Critelli named associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion

By Matthew Biddle

Filomena Critelli, PhD, associate professor in the University at Buffalo School of Social Work, has been appointed associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion (ADDEI) for the school.

The ADDEI plays a key role in fostering a culture of community, belonging and inclusion for every member of the School of Social Work, including students, full- and part-time faculty, staff, alumni and field education partners. Critelli assumes this critical role after serving as interim ADDEI for the 2023-24 academic year.

“At the core of our school is a commitment to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in a society where such assurance is needed more than ever,” says Keith A. Alford, dean of the School of Social Work. “As we integrate racial trauma into our school’s trauma-informed and human rights framework, we are fortunate to have a leader and scholar like Dr. Critelli in this essential role.”

In addition to her faculty and ADDEI responsibilities, Critelli serves as director of undergraduate education, helping to establish and expand the school’s undergraduate programs, including a minor in community organizing and development, the Child Advocacy Studies micro-credential and a slew of elective courses. Critelli also is leading the creation of a minor in social work, planned for a fall 2025 launch.

In her research, Critelli studies the intersection of trauma and human rights, gender-based violence in domestic and international contexts, global migration, and the human rights of women, children and migrants. Among more than three dozen publications, Critelli is co-editor of the book, Trauma and Human Rights: Integrating Approaches to Address Human Suffering, with Associate Professor Lisa D. Butler, PhD, and Janice Carello, PhD ’18, MSW ’11, assistant professor at Pennsylvania Western University, Edinboro.

Critelli is the co-director of the school’s Institute for Sustainable Global Engagement, which facilitates global research and educational collaborations that support rights-based approaches to pressing social challenges. Her scholarly projects and academic exchanges have involved partnerships in Costa Rica, Haiti, India, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico and Pakistan.

A graduate of the UB School of Social Work, Critelli returned to her alma mater full time as a faculty member in 2005. Her university service includes sitting on UB’s Council on International Studies and Programs and the Asia Research Institute steering committee, as well as conducting research as an affiliate of the UB Gender Institute.

Matthew Biddle
Director of Communications and Marketing
School of Social Work
Tel: 716-645-1226
mrbiddle@buffalo.edu