Society for Social Work and Research 30th Annual Conference Anniversary: Special Interest Groups

[Special Interest Groups] Pilipina/o/x Social Work and Affiliates Group (P-SWAG) (Marquis BR 12, ML 2)
Conveners: Lalaine Sevillano, PhD, MSW , Joanna La Torre, MSW, LCSW , Dale Maglalang, PhD, MA, MSW, MPH , Cora de Leon, PhD, MPH, LCSW , Ronna Bañada, MSW, LCSW , Hillary Nicole Peregrina, MA, MSW , Kari Tabag, PhD, LCSW-R and Gabrielle Aquino-Adriatico, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Achieve Equal Opportunity and Justice (Grand Challenges for Social Work) (Marquis BR 8, ML 2)
Conveners: Rocio Calvo, PhD , Maggi Price, PhD and Martell Teasley, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Advancing Racial Equity through Practice and Practicum Partnerships (Congress, ML 4)
Conveners: Jewel Stafford, MSW , Dan Ferris, MPA and Pamela Begay, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Behavioral Health Cross-Cutting Working Group (Grand Challenges for Social Work) (Independence BR G, ML 4)
Convener: Elizabeth Gillette, MSW

[Special Interest Groups] Close the Health Gap (Grand Challenges for Social Work) (Capitol, ML 4)
Convener: Elizabeth Gillette, MSW

[Special Interest Groups] Creating Social Responses to a Changing Environment (Grand Challenge for Social Work) (Independence BR H, ML 4)
Conveners: Amy Krings, MSW, PhD , Shanondora Billiot, PhD , Dorlisa Minnick , John Mathias, PhD and Praveen Kumar, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Culturally Sensitive and Mindful Practices in Higher Education for Supporting Unauthorized College Students (Independence BR B, ML 4)
Convener: Ahmed Alif, MS

[Special Interest Groups] Designing and Funding Research for a 21st Century Child and Family Well-Being System – Networking Session for Funders and Researchers (Independence BR A, ML 4)
Convener: Peter Pecora, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Foster Care and Higher Education (Marquis BR 10, ML 2)
Conveners: Angelique Day, PhD , Amy Salazar, PhD and Lisa Schelbe, PhD, MSW

[Special Interest Groups] Gade Social Work Doctoral Education SIG (Marquis BR 7, ML 2)
Conveners: Mimi Chapman, Ph.D. and Jonathan Okstad, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Gender Issues (Grand Challenges for Social Work) (Independence BR F, ML 4)
Convener: Elizabeth Gillette, MSW

[Special Interest Groups] Grand Challenge to Reduce Extreme Inequality (Marquis BR 13, ML 2)
Conveners: Leah Hamilton, PhD and Trina Shank, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Harm Reduction (Treasury, ML 4)
Conveners: Kyria Brown, MSW, MPH , Phillip Marotta, PhD and Theresa Anasti, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Korean American Social Work Educators Association (KASWEA) (Archives, ML 4)
Conveners: Youseung Kim, PhD and Eun Koh, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Leading Interdisciplinary Teams for Health Equity Policy Change in Polarized Environments (Independence BR C, ML 4)
Convener: Venera Bekteshi, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Psychiatric Rehabilitation (Liberty BR K, ML 4)
Conveners: Sadaaki Fukui, PhD and Nathaniel Dell, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Reduce Extreme Inequality (Marquis BR 14, ML 2)
Convener: Elizabeth Gillette, MSW

[Special Interest Groups] Research with Multiracial Individuals (Marquis BR 9, ML 2)
Conveners: Bridget Weller, Ph.D. and Megan Hicks, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Social Work and Research with Muslims SIG (Supreme Court, ML 4)
Conveners: Altaf Husain, PhD and Tarek Zidan, Ph.D.

[Special Interest Groups] Space, Place and Geography (Liberty BR I, ML 4)
Conveners: James Green, MA, LMFT, LSW and Alexa Cinque, AM

[Special Interest Groups] Abolitionist Social Work (Marquis BR 8, ML 2)
Conveners: Brianna Suslovic, MSW , Sid Jordan, PhD , Josh Lown, PhD , Anna Hayward, PhD , Sophia Sarantakos, PhD , SuMing Sullivan, MSW , Jamie Cage, PhD , Jackie Cosse, LMSW , Sam Harrell, MSW and Sandra Leotti, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Advancing Long & Productive Lives (Grand Challenge for Social Work) (Congress, ML 4)
Conveners: Christina Matz, PhD , Nancy Morrow-Howell, PhD , Ernest Gonzales, PhD, MSSW and Cal Halvorsen, PhD, MSW

