The UTCSW Faculty have been busy during the spring semester. Through publishing important research, expanding research overseas, serving in fellowship programs, and even winning awards, these scholars are making the world a better place every day and in every way.
Fiona Doherty
Dr. Fiona Doherty has been selected as a Fellow for the National Science Foundation-funded Enabling the Next Generation of Hazards and Disasters Researchers Fellowship Program.
The program is a National Science Foundation-supported initiative aimed at developing early-career scholars to excel in their individual disciplines as well as in the broader hazards and disasters research community. The aims of the program are to foster the development of scholars with a career-long commitment to research on hazards, risk, and disasters, contribute to the nation’s future research capacity through expanding the community of scholars, and to add important original scientific knowledge to the areas of hazards, risk, and disasters.
The Enabling Program is crucial to the advancement of knowledge in the interdisciplinary field of hazards, risk, and disasters, which relies on a continuous influx of new scholars committed both to their own disciplines and to the theoretical and applied aspects of hazards, risks, and disasters.
Click here to read more about the program.
https://hazards.colorado.edu/resources/nsf-enabling-program
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Christy Hickman
Clinical Assistant Professor Christy Hickman recently won the Heart and Soul Award from the University of Tennessee. Since joining the College of Social Work in 2013, Hickman has embodied the very essence of the Heart and Soul Award, leading with compassion, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to inclusive excellence.
As an Assistant Professor of Practice and Course Lead for Introduction to Social Work Practice and accompanying Skills Lab, Hickman sets the tone for new social work students, modeling empathy, professionalism, and reflective practice from their first day in the program. Hickman is a calm, steady, and gentle force measured in her leadership yet boundless in her dedication. She fosters a sense of belonging across the college through her role as the leader of the Inclusive Pedagogy Work Group, a bi-monthly forum that brings faculty, adjuncts, and doctoral students together for authentic dialogue and shared learning. Her courage to lead difficult conversations with grace and respect has made the group a cornerstone of the college’s commitment to equity and inclusion. Hickman’s compassionate leadership extends far beyond her own classroom. She mentors students across all levels of social work education, consistently receives the highest praise from her students, and is known for her willingness to take creative risks in service of better learning. Recently, she partnered with a college researcher to pilot the use of virtual reality in social work education, ensuring the course ran seamlessly so data could be collected for this innovative study, an endeavor she embraced without hesitation. In every setting, Hickman exemplifies selfless service, collaborative spirit, and genuine kindness. Hickman represents the best of what it means to be a Volunteer
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Kristen Ravi
Dr. Kristen Ravi recently published an article in the Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work titled “Growing Green: The Case for Nature Exposure as a Positive Childhood Experience.”
In the article Ravi explores the possibility that childhood nature exposure can be considered a positive childhood experience incorporated into child well-being research with potential implications for practitioners who work with children.
Several systematic reviews demonstrate that nature exposure in children and adolescents is associated with better mental health, physical health, cognition, and social well-being. Scholars have also found associations between nature exposure and behavior. A greater amount of green and higher-quality green space are associated with positive well-being throughout childhood.
Click here to read the entire study.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/26408066.2025.2560661#d1e314
Additionally, Ravi presented a scoping review on the benefits of nature exposure and engagement for domestic violence survivors and their children.
A growing body of research demonstrates the benefits of nature. Several reviews have been published on the association between nature exposure and mental and physical health among adults and children. Less is known about the benefits of nature for survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) and their children. To address this gap, the review applies Herman’s Trauma Theory to examine existing research on nature engagement and exposure among IPV survivors and their children. Findings from this scoping review show a burgeoning research base that highlights the importance of nature in the healing of IPV survivors and their children, particularly in terms of emotional well-being, social connection, and family bonding. The review also reveals how nature can enhance therapeutic services by providing a space for the release of negative emotions and physical energy, as well as offering opportunities for mindfulness. More research is needed that incorporates principles of trauma theory.
