Social Work
Faculty and Staff
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Gary Mathews, Interim Director B. A. University of Cincinnati Dr. Mathews joined the School of Social Work faculty in 1976. He currently serves as the Interim Director and Professor for the School of Social Work. He has served as President for Western Michigan University Chapter of AAUP, Managing Editor of the Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare for Western Michigan University, and as a Family counselor at Family and Children Services of Kalamazoo. Dr. Mathews teaches practice and research courses, specializing in both clinical group work and task groups. Dr. Mathews has published and given national presentations in the areas of program evaluation, group work, human sexuality, politics, faculty unions, and employee assistance programs. Phone: (269) 387-3198 |
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Barbara Barton, Assistant Professor B. A., Michigan State University Dr. Barton joined the School of Social Work faculty in 2005. She was employed for over 20 years in the rehabilitation and health care industries before returning to school for her Doctorate in Rehabilitation Counseling. She teaches interpersonal practice and policy, planning, and administration classes in the graduate and undergraduate programs. Phone: (269) 387-1097 |
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Jennifer Clements |
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Don Cooney, Associate Professor B. A., M. Div., Mary Immaculate College and Seminary Dr. Cooney joined the School of Social Work faculty in 1977. He teaches courses on the history of social welfare, community practice, social change, and race and culture. Dr. Cooney is active in many social justice organizations, and serves as a City Commissioner for Kalamazoo. Dr. Cooney has a committed interest in community practice, social justice, and confronting institutional prejudice and inequality. Phone : (269) 387-3190 |
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Jane Ferguson Phone: (269) 387-3171 |
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Richard Grinnell, Professor and Clair & Clarice Platt Jones/Helen Frays Endowed Chair of Social Work Research B.A. University of Wisconsin-Madison Dr. Grinnell joined the School of Social Work faculty in 2004. He has served as an Assistant and Associate Professor for the Graduate School of Social Work, University of Texas, Arlington; a Senior Lecturer and Chair for the Department of Social Work, LaTrobe University, Melbourne, Australia; Associate Dean for the School of Behavioral Sciences, LaTrobe University, Bundoora, Australia; Professor, Assistant Dean, Associate Dean, and Acting Dean of the Faculty of Social Work, the University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; and Professor and Director of the School of Social Work, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois. Dr. Grinnell's interest and specialization is in research and statistics. He has extensive teaching experience in research and statistics courses as well as numerous publications and professional presentations. Phone: (269) 387-3189 |
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James Henry, Associate Professor, Director, Child Trauma Assessment Center (CTAC)
B. S., M.S.W., Western Michigan University Dr. Henry joined the School of Social Work faculty in 1997 after 17 years in child protective services. Dr. Henry teaches courses in child sexual abuse, child welfare, advanced treatment of children, and human behavior. Dr. Henry is the Program Director for Western Michigan University’s Children’s Trauma and Assessment Clinic, an interdisciplinary assessment clinic for abused/traumatized children. He also serves as the co-chair of the Kalamazoo Community Mental Health Board. Phone: (269) 387-3175 |
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Barbara Howes , Instructor B. S., Western Michigan University Ms. Barbara M. Howes serves as an Instructor in the School of Social Work and is a Doctroal student in the Interdisciplinary Health Studies Program. She maintains a private practice as a consultant and therapist. Ms. Howes teaches field education and social work practice courses in individual, group, and family therapy. Phone: (269) 387-3176 |
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Peter Judd, Professor B. A., Oberlin College Dr. Judd joined the School of Social Work faculty as the Director in 1990. His courses focus on social policy, social services, and research. Dr. Judd is a member of the World Affairs Council and his interests include the influence of globalization on identity and religious/ethnic conflict. He has served as the Vice-President of Michigan NASW, Treasurer of Colorado NASW, and was a tenured professor at the University of Denver and Salem State University. Phone: (269) 387-3188 |
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Frederick MacDonald, Associate Professor B.S M., Mannes College Dr. MacDonald joined the School of Social Work faculty in 1986. Dr. MacDonald teaches interpersonal practice courses in individual and family therapy. He has directed several student international research projects and serves as visiting professor in Germany teaching family systems theory, family therapy, practice evaluation, and social welfare. His interests include Native American issues, rural health, and the measurement of educational outcomes. He serves as the Managing Editor of the Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare. Phone: (269) 387-3191 |
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Melinda McCormick, Office Manager for the Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare and Office Associate for the School of Social Work B.A. Grand Valley State University Ms. McCormick graduated from the School of Social Work in 2005. She is the Assistant Editor of the Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, program evaluation and assessment staff for the School of Social Work, continuing education coordinator, and coordinator of alumni relations. Phone: (269) 387-3205 |
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Nancy McFadden, Director of Admissions and Student Services B.S., University of Oregon Phone : (269) 387-3200 |
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Robin McKinney, Associate Professor B.A., M.A., Central Michigan University Dr. McKinney joined the School of Social Work faculty in 2001. He served as the B.S.W. Coordinator and undergraduate advisor from 2001-2006. He teaches courses in family therapy, research methods, human behavior, and field education. His interests include program coordination, sexual identity in social work practice, and achievements of African-American adolescents. Dr. McKinney is a Commissioner for the Council on Social Work Education. Phone: (269) 387-3192 |
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John Mellein, Instructor B. A., University of Toledo Mr. Mellein joined the School of Social Work faculty in January 1999. He served as the Interim Field Coordinator from 2005-2006. He continues to serve as the School’s United Way Campaign Coordinator, and coordinates the School’s involvement with the NASW annual Legislative Day Conference in Lansing. Mr. Mellein serves as a field liaison and teaches courses in group, community, and organizational behavior and social policy. Mr. Mellein is President of the Board of Directors of the Allegan County United Way. Phone : (269) 387-8239 |
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Sandra Murphy, Coordinator Field Education
