Faculty Research Areas

With a wide range of research interests, our faculty follow their intellectual curiosity and study critical issues with colleagues throughout the university and community.

To learn more about individual faculty members, visit their biography pages.

Research Areas Grand Challenges

Grand Challenges for Social Work

Initiated by the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare, the Grand Challenges for Social Work is a groundbreaking initiative to champion social progress powered by science. It’s a call to action for all of us to work together to tackle our nation’s toughest social problems.

Below are the three categories with 14 challenges mapped to our faculty's research interests.

Individual and family well-being

Ensure healthy development for youth

Close the health gap

Build healthy relationships to end violence

Advance long and productive lives

Stronger social fabric

Eradicate social isolation

End homelessness

Create social responses to a changing environment

Harness technology for social good

Prevent gun violence

Just society

Eliminate racism

Promote smart decarceration

Build financial capability and assets for all

Reduce extreme economic inequality

Achieve equal opportunity and justice