Research in Action

Online colloquium provides platform for discussing findings and implications for change

by Orion Mowbray, Director of Research

How does social work research make a difference in the “real world”? The Office of Research, joint with the SSW Doctoral Program Committee, sets out to answer that question through a series of virtual colloquiums in 20202021. In the hour-long lunchtime events held via Zoom, a faculty member and a student or recent graduate present research that impacts community, public policy and professional practice.

“The colloquium provides faculty and students with space to discuss how research translates to policy and practice, and furthers the social justice mission of social work,” said Orion Mowbray, director of the School’s Office of Research.

Presenters have so far included faculty members Michael Robinson, on police killings of civilians across races, with recommendations for change grounded in his research, and Adrienne BaldwinWhite, on using technology to combat gender-based violence. Doctoral student Luis Alvarez-Hernandez discussed the role that Spanish-speaking media has played in relation to intimate partner violence among Spanish-speaking communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shena Brown, PhD, presented “The Lived Experiences of Black Social Workers” on confronting racialized experiences in professional life. For the first colloquium of 2021, Jane McPherson spoke on social work education and historical white supremacy, and doctoral candidate Tatiana Villarreal-Otaloro discussed her work on developing students as immigrant allies.

“These colloquiums are important because they demonstrate how our research is meaningful in the fight for social justice,” said Dean Anna Scheyett. “It helps people see that this work isn’t simply academic research, it is building tools for meaningful change.”

PhD candidate (ABD) Luis Alvarez-Hernandez presented his research on the relationship between Spanish speaking media and intimate partner violence during the pandemic. He was named a 2021 Giving Voice to the Voiceless grant recipient for his recent work.

Photo by Laurie Anderson

Orion Mowbray, Associate Professor and Director of Research