Meet Our Researchers

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Abura-Meerdink, G., Hopson, M.L., Cariaga-Lo, L., Jones, L., Carlson, C., Perdomo, S., Hill-Gazero, C., Crang, M., Rincon, L., Rodriguez, J., & Quick, R (2025). Developing a Culturally Competent Health and Behavioral Health Assessment Tool for Rural Schools, Children & Schools (47), 229–237, https://doi.org/10.1093/cs/cdaf019.

Hopson, L. M., Carlson, C., Berryhill, M. B., Casper, D. M., Rincon, K., Crang, M., Webster, K., Abura-Meerdink, G., Jones, L., McGee, A., & Quick, R. (2025). Implementing and Sustaining Rural School-Based Integrated Health Services Through University-Community Partnerships. Journal of evidence-based social work (2019), 1–15. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/26408066.2025.2593475. 

Abura-Meerdink, G., Hopson, L. M., Carriaga-Lo, L., Jones, L., Perdomo, S., Hill, C., Crang, M., Carlson, C., Rincon, K., Rodriguez, J., Quick, R. (In-Press). Developing a Culturally Competent Health and Behavioral Health Assessment Tool for Rural Schools. Children & Schools.

Littleton, T., Luo, Y., Abura-Meerdink, G., & Lee, H. Associations between the social determinants of health and risk for interpersonal violence among Black Americans in rural Alabama. (2025) to the Journal of Interpersonal Violence. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605241311616.

Abura-Meerdink, G., & Albright, D.L. A Systematic review on the effectiveness of school-based digital mental health interventions for adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa. (2023). Journal of Research and Social Work Practice, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315231201140.

Hopson, L. M., Lidbe, A., Jackson, M.S., Adanu, E., Li, X., Penmetsa, P., Lee, H., Anderson, A., Obuya, C., & Abura-Meerdink, G. (2022). Transportation to school and academic outcomes: A systematic review. Educational Review. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131911.2022.2034748.

Huang, K-Y., Abura, G., Theise, R., & Nakigudde, J. (2017). Parental Depression and Associations with Parenting and Children’s Physical and Mental Health in a Sub-Saharan African Setting. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 48(4), 517. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5318298/pdf/nihms812053.pdf.

Huang, K-Y., Nakigudde, J., Rhule, D., Gumikiriza-Onoria, J. L., Abura, G., Kolawole, B., Ndyanabangi, S., Kim, S., Seidman, E., Ogedegbe, G., & Brotman, L. M. (2017). Transportability of an Evidence-Based Early Childhood Intervention in a Low-Income African Country: Results of a Cluster Randomized Controlled Study. Prevention Science, 18(8), 964. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5693774/pdf/nihms894715.pdf.

SELECTED AWARDS

2024-2025
NIH Fogarty Pilot Study ($10,000)
NIH Fogarty Postdoctoral Research Fellowship ($61,428)

2024
Society for Social Work Researchers (SSWR) ($500)
Finalist, Outstanding Dissertation Award, The University of Alabama

2023-2024
PhD Dissertation Project, The Graduate School and School of Social Work at The University of Alabama ($7,400)
Graduate Council Fellowship, The University of Alabama, Graduate School ($54,592)

2023
The Leadership Award-LEAD Global Training Program, Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis

2022
Summer Research Scholarship, The University of Alabama, School of Social Work ($1,000)
Outstanding Contributions to Service Award, School of Social Work, PhD. Program, The University of Alabama

2021-22
Community Engaged Graduate Fellowship, The University of Alabama, Center for Community-Based Partnerships ($52,326)

2021
Ben Avis Orcutt Doctoral Fellowship Fund, The University of Alabama, School of Social Work ($2,000)

2019-20
Graduate Council Fellowship, The University of Alabama, Graduate School ($58,977)

 

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Ballan, M., & Grosser, S. (2024). Effective interventions for students with autism spectrum disorder.  In C. Franklin, M.B. Harris & P. Allen-Meares (Eds.), School services sourcebook  (3^rd ed., 262-273.). Oxford University Press.

Ellison, B. & Ballan, M. (2023). Not my ventilator: How conceptual frameworks of disability and the absence of the disabled voice have shaped healthcare policies in the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond. Global Social Policy, 23(1), 171-175.

Ballan, M., Freyer, M., & Romanelli, M. (2022). Supporting the housing needs of domestic violence shelter residents: Considerations for survivors with and without disabilities. Housing Policy Debate, 1-18.

