Ilana Shtivelman is a second year international PhD student at the College of Social Work at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her research interests primarily encompass moral injury at the intersection of identity and ideology formation, military mental health, global social work (particularly concerning culture and ethics), and Jewish identity/history. In 2016, Ilana completed her undergraduate degrees in foreign languages (Spanish and French) and communications, as well as a Master of International Affairs with a focus on Dispute Resolution, all at the Pennsylvania State University. She subsequently worked for five years in the nonprofit sector, the Jewish professional world, and focusing on youth development. Throughout her academic, professional, and personal experiences—spanning various fields, disciplines, and countries, Ilana discovered the vastness and significance of social work. This realization led her to pursue a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2023. Her experience during the MSW program ultimately inspired her to pursue a PhD in social work, focusing on research, policy, and academia. Ilana is passionate about engaging in challenging critical thinking and analysis; cultural exchanges; and ethical, morality-based, and philosophical conversations and thought processes.
Research Interests
- Moral Injury
- Identity & Ideology Formation
- Radicalization
- Judaism & Combatting Antisemitism
- Global Social Work – Culture & Ethics
- Military Mental Health & Policy