Mental Health

Lauren is a doctoral candidate in the College of Social Work at Florida State University. Her research interests include differences in access to care among vulnerable populations. Lauren’s experiences as a licensed clinical social worker and research assistant, both globally and locally, inform her focus on bridging gaps in mental health services. She is particularly interested in addressing the needs of those affected by structural injustices, especially at the intersection of complex trauma and 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.

Elizabeth Curley is a doctoral candidate at Florida State University College of Social Work. Their research interest includes strategies to improve and maintain human relationships during and after incarceration, especially concerning prison visitation. Their interest in criminal justice issues blossomed while working with individuals who were court-mandated to complete substance use treatment.

Rebekah Nelson is a PhD Candidate in the College of Social Work. She has worked in the mental health field, first with transitional-age youth with mental illnesses, and, more recently, with children and youth with autism. She is currently working on her dissertation, which focuses on the behaviors of children with autism when a family member deploys with the military. She hopes to continue working with children and youth with autism, focusing on increasing adaptive social skills and the treatment of anxiety.

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.