Ballan, M., Freyer, M., & Romanelli, M. (2022). Occupational functioning among intimate partner survivors with disabilities; A retrospective analysis. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 36(4), 368-390.

Ballan, M., Freyer, M., & Romanelli, M. (2022). Intimate partner violence, disability, and pain: A retrospective study. Journal of Family Violence, 37(8), 1367-1378.

Ballan, M., & Freyer, M. (2021). Qualitative clinical assessment methods. In C. Jordan & C. Franklin (Eds.), Clinical assessment methods for social workers: Quantitative and qualitative methods (5th ed., pp. 139-176). Lyceum.

 Ballan, M.S., & Freyer, M. (2020). Occupational deprivation among female survivors of intimate partner violence with physical disabilities. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(4), 7404345010.

Ballan, M., & Freyer, M. (2019). Intimate partner violence and women with disabilities: The role of speech-language pathologists. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 28(4), 1692-1697. 

Ballan, M., & Freyer, M. (2019). Addressing intimate partner violence with female patients with chronic physical disabilities: The role of physical therapists. Disability and Rehabilitation, DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2019.1664648

Ballan, M.S., & Hyk, J. (2019). Autism spectrum disorder. In J. Raines (Ed.), Evidence based practice in school mental health: Addressing DSM 5 disorders in schools (2nd ed., 91-130). Oxford University Press. 

Ballan, M., & Freyer, M. B. (2018). Self-protection for women with disabilities experiencing intimate partner violence. Family & Intimate Partner Violence Quarterly, 11(2), 51-60.

Ballan, M. (2017). Intimate partner violence and women with disabilities: The public health crisis. Family & Intimate Partner Violence Quarterly, 10(2), 65-69.

Ballan, M., & Freyer, M. (2017). The sexuality of young women with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A neglected focus in the American foster care system. Disability and Health Journal, 10(3), 371-375.

Ballan, M.S., & Freyer, M.B. (2017). Supporting female survivors of intimate partner violence with disabilities: Recommendations for social workers in the emergency department. Social Work in Health Care, 56(10), 950-963.

Ballan, M., & Freyer, M. (2017). Trauma-informed social work practice with women with disabilities: Working with survivors of intimate partner violence. Advances in Social Work, 18(1), 131-144.

Ballan, M., & Freyer, M. (2017). Autism spectrum disorders, adolescence, and sexuality education: Suggested interventions for mental health professionals. Sexuality and Disability, 35, 261-273.

Ballan, M., Powledge, L., & Freyer, M. (2017). Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Assessment and intervention.  In Encyclopedia of Social Work Online. Oxford University Press.

Ballan, M. (2017). Special issue on domestic violence and disability. Domestic Violence Report, 22(3), 33-52. 

Ballan, M., & Freyer, M. (2017). Developing a profile of survivors of intimate partner violence with disabilities: An exercise in clinical data mining. SAGE Research Methods Cases. 

Ballan, M., Freyer, M., Powledge, L., & Marti, N. (2016). Intimate partner violence among help-seeking Deaf women: An empirical study. Violence Against Women. doi:10.1177/1077801216664428

Kinnear, S., Link, B.L., Ballan, M.S., & Fischbach, R. (2016). Understanding the experience of stigma for parents of children with autism spectrum disorders and the role stigma plays in families' lives. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46(3), 942-953. 

Fischbach, R., Harris, M., Ballan, M., Fischbach, G., & Link, B. (2016). Is there concordance in attitudes and beliefs between parents and scientists about autism spectrum disorder? Autism: International Journal of Research and Practice, 20(3), 353-363. 

Ballan, M., & Freyer, M. (2016). Qualitative assessment methods. In C. Jordan & C. Franklin (Eds.), Clinical assessment methods for social workers: Quantitative and qualitative methods (4th ed., pp. 121-153). Lyceum.

