Associate Professor

Phone: 479-575-4655
Fax: 479-575-4145
Email: kmcmull@uark.edu

Ph.D., University of Kansas, 2003
MSW, University of Kansas, 1986
BA, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1982

Dr. Christy-McMullin has been teaching at the University of Arkansas since Aug. 2003.  She teaches Research and Technology I; Social Welfare Policy; Advanced Policy and Practice with Children, Youth and Families; and Foundations of Culturally Competent Social Work Practice.  She is also the chair of the Children, Youth, and Families area of emphasis.  She has taught at the BSW and MSW level, and taught Intensive Seminar in Costa Rica in the summer of 2003. 

Dr. Christy-McMullin started teaching an inter-disciplinary, international service-learning course in the spring of '07, and takes students to Belize during Summer Session I each summer. Her research agenda includes: economic development; anti-poverty strategies, such as asset-building; women's issues; and violence against women. Dr. Christy-McMullin is the Primary Investigator on a bi-state longitudinal study, which is funded by the Ford Foundation. She has presented papers at national and international conferences.   

Dr. Christy - McMullin is a member of the Council of Social Work Education, the National Association of Social Workers, the Society for Social Work and Research, and serves on the board of the Arkansas Assets Coalition, the Influencing State Policy, and the International Consortium for Social Development.  She has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (MO) since 1990. Her social work practice experience includes community mental health, psychiatric and medial social work, residential treatment for children and youth, domestic violence, school social work, and private practice.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS INCLUDE:

• Christy-McMullin, K., Shobe, M. & Wills, J. (in press). Arkansas IDA programs: An exploratory study examining asset retention and perceptions of well-being.  Journal of Social Service Research.
• Christy-McMullin, K. & Shobe, M. A. (2007). The role of economic resources and human capital with woman abuse.  Journal of Policy Practice, 6(1), 3-26.
• Shobe, M. A., Christy-McMullin, K., & Kandel, D. (2007). Building capital for the future: Savings experiences of African American women. Social Development Issues, 29(1).
• Christy-McMullin, K. (2006). An evidenced-based approach to a theoretical understanding of the relationship between economic resources, race/ethnicity, and woman abuse.  Journal of Evidenced-Based Social Work, 3 (2), 1-30
• Shobe, M.A. & Christy-McMullin, K. (2006). Joining an asset building program: The social and economic correlates. Journal of Evidenced-Based Social Work, 3 (1), 61-78.
• Christy-McMullin, K. (2005). Economic resources and woman abuse: Differences and similarities among African American, Hispanic and White women. Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 14 (3/4), 103-124.
• Shobe, M.A. & Christy-McMullin, K. (2005). The connection between health status and social security for low-income elderly women.  Arete, 28 (2), 12-25.
• Shobe, M.A. & Christy-McMullin, K. (2005). Savings experiences past and present: Narratives among African American women. Affilia, 20 (2), 222-237.
• Christy-McMullin, K. (2004).  Examining safety for women:  The relationship between economic resources, race, ethnicity, and woman abuse.  In Proceedings of the Sixteenth National Symposium on Doctoral Research in Social Work.  Columbus, OH:  Ohio State University, 21-23.
• Christy-McMullin, K. (2003). Asset-building and safety for women: Stretching social work’s conceptual frame. Social Policy Journal, 2 (4), 19-37.
• Christy-McMullin, K. (2002). Designing policies that address the relationship between woman abuse and economic resources. Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, 24 (3), 109-124.
• Christy-McMullin, K. (2000). An analysis of the Assets for Independence Act of 1998 for abused women. Violence Against Women, 6 (10), 1066-1084.

Associate Professor

Phone: 479-575-7993
Fax: 479-575-4145
Email: vdecost@uark.edu
drdecoster.tripod.com/

Ph.D., Louisiana State University, 1998
M.S.W., Tulane University, 1991
B.A., University of Arkansas, 1990

Dr. DeCoster returned to the University of Arkansas in August 2003 after a 13 year absence. He has taught undergraduate and graduate students for over 8 years and currently teaches Social Work Practice I, Life-Course Multi-systems Social Work I, Advanced Practice in Mental Health, and Advanced Practice and Policy in Aging. As the School’s resident social work gerontologist, he chairs the Aging Area of Emphasis and represents the School in the University’s Office of Studies on Aging. He has over 13 years of clinical practice experience in health care settings and in private practice addressing health care related issues. His research interests include gerontology, diabetes, social construction of emotion, and issues related to social work in health care.

