Annahita Ball

"Schools serve as community hubs uniquely positioned to address the complex needs of children and their families. My research focuses on the ways in which schools, families and communities partner to provide innovative, long-lasting and meaningful services that foster positive youth development and promote equity in education." 

• PhD, Social Work, The Ohio State University (2012)
• MSW, Social Work, The Ohio State University (2008)
• BA, Psychology, The Ohio State University (2005)
• BA, English, The Ohio State University (2005)

Educational justice; school social work; positive youth development; school-family-community collaboration; and social-emotional learning

Annahita Ball explains, "Overall, my research focuses on educational justice, leveraging school-family-community resources to improve education for all children and youth. I recognize the importance of schools as community hubs uniquely positioned to impact the complex needs of children, particularly those who are marginalized and oppressed."

Ball's teaching interests are diversity and oppression, social work services in schools, human behavior, and policy. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, Society for Social Work and Research, and Council on Social Work Education. Ball conducts research in partnership with schools and community agencies. Her most recent project is Challenge2Change, a transformative school-based social-emotional learning initiative.