[Special Interest Groups] Aging Research, Education, Advocacy, and Practice (Marquis BR 7, ML 2)
Conveners: Leslie Hasche, PhD , Tina Maschi, PhD , Karen Bullock, PhD, LICSW, APHSW-C, FGSA , Tyrone Hamler, PhD , Duy Nguyen, PhD and Allison Gibson, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Arts-Based Research and Praxis (Independence BR G, ML 4)
Conveners: Greer Hamilton, PhD , Danielle Littman, PhD , Melanie Sonsteng-Person, PhD , Rogerio M. Pinto, PhD, LCSW , Dora Watkins, PhD , LaShawnda Fields, PhD , E Alexander, PhD and Candace Christensen

[Special Interest Groups] Black Administrators, Researchers, & Scholars (BARS) (Capitol, ML 4)
Conveners: Dashawna J. Fussell-Ware, PhD , Trina Shanks, PhD , Jenny Jones, PhD , Camille R. Quinn, PhD , Joan Blakey, PhD, LCSW , Martell Teasley, PhD , Michele D. Hanna, PhD , Durrell Washington, PhD and Evelyn Coker, MSW, MBA

[Special Interest Groups] Building Financial Capability and Assets for All (Grand Challenge for Social Work) (Independence BR B, ML 4)
Conveners: Julie Birkenmaier , Jin Huang, PhD and Lissa Johnson, MSW

[Special Interest Groups] Children & Youth Behavioral Health Policy and Services Research (Independence BR A, ML 4)
Conveners: Cassandra Simmel, PhD and Genevieve Graaf, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (Marquis BR 10, ML 2)
Conveners: Cheng Ren, PhD , Nari Yoo, MA and Kevin White, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Disaster and Climate Research (Independence BR F, ML 4)
Conveners: Regardt Ferreira, PhD , Tim Davidson and Jennifer First, PhD, MSW, MA

[Special Interest Groups] Ensure Healthy Development for Youth (Grand Challenges for Social Work) (Independence BR H, ML 4)
Convener: Elizabeth Gillette, MSW

[Special Interest Groups] Eradicating Social Isolation (Grand Challenge for Social Work) (Marquis BR 13, ML 2)
Conveners: Michelle R. Munson, PhD , Robert Cosby, PhD. and Suzanne Brown, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Health Equity & Families (Archives, ML 4)
Conveners: Ann W. Nguyen, PhD and Katrina Ellis, PhD, MPH, MSW

[Special Interest Groups] Heterodox Social Work (Treasury, ML 4)
Conveners: Nafees Alam, PhD , Heidi Rueda, PhD , Bruce Thyer, PhD and David R Hodge, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Indigenous and First Nations Focused Research (Independence BR C, ML 4)
Conveners: Katie Schultz, PhD and Shanondora Billiot, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Maternal and Infant Mental Health (Marquis BR 12, ML 2)
Conveners: Abigail Palmer Molina, PhD, LCSW , Rena Bina, PhD and Ruth Paris

[Special Interest Groups] Organizations and Management (Liberty BR K, ML 4)
Conveners: Theresa Anasti, PhD , James Mandiberg, PhD and Matthew Bakko, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (Marquis BR 14, ML 2)
Conveners: Leopoldo Cabassa, PhD , Tonya Edmond, PhD , Brooke Stott , Alyssa Draffin, LCSW , Heidi Allen, PhD , Megan Meyer, PhD and Danielle R. Adams, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Resilience and Strengths-Based Research SIG (Marquis BR 9, ML 2)
Conveners: Sheila Barnhart, PhD , Kristen A. Berg, PhD , Susan Yoon, PhD and Cecilia Mengo, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] School Social Work and School Based Research SIG (Supreme Court, ML 4)
Conveners: Annahita Ball, PhD and Tasha Childs, PhD, LMSW

[Special Interest Groups] Smart Decarceration (Grand Challenge for Social Work) (Liberty BR I, ML 4)
Conveners: Pajarita Charles, PhD , Ashley Jackson, PhD , Matthew Epperson, PhD and Charles Lea, PhD, MSW

[Special Interest Groups] Social Work and Reproductive Justice (Liberty BR J, ML 4)
Conveners: Celina Doria, MSW, PhD and Laura Swan, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Social Work, Jewish Identity, and Judaism (Liberty BR N, ML 4)
Conveners: Rafael Engel, PhD , Maayan Lawental, PhD and Corey Shdaimah, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Suicide Research, Prevention, and Intervention (Monument, ML 4)
Conveners: Lindsay A. Bornheimer, PhD and Anthony Fulginiti, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] The LGBTQ Caucus of Social Work Students & Faculty (Q-Caucus) (Mint, ML 4)
Conveners: LB Klein, PhD, MSW, MPA , Ari Gzesh, MSW , Vern Harner, PhD , Brittanie Ash, PhD , Brendon Holloway, MSW and Leo Kattari