At present, he is conducting research on community based interventions addressing the psychosocial aspects of diabetes among elders. He has presented papers and workshops at national and state conferences, including the Council on Social Work Education, National Association of Social Workers, Society for Social Work and Research, American Public Health Association, Gerontological Society of America, Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care, and American Sociological Association. A licensed, instrument rated, private pilot and aircraft owner, Dr. DeCoster is a volunteer pilot, board member, and Wing Leader in Arkansas for Angel Flight South Central.

For additional information about his scholarship and aviation interests, please see his personal home page: drdecoster.tripod.com/

RECENT PUBLICATIONS INCLUDE:

• DeCoster, V. A. & Cummings, S. M. (In press). Coping with Type 2 Diabetes: Do race and gender matter?” Social Work in Health Care.D
• DeCoster, V. A. & Cummings, S. M. (In press). Helping adults with diabetes: A review of evidence based interventions. Health & Social Work.
• DeCoster, V. A. & Wallace, C. (2003). The Governor’s Forum on Diabetes: Solutions from State & Community Experts. Tennessee Department of Health, Diabetes Control Program. Nashville, TN.
• Cummings, S. M., Galambos, C., & DeCoster, V. A. (2003). Predictors of MSW employment in gerontological practice. The Journal of Educational Gerontology, 29, 1-18.
• Cummings, S. M. & DeCoster, V. A. (2003). The status of specialized gerontological training in graduate social work education. The Journal of Educational Gerontology, 29, 1-16.
• DeCoster, V. A. (2003). The emotions of adults with diabetes: A comparison across race. Social Work in Health Care, 36 (4), 79-99.

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BSW Program Coordinator

Associate Clinical Professor

Phone: 479-575-7190
Fax: 479-575-4145
Email: melodyg@uark.edu

MSW, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 1994
BA, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, 1992

Professor Melody Greer has been with the School of Social Work for the past 7 years.  She has served as the Undergraduate Program Coordinator for the past 3 years and has taught for 5 years. Professor Greer teaches Human Diversity and Social Work, Introduction to Social Work, Field Seminar and Elderly Citizen.  Prior to her position as BSW Program Coordinator, she was the local manager for the DCO contract and later served as a case consultant for the DCO contract. 

Professor Greer’s social work practice experience includes community mental health, psychiatric and medical social work.  She has an interest in diversity and social justice issues.  Professor Greer is a licensed certified social worker for the state of Arkansas and is a member of the Baccalaureate Program Director’s Association.  She has been teaching at the University of Arkansas for two years. Her areas of teaching include Introduction to Social Work and Human Diversity. She is also a field instructor. Professor Greer's area of research is mental health with diverse populations.

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MSW Program Coordinator

Clinical Assistant Professor

Phone: 479-575-3783
Fax: 479-575-4145
Email: ghouse@uark.edu

MSW, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 1989
BA in Social Work, University of Arkansas, 1984

Professor House has been a member of the University of Arkansas social work faculty for 12 years.  She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses, including:  Practice II, Human Diversity, and Field Seminar & Internship I/II.

Professor House's practice experience includes:  rural case management for adults with serious and persistant mental illness, director of day services for frail elders, trainer and client advocate for rape crisis services, family case management for therapeutic pre-school program, crisis counselor, community mental health center, clinical social work with children and families, individual and group psychotherapy with adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

Professor House's research interests and activities have focused on social work practice with GLBT individuals and families, strategies for teaching non-violent communication in the classroom, and feminist interventions in the context of group work.

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Associate Research Professor

Phone: 479-575-4734
Fax: 479-575-4145
Email: dhurd@uark.edu

Ph.D., University of Arkansas, 1998
MPA, University of Arkansas, 1991
B.A. Social Work, University of Arkansas, 1988

Dr. Hurd has been employed with the School of Social Work since 1993 and has served in a variety of positions including financial manager, Interim Director of the Social Work Research Center, and Case Consultation Coordinator. In addition Dr. Hurd has been the Principal Investigator for a number of projects including development of a website for new Hispanic residents and a three year evaluation of the GEM Project at the Hispanic Women’s Organization of Arkansas. Dr. Hurd currently serves as Principal Investigator of the statewide Partnership in Public Child Welfare, a collaboration of nine university systems supporting training and education initiatives for public child welfare workers. Dr. Hurd has taught undergraduate child welfare related courses and graduate research courses. She has over 10 years of social work practice experience in the fields of child protection, aging services, acute care, rehabilitation, and long term care. Dr. Hurd has presented at international, national, and regional conferences on a variety of topics including grant writing and child welfare workforce issues. 

