Faculty & Research

Congratulations to our many distinguished faculty members who remain dedicated to the advancement of the social work profession. Listed below are a few of their recent awards and achievements.

The rate of diagnosis for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is the same among all racial groups — one in 110, according to current estimates. However, a study by a Florida State University researcher has found that African-American children tend to be diagnosed later than white children, which results in a longer and more intensive intervention.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Florida State university professor is spearheading a new outreach program to  mentor disadvantaged youth in the Big Bend on careers in residential construction.

Florida State University College of Social Work Professor Eyitayo Onifade is the leader of the new  program, which is called Construction-Coaching Opportunities to Reach Employment (C-CORE).

The program, which is a partnership between the college and the Home Builders Institute, is set to launch in mid-March.

As the only faculty recognition award by the student body, members of Burning Spear, Inc., recognized 15 faculty members across campus who have made a commitment to advancing FSU as a leading institution of higher education.  College of Social Work Assistant Professor Eyitayo Onifade was one of the esteemed faculty members honored with this award.

The FSU College of Social Work hosted its inaugural Research Exposition, April 10, 2012 in the University Center’s Futch Ballroom. The College shared a rich array of research topics with professors and students of the broader Florida State campus and members of the Tallahassee social services community.  The Exhibition, spearheaded by Professors Jean Munn, Stephen Tripodi, and the College’s Research Committee, renamed and restructured the College’s Research Showcase into a larger, broader annual public event.

Prescription drug abuse is a hot button issue and frequent headliner in Florida’s news media.  Likewise, addiction and chronic pain remain at the forefront of the latest public health concerns as the U.S. struggles to address the needs of a rising veteran population.  Through a grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH), Dr. Eric Garland is investigating an innovative way to combat chronic pain and problems related to prescription painkiller use through a mental training program he developed called Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement.

Through joint efforts of the Florida State University College of Social Work and the Florida Association for Volunteer Action in the Caribbean and the Americas (FAVACA), Drs. Neil Abell and Pat Lager provided training to volunteers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to support their efforts assisting people impacted by HIV/AIDS.

One of the College of Social Work’s unique qualities is that it is home to two well-respected scholarly journals.  Both journals were founded and are currently edited by faculty members from the FSU College of Social Work. The Journal of Poetry Therapy is edited by Dean Nick Mazza and Research on Social Work Practice is edited by Professor Bruce Thyer.  Both faculty members’ talents have contributed to creating these resources, which continue to enrich research and practice in social work and related disciplines.

CSW Associate Professor, Dr. Jean Munn has co-authored a chapter for the medical text, Primary Care Geriatrics, along with Dr. Ken Brummel-Smith and Debra Danforth of the FSU COM. The focus of the chapter, interdisciplinary collaboration on medical teams, has led to the development of a course available to students in medicine, nursing, and social work to be offered summer 2013. The course will model an interdisciplinary team format, posing case studies and comprising equal team membership for each discipline.

After almost thirty years, I am retiring from the FSU College of Social Work this summer.