Research

Our faculty research is focused on mental and behavioral health among children and young adults, substance misuse, child abuse, chronic conditions such as dementia, cancer, and stroke among mid-aged to older adults, and cultural and LGBTQ+ equity, as well as social work pedagogy and the scholarship of teaching and learning. Explore our research faculty profiles to learn about their work.

Pamela Bishop (she/her/hers): My research focuses on aging and the importance of educating and encouraging Social Work students to pursue a specialty in Gerontological Social Work. I have co-authored articles on these topics and I am pursuing additional collaborations with colleagues to find solutions to other significant issues related to older adults. As a Social Work educator, I am also interested in the advantages and disadvantages of in-person versus online social work pedagogies, including the degree to which in-person classroom instruction, practice, and interaction with instructors and peers impacts the development of skills and competencies needed for effective practice.

Sheila Hammer (she/her/hers): As a developing health equity researcher, I am committed to identifying and improving health equity issues, with particular interest in the personal and collective experience of Native Americans within the scope of oncology. My background in oncology social work has shaped my strong belief in the need to treat the whole person while providing access to quality oncology care as well as culturally adapted psychosocial oncology services. I strongly believe that by culturally adapting the standard colonialized Western-approach to care, barriers to accessing care will reduce and health outcomes will improve.

Michael J. McCarthy (he/his/his): The overarching goal of my research is to assist families coping with physical and mental illness and disability successfully adjust to their condition in order to maintain positive health. I am committed to viewing individuals within the context of their interpersonal relationships and believe that the nature and quality of the relationship between care partners is a key driver of health outcomes. My current research focuses on stress and other social determinants of health among individuals with cognitive impairment, as well as stress and other social determinants of health among older adults with MCI and their family caregivers living in rural Northern Arizona. I have published extensively on adjustment to chronic illness among individuals and families. For a complete list of published works, please see my bibliography.

Megan C. McCoy (she/her/hers): My research broadly focuses on health equity and the impact of historic institutionalized silences in later life, with specific focus on LGBTQ+ older adults. Through a lens of feminist and critical theory, I’m interested in how policy and practice intersect to construct norms in aging services settings and the potential for community-based settings to function as identity affirming spaces which promote resilience. My research is informed by 22 years of direct practice, non-profit management, and community-based experiences in settings serving older adults. My current projects include the AZALEA Project which is a community-based participatory approach to building LGBTQ2S+ aging equity in Arizona, a policy analysis of LGBTQ+ inclusion in state plans on aging, and the Northern Arizona Memory Study.

Gaby Mohr Avitia (she/her/hers): As a sixth-generation Tucsonan who grew up between Flagstaff and Tucson, my lived experiences inspired my pursuit of a career in social work. This path led me to earn an LMSW and a PhD in Social Work, allowing me to combine personal insights with rigorous professional training. My research agenda centers on critical issues in social work, with a focus on drug policy, racial equity, and substance use prevention and interventions. My research is particularly focused on Latina/o communities, drawing from my own background to create culturally responsive approaches. My work aims to address the specific needs and challenges within these communities, emphasizing the importance of cultural context in addressing social issues. My work contributes to the ongoing dialogue on social justice and equitable healthcare access in the field of social work, informed by a deep understanding of the regional context.

Katherine Mommaerts (she/her/hers): The overall goal of my research is to improve the mental and physical health of historically marginalized children and adolescents. As an interdisciplinary health researcher, licensed clinical social worker, and certified personal trainer, I employ a holistic and multi-system lens when working toward enhancing the well-being of children and adolescents. I further desire to work alongside youth affected directly and leverage community-based research methodologies to improve health outcomes. I am most interested in the development, implementation, and evaluation of outdoor-based interventions with marginalized female adolescents.

Rita Stageman (she/her/hers): My research focuses on the influence of public policies on health outcomes for women, children, and families, with a specific focus on policies governing pregnant individuals. As a child welfare social worker, I am also concerned with state legislation guiding child welfare reporting, responses, and interventions. My research examines racial disparities associated with varying state definitions of child abuse and neglect and related child welfare policies. My work emphasizes the need to apply a public health approach to address family risk factors rather than promoting policies targeting individuals’ behaviors. I seek to evaluate the outcomes of public policy with regard for the well-being of the entire family system and consideration of disproportionate impacts on marginalized groups.

Our Institutional and Community Research Partners include, but are not limited to:

• Center for Health Equity Research (CHER)
• Southwest Health Equity Research Collaborative (SHERC)
• Interdisciplinary Health PhD program
• Healthy Aging Research Group
• The Northern Arizona Regional Behavioral Health Authority (NARBHA) Institute,
• The Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium

The Department of Social Work collaborates with these groups to synergize resources and promote interdisciplinary research pursuits.

Recommended resources include:

• NAU’s Office of Sponsored Projects
• NAU’s Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity
• The Journal/Author Name Estimator
• NIH RePORTER