Professor Emeritus

Email: jking@uark.edu

MSW, Tulane, 1971
BA, St. Mary’s College, KY, 1961

Professor Emeritus John King has taught at the University of Arkansas for over 31 years. His areas of teaching include Social Work Research and Death and Dying. Professor Emeritus King is a certified Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) site visitor and certified chair for site visits. His areas of research include community based research, program evaluations, thanatology, gerontology, religious studies, and juvenile delinquency. He has published in Social Work and Religious studies journals and delivered over 500 professional social work workshops.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS INCLUDE:

• King, J., (Winter 2001). The Letters of Thomas Merton and Mimi Gaither. The Merton Seasonal.
• King, J., (Winter 1997). Summoned to Explore the Heart. The Merton Seasonal

Assistant Professor

Phone: 479-575-6

Fax: 479-575-4145
Email: ymurphy@uark.edu

Ph.D., University of North Carolina - Greensboro, 2004
MSW, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, 1990
BA, University of North Carolina - Charlotte, 1985

Dr. Sonja “Yvette” Murphy has been teaching at the University of Arkansas (UA) since August, 2004.  She teaches the Multi-systems Life Course I and II sequence, Human Administration and Management, Human Behavior and the Social Environment, and co-leads an interdisciplinary team, called the  Intersectionality, Research-Based, Active Learning (IRAL) Team; that focuses on research related to the intersections of categories such as race, class, gender and age.  Dr. Murphy-Erby has taught at both the BSW and MSW level, chaired several theses committees, and served on theses and dissertation committees.                 

Dr. Murphy-Erby’s social work practice background is extensive. She has worked as a residential social worker, child-protective services supervisor, therapeutic foster-care program manager, psychiatric crisis-line and clinical assessment worker, and therapist.  In addition, she has extensive experience in community and partnership development, curriculum development, and training.  She has served as the primary author for several child welfare curricula that are incorporated into North Carolina’s Statewide Child-Welfare Training System.  Dr. Murphy-Erby has presented at regional, national, and international conferences; as well as conducted regional, national and international training for human services professionals.  

The focus of Dr. Murphy-Erby’s research agenda is to empower and promote positive outcomes for children and families and marginalized populations by (1) giving voice to their experiences, (2) critiquing and evaluating the policies, programs, and practices that influence their lives, and (3) contributing to the social work training, education, and community-based efforts designed to impact the outcomes of marginalized populations and those who work with marginalized populations.  More specifically, Dr. Murphy-Erby has conducted research on the meaning of caregiving among African American grandmothers raising grandchildren, the impact of child welfare policy in the lives of African American grandmothers raising grandchildren, critiqued research for the presence of an intersectional perspective, and explored the use of prayer among African American grandmothers.  Dr. Murphy-Erby is a Co-PI on several funded projects, including a community-based, culturally sensitive, effort to promote literacy among the Marshallese population, and a multi-site evaluation of well-being related outcomes among participants of Individual Development Asset (IDA) Programs.  

With a strong commitment to service, Dr. Murphy-Erby currently serves on the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Department of Children and Family Services Advisory Board and is Chair of the UA Child Welfare Interdisciplinary Committee. She is also a member of the UA African American African Studies Advisory Committee, the UA Multi-Cultural Center Advisory Committee, the Council on Social Work Education, the Society for Social Work Research, Generations United, and the National Association of Social Workers.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS INCLUDE:

Hunter, Andrea G., Friend, Christian A., Murphy, S. Yvette, Rollins, Alethea, Williams-Wheeler, Meeshay, Laughinghouse, Janzelean (2006).  Loss, survival, and redemption:  Manhood, and coming of age. Youth & Society, 37 (4), 423-452.
Murphy, S. Y., Goodson, J. (in press).  Numbers alone do not tell the entire story: A program evaluation designed to generate evidence-based knowledge and practice in child welfare supervision. In J. L. Jones & P. Sundet (Eds.), Developing an empirically based practice initiative:  A case study in cps supervision.  New York: The Haworth Press, Inc.
Murphy, S. Y. (under review).  Voices of African American grandmothers: Informing child welfare kinship care policy-practice.
Murphy, S. Y. , Hunter, A.G., Johnson, D. J. (under review). Transforming caregiving: African American grandmothers and the child welfare system.
Murphy, S. Y., Zajicek, A., Bravo, R., Norris, N., & Bishwakarma, R. (under review). Teaching diversity research through collaborative and interdisciplinary active-learning teams: A case study of an intersectional research team.

