CEHD Welcomes New Faculty Members in Social Work

This fall, the University of Delaware College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) welcomes two new faculty members specializing in social work. These faculty members bolster CEHD’s masters of social work (MSW) program, deepening the college’s existing expertise in supporting vulnerable communities and children, youth and families.

Abram J. Lyons joins CEHD as an assistant professor. As a descendant of the Spokane Tribe of Indians, Mr. Lyons’s research interests include the historical and ongoing impacts of racism and colonialism on Indigenous families and how Sovereignty-affirming policies can improve outcomes for Indigenous communities. Prior to joining UD, he worked on a project examining Indian Child Welfare Act implementation in Nebraska and with the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Guaranteed Income Research, where he studied the effects of a financial intervention among families involved with the child welfare system.

Raphael Travis joins CEHD as professor and faculty director of the MSW program. His research, practice and consultancy work emphasize healthy development over the life-course, resilience and civic engagement. He also investigates the creative arts, especially Hip-Hop culture, as a source of health and well-being for individuals and communities. He is author of the book The Healing Power of Hip Hop and co-editor of Music for Inclusion and Healing in Schools and Beyond and The Future of Youth Violence Prevention: A Mixtape for Practice, Policy, and Research. He also leads The Collaborative Research for Education, Art, and Therapeutic Engagement (CREATE) Lab, which partners with researchers, educators, artists and community-based organizations interested in the educational, health and therapeutic benefits of music and art engagement.

Together, Lyons and Travis join Assistant Professor Ohiro Oni-Eseleh and staff member LeAnn DiBenedetto in the MSW program.

Responding to Delaware Needs

Social workers support individuals and families through a wide range of life changes or challenges, including adoption, divorce, aging, terminal illness and loss of housing or employment. In fact, social workers are uniquely positioned to support communities in times of crisis. Yet, there continues to be a shortage of social workers throughout the state of Delaware.

With its MSW program, CEHD is addressing a critical need for social workers and complementing the state’s current offerings. Through research-informed coursework taught by faculty experts, community-engaged practicum experiences and specialization areas that meet community needs, the program prepares students to address the social problems affecting our communities. The program offers specializations in children and families, gerontology and mental health and substance use disorders. With one-year, 16-month, two-year and three-year pathways to degree completion, students can also customize their timeline toward graduation.

To learn more about the MSW, visit the program website.

Article by Jessica Henderson. Graphic by Shelly Silva.