Click here to read the entire review.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/19429347251412820
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Fei Wang
Dr. Fei Wang and her research team recently shared findings from their dementia caregiver needs and health survey with over 400 community members and professionals at the Aging: A Family Affair community event. The findings highlighted caregivers’ service experiences, unmet needs, and barriers to accessing support, particularly in the areas of financial assistance, care navigation, and caregiver education. The results also showed that caregivers devote significant time to caregiving and often experience emotional strain and poor sleep as they balance responsibilities across work, family, and social life. Together, these findings underscore the often-unseen impact of dementia caregiving and point to the need for more accessible, affordable, and well-coordinated services to better support dementia caregivers.
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Tiffany Washington
Dr. Tiffany Washington recently conducted international research focused on enhancing dementia awareness through faith leadership in Ghana. With support from the Engagement Scholarship Consortium and the UT College of Social Work, and in partnership with the Alzheimer’s & Related Disorders Association of Ghana, Washington delivered a culturally grounded dementia education initiative designed to strengthen public understanding and reduce stigma surrounding dementia. Building upon the Alter model originally developed in Black faith communities in the United States by Dr. Fayron Epps of the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, this project extended structured dementia education into the Ghanaian context by equipping faith leaders, trusted first responders within their communities, with scientific knowledge and practical tools.
The full-day workshop took place at the Lancaster Accra Hotel, convening faith leaders and community stakeholders for an intensive, evidence-informed educational experience. Across sub-Saharan Africa, dementia remains significantly under-recognized and stigmatized. Symptoms are often attributed to witchcraft, spiritual attack, stress, or moral failure rather than understood as neurological disease. Families frequently navigate caregiving without formal support, and many individuals never receive a medical evaluation. Recognizing that pastors and church leaders are often the first point of contact when families notice behavioral changes, the initiative positioned faith leadership as a critical pathway for public health education.
As populations age across Africa, the demand for culturally responsive dementia education will grow. This initiative demonstrates how community-engaged scholarship can bridge rigorous science with faith leadership in ways that are respectful, reciprocal, and impactful.
Click here to read more about the project
https://csw.utk.edu/news/enhancing-dementia-awareness-through-faith-leadership-in-ghana/
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Spring 2026 Research Seminar Series
The Spring 2026 Research Seminar Series will feature presentations by Drs. Dimi Lattas, Michael Mason, and Bridget Freisthler, highlighting topics ranging from forensic social work education and cultural adaptation in intervention research to testing clinical mechanisms and lessons from the HEALing Communities Study. Seminars will be held in person and via Zoom throughout March and April.
Dr. Michael Mason
When: April 10, 2026, from 12-1 p.m. ET
Where: Dr. Mason will present via Zoom. Those who wish may gather in SMC 703 or join individually via Zoom.
Zoom: https://tennessee.zoom.us/j/84104109998
Testing Theories of Change with Clinical Mechanisms within Randomized Clinical Trials
Theoretical and scientific justification for testing clinical mechanisms within randomized clinical trials will be presented. Study design, measurement, and analytic issues related to testing mechanisms will be reviewed.
Dr. Bridget Freisthler
When: April 24, 2026, from 12-1 p.m. ET
Where: In person (SMC 703) and Zoom
Zoom: https://tennessee.zoom.us/j/83365682611
Randomizing ‘Communities’: What I Learned from the HEALing Communities Study
The HEALing Communities Study was designed with an ambitious goal of reducing overdose deaths by 40% in three years in highly affected communities. Additional requirements included at least 15 communities per research site, specific rural representation thresholds, partnerships with healthcare and criminal justice organizations, and engagement with state-level officials. Conducting a randomized controlled trial under these conditions presents unique challenges that can affect the viability and success of large-scale community interventions.
Click here to read about the presentations
https://csw.utk.edu/news/spring-2026-research-seminar-series/
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