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Professor

Phone: 479-575-3796
Fax: 479-575-4145
Email: jschrive@uark.edu

Ph.D., University of Iowa, 1984
MSW, University of Arkansas, 1975
BA, University of Arkansas, 1974

Dr. Schriver has been teaching at the University of Arkansas since 1993.  He teaches in the areas of Human Behavior and the Social Environment and Community Practice.  Joe is currently writing and publishing in the areas of Human Behavior and the Social Environment and multicultural issues in social work education.  Dr. Schriver is Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work and serves on the editorial boards of Families in Society:  The Journal of Contemporary Social Work and the Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work.  He has served on the Commission on Educational Policy of the Council on Social Work Education and on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors and the Council on Social Work Education.  Dr. Schriver is Co-Principal Investigator for the Academic Partnership in Social Welfare.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS INCLUDE:
Schriver, J. M. (2005). Lurie, Harry Lawrence. In the Encyclopedia of Social Welfare History in North America (pp. 224-226). Eds. Herrick, J. H. and Stuart, P. H. Thousand Oaks, CA:  Sage Publications.
Schriver, J.M. (2004). Multicultural Theory for Culturally Competent Practice: The Role of HBSE in Social Work Education for the 21st Century. Book Chapter. Alexandria, VA: Council on Social Work Education.
Schriver, J.M. (2004). Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Shifting Paradigms in Essential Knowledge for Social Work Practice (4th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon. (576 pages)
Schriver, J.M. (1999). Harry Lawrence Lurie: A Forgotten Voice in Social Work’s Debatable Commitment to Social and Economic Justice. Book chapter. Social Work’s Professional Commitment to Poverty. Lowe, G. and Reid, N. (Eds.). New York: Aldyne de Gruyter

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Assistant Professor
Phone: 479-575-3782
Fax: 479-575-4145
Email: kstauss@uark.edu

Ph.D, University of Utah
MSW, California State University at Sacramento

Dr. Stauss serves as Assistant Professor for the School of Social Work. She received her PhD in Social Work from University of Utah and her MSW from California State University at Sacramento School of Social Work. Dr. Stauss has been involved in the development of curriculum in Advanced Group Practice, Human Diversity, Advance Practice, Death and Dying, and Gender and Culturally Sensitive Practice. Along with over 10 years of clinical practice, her research interests include women in prison, children's mental health, female leadership, and organizational barriers.
 

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IV-E Staff

Tel: 479-575-3568
Fax: 479-575-4145

Jean has been with the School of Social Work for the past five years. She has served in a variety of positions to include, case management coordinator, trainer and curriculum developer, and a field instructor. She develops and presents in-service training for Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) workers in 12 Arkansas counties and provides mentoring to new DCFS Family Service Workers. Prior to working with the DCFS Title IV-E Child Welfare Project, Jean worked as a trainer for the Division of County Operations (DCO) contract. Jean has a BA in Social Welfare and has over 20 years of experience in the field of social work.

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Lenda has worked in the School of Social Work for three years. Prior to her work with the Title IV-E Child Welfare contract, Lenda worked as a trainer and curriculum developer in the School for the DCO contract. Some of Lenda’s responsibilities include: reviewing samples of case worker’s documents and observing workers in interactions with clients; assisting with case consultation on difficult cases; accompanying case workers on home visits; and providing in-service training to various county DCFS offices. Lenda has a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling and is interested in issues contributing to poverty in single, female headed households.

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Carrie began working with the Academic Partnership in Social Welfare as a Secretary I in 1999, for both the DCO and Title IV-E contracts. She moved to the position of Account Tech II in July 2001 and is now the Fiscal Support Specialist. Carrie is responsible for the accounting for the School of Social Work external contracts, IV-E Stipend Applications, and is a Notary Public for the school.

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Jill has been with the School of Social Work for 3 years. She serves as a field instructor for new workers at the Washington County Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Jill works closely with DCFS supervisors, staff, and trainers to provide mentoring to new workers who are receiving training and beginning actual field work experience. She serves as field instructor for social work interns from the U of A placed with the Washington County Division of Children and Family Services. Jill also teaches a course, Addictions and the Family. Prior to working with the Title IV-E Child Welfare project, Jill worked as a trainer for the DCO project. She holds an MSW and an M.S. in Clinical Psychology/Art Therapy.

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