Social Work Research Opportunities

Many faculty members in our department are active in research and have a variety of academic interests, listed below. Several faculty members are currently mentoring students interested in undergraduate research related to their own fields of study. Social Work research can be done in collaboration with our faculty through a variety of campus programs including: Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP), Undergraduate Research Program (URP), Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), and the McNair Program or for college credit through Independent Study (SOCWORK 498 or 498R).  Read more about these programs and the benefits of undergraduate research here. You may also be interested in recent faculty publications and examples of undergraduate dissemination via presentations, posters, and publications. 

Dr. Jennifer Anderson 

Dr. Anderson enjoys working with students on their own interests, which might manifest as an independent study project and/or an undergraduate research project. She certainly welcomes students to collaborate with her on her existing interests: interprofessional collaborative practices, GIS mapping of social work efforts, suicide awareness, therapy/emotional support animals in higher education, and disability awareness.

• Dr. Anderson is willing to work with students for Independent Study (SOCWORK 498 or 498R) projects and through RAP, URP, SURF, and McNair. 

Dr. Katherine Drechsler 

Dr. Drechsler’s research interests include diversity in social work practice, teaching strategies in engaging in diversity and difference in practice, enhancing field education, child welfare, substance abuse treatment, and foster care and adoptions. 

• Dr. Drechsler is willing to work with students for Independent Study (SOCWORK 498 or 498R) projects and through RAP, URP, SURF, and McNair. 

Dr. Deanna Guthrie 

Dr. Guthrie's primary research interests include hope, strengths-based research with underrepresented populations, social work education, and academic advising. 

• Dr. Guthrie is willing to work with students for Independent Study (SOCWORK 498 or 498R) projects and through RAP, URP, and McNair. 

Dr. Sarah Hessenauer

Dr. Hessenauer involves students in her research and helps students create their own research. Dr. Hessenauer's research interests include undergraduate social work education, suicide prevention, and stress and coping in social work practice. Opportunities to assist Dr. Hessenauer on her faculty led reach projects include assisting on:

• Dr. Hessenauer is willing to work with students for Independent Study (SOCWORK 498 or 498R) projects and through RAP, URP, SURF, and McNair. 

Dr. Eunyoung Jang

Dr. Jang is passionate about refugee, forced migration, and immigration studies. Her primary research interests include cultural competence, social support, health, access to and utilization of service, and promoting well-being and social justice for refugees and the immigrant population.

• Dr. Jang is willing to work with students for Independent Study (SOCWORK 498 or 498R) projects and through RAP, URP, SURF, and McNair. 

Dr. Aruna Jha

Dr. Jha's research interests are related to mental health outcomes in immigrant and military populations. Her doctoral dissertation focused on risk factors for suicide in immigrant college students. In both groups, students and military veterans, she is specifically interested in the role of cultural beliefs and values in suicidal behavior, and designing and evaluating suicide prevention programs that address these beliefs.

• Dr. Jha is willing to work with students for Independent Study (SOCWORK 498 or 498R) projects and through RAP, URP, SURF, and McNair. 

Dr. Yeongmin Kim 

Dr. Kim's primary research interests are child support policy, noncustodial fathers’ support for their children, child care issues, and poverty and social welfare programs in general. 

• Dr. Kim is willing to work with students for Independent Study (SOCWORK 498 or 498R) projects and through RAP, URP, and SURF. 

Dr. Kristen Prock

Dr. Prock’s research interests include understanding the unique needs and service utilization patterns of LGBTQ homeless youth, victimization of vulnerable populations, and the role of identity in educational success for students and faculty. Dr. Prock welcomes student involvement in her research as well as helping students create their own research. 

• Dr. Prock is willing to work with students for Independent Study (SOCWORK 498 or 498R) projects and through RAP, URP, SURF, and McNair.

Dr. Jeannine Rowe 

Dr. Rowe involves students in her research. Her primary research interests include evaluating the effectiveness of social work services in aging and health care, fostering university/community partnerships, and development of evaluation tools to assess student outcomes. 

• Dr. Rowe is willing to work with students for Independent Study (SOCWORK 498 or 498R) projects and through RAP, URP, SURF, and McNair. 

Created 7/13/2017, Updated 10/11/2018, 4/30/2020