[Special Interest Groups] Universal Basic Income and Guaranteed Income Policies and Research (Liberty BR O, ML 4)
Conveners: Leah Hamilton, PhD , Amy Castro, PhD and Stacia West, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Fostering Research Collaboration for Multi-System Youth: Breaking Down Silos to Advance Social Work Research (Independence BR H, ML 4)
Conveners: Karen Kolivoski, PhD, MSW and Sherri Simmons-Horton, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Addictive Behaviors and Substance Misuse SIG (Marquis BR 8, ML 2)
Convener: Michael Broman, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Chronic and Serious Illness: Diagnosis through End of Life SIG (Congress, ML 4)
Conveners: Jen Hirsch, MSW and Frances Nedjat-Haiem, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Critical Feminsims (Marquis BR 7, ML 2)
Conveners: Sharvari Karandikar, PhD , Charmaine Williams, PhD , Lindsay Gezinski , Meg Gibson, PhD and Mery Diaz

[Special Interest Groups] Critical Mental Health (Independence BR G, ML 4)
Conveners: Nev Jones, PhD , Jeff Ciak, MSW , Sarah Porter, MHS, MSW and Shannon Pagdon, BA

[Special Interest Groups] Deimplementation Science & Practice (Capitol, ML 4)
Conveners: Jacoba Rock, PhD and Charles Lea, PhD, MSW

[Special Interest Groups] Doctoral Pedagogy, Learning & Innovation (Independence BR B, ML 4)
Convener: Jennifer Elkins, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Fatherhood Related Research (Independence BR A, ML 4)
Conveners: Otima Doyle, PhD , Joyce Lee, PhD and Brianna Lemmons, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] HBCU Social Work Research Collective (Marquis BR 10, ML 2)
Conveners: Latoya Hogg, Ph.D., MSW , Cudore Snell, DSW and Janice Davis, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Human-Animal-Environment Interaction (Independence BR F, ML 4)
Conveners: Aviva Vincent, PhD and Mary Rauktis, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Immigration (Grand Challenges for Social Work) (Marquis BR 13, ML 2)
Conveners: Kelly Barneche, MS and Katelin East, MSW

[Special Interest Groups] Latinx Focused Research and Practice (Treasury, ML 4)
Conveners: Carolina Vélez-Grau, PhD, LCSW and Maria Pineros Leano, PhD, MSW, MPH

[Special Interest Groups] Period Talk: How's Your Body Doing in Social Work? (Archives, ML 4)
Conveners: Viveka Ichikawa, MSW, RSW and Catherine Schmidt, PhD, MSW, RSW

[Special Interest Groups] Political Social Work (Independence BR C, ML 4)
Conveners: Suzanne Pritzker, PhD and Jason Plummer, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Qualitative Methods (Marquis BR 12, ML 2)
Conveners: Judith Leitch, PhD, LCSW, MSW , Maryam Rafieifar, PhD and Edward Scott Jr., PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Research and Advocacy on Human Flourishing and Well-Being (Liberty BR K, ML 4)
Conveners: Jeesoo Jeon, MSW , Deborah Moon, PhD , Ramesh Raghavan, PhD, MD, MBBS , Ron Idoko, MPA , Shaun M. Eack, PhD , Amanda Cruce, MSW , Xixi Kang, MSW, MSP , Hyunjin Lee, MSW , Ruijie Ma, MSW and Brian Spitzer, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Restorative Research Methods/Approaches (Marquis BR 14, ML 2)
Conveners: Rei Shimizu, PhD , Sid Jordan, PhD , Briana Barocas, PhD and Sheila McMahon, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Rural Behavioral Health (Marquis BR 9, ML 2)
Conveners: Aubrey Jones, PhD , Jamey Lister, PhD, MSW and Addie Weaver, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Well-Being of Black Women and Girls (WBBWG) Special Interest Group (Liberty BR I, ML 4)
Conveners: Marquitta Dorsey, Ph.D. and Abigail Williams-Butler, PhD, MSW, MS

[Special Interest Groups] Addressing Weight Stigma (Marquis BR 8, ML 2)
Convener: Kiki Kline, PhD, LSW

[Special Interest Groups] Anthropology and Social Work (Congress, ML 4)
Conveners: Hannah Obertino-Norwood, PhD , Kathryn Berringer, PhD , John Doering-White, PhD and Sanoop Valappanandi, MSW

[Special Interest Groups] Associate Research Deans and Directors SIG (Independence BR G, ML 4)
Convener: Jodi Frey, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Black, Indigenous, and Latinx Tenured Professors (Capitol, ML 4)
Conveners: LaShawnda Fields, PhD and Renee Cunningham-Williams, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Building Healthy Relationships to End Violence (Grand Challenge for Social Work) (Independence BR B, ML 4)
Conveners: Susan Yoon, PhD , Kathryn Maguire-Jack, PhD , Bethany Backes, PhD, MSW, MPH , Nada Elias-Lambert, PhD , Kristen Ravi, Ph.D. , Heidi Rueda, PhD , Heather Storer, Ph.D. and Laura Voith, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Community and Neighborhoods (Independence BR A, ML 4)
Conveners: Cheryl Hyde, PhD and Mary Ohmer, PhD, MSW, MPIA