B.A., Michigan State University Dr. Murphy joined the School of Social Work faculty in 2006 as the Coordinator of Field Education. She served as an Instructor and Project Coordinator for Title IV-E Child Welfare Grant at University of Georgia School of Social Work, a Doctoral Teaching/Research Assistant at University of Georgia School of Social Work, an employee assistance program clinician, a mental health consultant, and Director of Social Work at Health Source Saginaw. Phone: (269) 387-3173 |
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John Nielsen, Program Coordinator, Grand Rapids A.B., Calvin College Mr. John Nielsen joined the School of Social Work faculty in 1996. He serves as the Program Coordinator of the WMU Tri-county M.S.W. Program in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His teaching areas include individual practice, family practice, child welfare, and field education. His interests include stress management and compassion fatigue, family systems, attention deficit disorder, and administration of social service agencies. He is active in a variety of community and church activities as well as administrative consultation to mental health agencies. Phone: (269) 387-9480 |
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Linda Reeser, Professor and BSW Coordinator B. A., M.S.W., Temple University Dr. Reeser joined the School of Social Work faculty in 1981. She teaches courses in social policy, social welfare institutions, field education, and social change. She has published in the areas of professionalism, social activism, and social work ethics. Her interests include membership in professional and human service boards and community service. Her research interests are social work ethics, professionalism, activism, field education, and women’s issues. Phone : (269) 387-3177 |
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Ronnie Tyson, Instructor B. A., Michigan State University Mr. Tyson serves as an instructor for the School of Social Work. He continues to serve as a substance abuse therapist and has served other organizations such as Michigan State University and Michigan Research and Rehabilitation Corporation in various capacities. Mr. Tyson has expertise in organizational and community practice and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in field education, interviewing, and institutional inequality and racism. Phone: (269) 387-3202 |
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Yvonne Unrau, Associate Professor B.A., University of Lethbridge Dr. Unrau joined the School of Social Work faculty in 2004. Her interest and specialization is with child welfare, children and family social work, and research. She teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in research, social policy, program planning, administration, and leadership. She has extensive experience in research and statistics as well as numerous publications and professional presentations. Phone: (269) 387-3185 |
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Karen VanDeusen, Associate Professor B.S.W., Western Michigan University Dr. VanDeusen joined the School of Social Work faculty in 1999. She teaches courses in interpersonal practice with individuals and families, human behavior and in the social environment, groups and organizations, psychopathology, and research. Her clinical experience and research are in the areas of childhood sexual abuse, adolescent and adult sexual assault, male sexual aggression, post-traumatic stress, and vicarious trauma in clinicians who treat traumatized clients. Phone : (269) 387-9928 |
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Earlie Washington, Professor, Dean, College of Health and Human Services B.A., Tougaloo College; Dr. Washington joined the School of Social Work faculty in 2000 as Professor and Director of Social Work. Currently, she is the Dean of the College of Health and Human Services which consists of the departments of Blindness and Low Vision Studies, Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant, and Speech Pathology and Audiology, and the Schools of Nursing and Social Work. Prior to coming to WMU, Dr. Washington served from 1994 to 2000 as the Director and Associate Professor of Social Work in the University of Southern Mississippi, School of Social Work. Dr. Washington has provided years of leadership to the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) where she has held both appointed and elected positions. She has served as co-chair of the CSWE Commission on Accreditation and as the Region 6 representative to the National Committee on Nominations and Leadership Identification with the National NASW Board of Directors and currently serves on the NASW Michigan Chapter, Legislative Policy Committee. Dr. Washington has served as the Principal Investigator for numerous grant funded projects in the areas of gerontology, substance abuse, and social work education. When available, she teaches courses in social work practice, research, and geriatric social work. Phone: (269) 387-2638 |
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Ineke Way, Associate Professor B.S., Central Michigan University Dr. Way has been teaching in the School of Social Work since 1991 and joined the faculty in 2000. Dr. Way teaches interpersonal practice courses, including practice with individuals and families, psychopathology, group practice, and research. Her specialization is child abuse and neglect, particularly child sexual abuse. Her current research focus includes socio-emotional development in children who have been maltreated, development of sexual offending behaviors in adolescents, and vicarious trauma as an effect of providing sexual abuse treatment. Phone : (269) 387-3195 |
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Susan Weinger, Associate Professor B. A., Brandeis University Dr. Weinger joined the School of Social Work faculty in 1993. Courses she teaches include practice with individuals, practice with women, and race and culture. Dr. Weinger has conducted research on marginalized populations including children’s perceptions of economic class, the transition of mothers receiving assistance into work, and sibling responses to siblings with developmental disabilities. Dr. Weinger is also published in social worker safety training. Her current research interests include child-free women, boy soldiers, and aging holocaust survivors. Phone : (269) 387-3196 |
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Donna Weinreich, Assistant Professor M. S. W., Ph. D., Maryland Dr. Weinreich joined the Western Michigan University faculty in the Gerontology Program in 1999 and the School of Social Work in 2004. She teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in social welfare history, gerontology, and human behavior and the social environment. Her research interests are in aging and social work theory. She specializes in developing and providing computer-based educational opportunities for social work students. Phone : (269) 387-3193 |
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Robert Wertkin,Professor B. A., Washburn University Dr. Wertkin joined the School of Social Work faculty in 1981. He teaches courses in research, social welfare policy, social work practice with individuals, and families and organizational analysis. Dr. Wertkin’s interests include victimology, child welfare, organizational culture, toxic behavior in the workplace, and program analysis. He has directed numerous international research projects in Croatia, the Netherlands and elsewhere. He also maintains a private consultation business for social welfare agencies. Phone : (269) 387-3187 |