SELECTED AWARDS

2024 National Crime Victims’ Service Award Building Knowledge Through Research Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime

2024 Loreen Arbus Champion for Disability Award, 21 Leaders for the 21^st Century, Women’s eNews

2022 Distinguished Scholar and Fellow, National Academies of Practice

2020 Wiki Disability Scholar, WITH Foundation

2020 Switzer Distinguished Level Research Fellowship, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research 

2020 Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, State University of New York  

2019 Researcher-Practitioner Fellowship, Center for Victim Research

2015 Mid-Career Exemplary Social Work Leader Award, National Association of Social Workers, New York City Chapter

2012 Best Article Award, Violence Against Women

2011 Early Career Award, American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

2010 Presidential Teaching Award, Columbia University

2010 Award, Association on Higher Education and Disability

 

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Newman, T., Renner, D., Bessaha, M., Beasley, L., Kelshaw, P., Cimini, D., Moyer, V., Lee, L., Ekas, A., Thorne, K., Mastroleo, N., & Florio, M. (2025). Understanding College Athlete Mental Health: Insights from Division I Athletic Department Personnel. Journal of Intercollegiate Sport. https://doi.org/10.17161/jis.v18i3.23402

Mushonga, D., Fedina, L., Bessaha, M,L,, & Chen, Z. (in press). Unpacking multiple forms of discrimination experiences in racial/ethnic subgroups of emerging adults. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-025-02518-2

Bessaha, M.L., Persaud, U.*, Asfe, R.*, & Muñoz-Laboy, M. (2023, online first). Community-based providers’ perspectives on addressing loneliness and mental health services for migrant youth and emerging adults. Journal of Social Service Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2022.2164640

Deluca-Acconi, R., Bessaha, M.L., Mendoza, M., & Valesquez, N. (2022). How did we get here and where do we go from here?: Supporting undocumented students through a pandemic. School Psychology, 37(2), 202–211. https://doi.org/10.1037/spq0000491

Lu, W., Bessaha, M.L., & Muñoz-Laboy, M. (2022). Examination of young US adults’ reasons for not seeking mental health care for depression, 2011-2019. JAMA Network Open, 5(5), e2211393-e2211393.

Brown, S., Sabbath, E.L., Cosby, R., Bessaha, M.L., Munson, M., Kong, J.E. Crewe, S.E., Tracy, E.M., & Lubben, J. (2022). Eradicate social isolation. In Barth, R.P., Shanks, T.R., Messing, J., & Williams, J.H. (Eds.). Grand challenges for social work and society. (2nd ed.). London: Oxford University Press. 

Bessaha, M.L., Reed, R., Donlon, A., Mathews, W., Bell, A., & Merolla, D. (2020). Creating a more inclusive environment for students with disabilities: Findings from participatory action research. Disability Studies Quarterly, 40 (3). https://dsq-sds.org/article/id/897/

Bessaha, M.L., Cornelius, L., & Unick, G.J. (2020). Barriers to behavioral health service utilization among first-generation immigrant emerging adults. Social Work in Mental Health, 18(1), 55-74. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332985.2019.1679323

Bessaha, M.L., Sabbath, E.L., Morris, Z., Malik, S., Scheinfeld, L., & Saragossi, J. (2020). A systematic review of loneliness interventions among non-elderly adults. Clinical Social Work Journal, 48 (1), 110-125. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-019-00724-0

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Bessaha, M.L., Persaud, U.*, Asfe, R.*, & Muñoz-Laboy, M. (2023, January). Social isolation and loneliness among migrant youth and emerging adults: A community-based providers' perspectives on enhancing access to mental health services. Poster presentation at the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR), 27th Annual Conference: Social work Science and Complex Problems: Battling Inequities + Building Solutions. Phoenix, AZ.

Bessaha, M.L., Mushonga, D., Fedina, L., & Devylder, J. (2022, January). Loneliness, social support, and mental health service use during the transition to adulthood. Symposium presentation, “Social Isolation and Social Support in the Context of Adversity: Risks and Resilience” at SSWR, 26th Annual Conference: Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice, Washington, D.C.

Shimizu, R. Bessaha, M.L., Ben-David, S., Moore, K., Rodwin, A., & Munson, M. (2021, January). Recovery among young adults with serious mental illness. Presentation at SSWR, 25th Annual Conference: Social Work Science for Social Change. Virtual Meeting.

Bessaha, M.L. Reed, R., Donlon, A., Matthews, W., Bell, A., & Merolla, D. (2019, October). Voices heard: College students with disabilities use participatory action research to enact campus-wide change. Symposium at the Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood, 9th Conference, Toronto, ON. 

Bessaha, M.L. (2018, July). Barriers to mental health service utilization among emerging adult immigrants in the United States. Presentation at the Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development (SWSD), Dublin, Ireland.

SELECTED AWARDS

Stony Brook University Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) Seed Grant ($50,000; 2021 – 2022)

Stony Brook University Diversity Initiative Grant ($50,000; 2021 – 2022)

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Minority Fellowship Program, provided through the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)($22,900; 2015 – 2016)