[Special Interest Groups] Criminal and Juvenile Justice (Independence BR H, ML 4)
Convener: Susan McCarter, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Disability (Marquis BR 10, ML 2)
Conveners: Elizabeth Lightfoot, PhD and Sophia Eisenberg, MSW, MAT

[Special Interest Groups] Eliminating Racism (Grand Challenge for Social Work) (Independence BR F, ML 4)
Conveners: Michael Spencer, PhD , Quincy Bloxom, DSW , Martell Teasley, PhD , Jandel Crutchfield, PhD, LCSW and Dale Maglalang, PhD, MA, MSW, MPH

[Special Interest Groups] Gender-Based Violence (formerly VAWC) (Marquis BR 7, ML 2)
Conveners: LB Klein, PhD, MSW, MPA , Abha Rai, PhD and Meredith Bagwell Gray, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Grand Challenge to End Homelessness (Marquis BR 13, ML 2)
Convener: Amanda Aykanian, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Harnessing Tech for Social Good (Grand Challenge for Social Work) (Treasury, ML 4)
Conveners: Jonathan Singer, PhD , M. Sebrena Jackson, PhD , John Bricoult and Johanna Creswell Baez, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Historical Research in Social Work SIG (Archives, ML 4)
Conveners: Jessica Toft, PhD, LISW and Justin Harty, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Immigrant and Refugee Studies SIG (Mint, ML 4)
Conveners: Mitra Naseh, PhD , Wooksoo Kim, PhD and Mary Lehman Held, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Kinship Care and Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (Independence BR C, ML 4)
Conveners: Nancy Mendoza, Ph.D. and Yanfeng Xu, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Oncology SIG (Marquis BR 12, ML 2)
Conveners: Tess Thompson, PhD and Bridgette Thom, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Preventing Gun Violence (Grand Challenge for Social Work) (Liberty BR K, ML 4)
Conveners: Mickey Sperlich, PhD , Deborah Gorman-Smith, PhD and Neil Guterman, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Research and Advocacy for Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Communities (Marquis BR 14, ML 2)
Conveners: Christina Babusci, MSS , Deborah Moon, PhD , Duy Nguyen, PhD , Hyunjin Lee, MSW , Jessica Cho Kim, LCSW and Jeesoo Jeon, MSW

[Special Interest Groups] Social Work Contributions to Psychosis & Schizophrenia-Conditions (Marquis BR 9, ML 2)
Conveners: Shannon Blajeski, PhD , Lindsay A. Bornheimer, PhD , Jessica Wojtalik, PhD , Ana Flores, PhD , Jordan DeVylder, PhD , Patricia Turner, MSW , Shelly Ben-David, PhD , Matthew J. Smith, PhD, MSW, LCSW , Nev Jones, PhD and Lynette Studer, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Social Work Supervision and Workforce Development Scholars (Liberty BR J, ML 4)
Conveners: Mimi Choy-Brown, PhD , Karen Sewell, PhD and Daniel Kaplan, PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Social Work and Neuroscience (Liberty BR I, ML 4)
Conveners: Lindamarie Olson, PhD , Sunghyun Hong, MSW and Kathryn Irish, MSW

[Special Interest Groups] Social Workers Advancing Asian American Mental Health (Liberty BR N, ML 4)
Convener: Daniel B. Tanh

[Special Interest Groups] Sport Social Work (Monument, ML 4)
Conveners: Tarkington Newman, PhD , Carlyn Kimiecik, PhD , Matt Moore, PhD , Richard Weaver, PhD , Amanda Dailey-Weaver, MS and Levone Lee, MSW

[Special Interest Groups] Strength-Based Approaches to Studying Black Male Youth: Implications for Social Work Practice (Supreme Court, ML 4)
Conveners: Ed-Dee Williams, PhD , Durrell Washington, PhD , Donte Boyd, PhD, MSW and Edward Scott Jr., PhD

[Special Interest Groups] Workforce Health and Well-Being Among Social Work Professions (Liberty BR O, ML 4)
Conveners: Amy He, PhD and Robin Leake, PhD

Society for Social Work and Research 30th Annual Conference Anniversary: Special Interest Groups

Special Interest Groups

Friday, January 16, 2026

7:00 AM-8:00 AM

12:45 PM-1:45 PM

Saturday, January 17, 2026

7:00 AM-8:00 AM

12:30 PM-1:30 PM