Social epidemiology
Maria E. Torres, PhD, MA, Associate Professor
Areas of interest: Health Services research focused on the behavioral health care treatment system, The impacts of federal and state policies on those seeking behavioral health treatment, The behavioral health care workforce, Racial/Ethic disparities in behavioral health treatment, Mechanisms to improve quality of behavioral health care treatment, Increasing access to quality care for racial/ethnic minorities
New Faculty 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
