I'm an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at Portland State University. I primarily teach in the undergraduate social work program with a focus on research and evaluation. I also am the principal investigator for the HRSA funded Behavioral Health Integration Project.
My scholarly identity is that of a learner, practitioner, and activist. These distinct but overlapping domains are intricately connected to my research and teaching.
My scholarship examines complex social issues through a wicked problems framework focusing on how problem formulation shapes and misdirects interventions on the individual level. I'm interested in the dialectical process of interpretation and understanding that influences problem formulation of social issues. Through this process, I seek to name and curtail concept creep and misdirected solutions.
My current research is focused on the interactions and impact of neoliberalism + social connection + mental health. I want to gain a better understanding of current health policies and health practitioners understandings of the impacts of social disconnection and isolation on the diagnosis and treatment of mood and anxiety disorders with patients across the lifespan.
My teaching is grounded in critical pedagogy influenced by Paulo Freire and bell hooks. I use a self-grading model in all of my courses to promote a student-centered approach to learning and evaluation. Using this model, students focus on their own learning goals and receive constructive feedback to encourage their thinking. Students focus on progressive development through feedback rather than on achieving mastery of content. This model encourages students to take an active role in learning and attempts to create a more dynamic and engaged learning community.