Mental Health

Dr. Gashaye Melaku Tefera is an Assistant Professor whose work focuses on healthcare access, health disparities, and mental health among immigrants, refugees, internally displaced people, international students, Indigenous populations, and other underserved communities. He explores the social determinants of health as well as the barriers and facilitators that impact healthcare access. His research aims to develop evidence-based, contextually relevant interventions that enhance healthcare access and utilization while promoting mental well-being. Dr.

Zhe Yang is a doctoral student at Florida State University College of Social Work. Her research interests include pediatric healthcare, medical social work, and program evaluation. She particularly focuses on the influence of social determinants of health (SDoH) on children with severe diseases, mental health challenges among pediatric patients, and healthcare utilization in pediatric settings.

Victoria (Vicky) Verano is a teaching professor and a licensed clinical social worker in Florida. She serves as a field placement advisor for both undergraduate and graduate students. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses related to family violence, loss and bereavement and medical social work. 

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Craig Stanley is a teaching professor at the College of Social Work and is the director of strategic initiatives and special projects in the FSU Office of Faculty Development and Advancement. He served as interim dean from January 2022 until October 2023. He also served as associate dean for academic affairs for the college since 2015, served as director of the MSW program from 2009-2015 and has filled other administrative and teaching positions since 2004.

Keithen Mathis is the associate dean for Culture and Community Engagement at the College of Social Work and is a teaching professor. He served for many years as a field education faculty member. His teaching and social work practice interests include cultural competency, social work and field education and criminal justice, and human rights.

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Dr. Jeffrey Lacasse is an associate professor at the FSU College of Social Work and a graduate, earning his doctoral degree in social work in 2008 and MSW in 2000. His research areas of interest include mental health and psychiatric medications. 

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Tomi Gomory is an associate professor, social work clinician and co-author of “Mad Science: Psychiatric Coercion, Diagnosis, and Drugs,” (2013) a book that closely reviews psychiatry and critiques its efforts to address mental health using a medical model. His research examines the conventionally accepted use of coercion in social services, the impact of the use of force on users of social services and the ethical impacts on helping professions.

Rosalyn Deckerhoff is a teaching professor and director of Online Field Education, facilitating field placements for students in the Online MSW Program. She is also a licensed clinical social worker in Florida. Her background and expertise in clinical practice and teaching include developmental disabilities, eating disorders, healthcare, mental health and substance use.

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Katrina Boone serves as an associate teaching professor and has held the role of Director of Field Education since 2005. She is actively involved with the Council on Social Work Education, where she contributes as a member of the Board of Accreditation Site Visitor team. Additionally, she is engaged with the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors, serving on its executive team as Secretary of the Board of Directors.

Amy L. Ai is a distinguished research professor and is a faculty affiliate with both the FSU Institute for Successful Longevity and the Pepper Institute for Aging and Public Policy. Her research interests include gerontology, health disparities, culture, behavioral intervention, mindfulness, mental health, spirituality, stress and coping. She is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare, as well as a Fulbright scholar.