School of Social Work Faculty and Staff
As a student in the Simmons School of Social Work, you will learn from faculty who are leaders in their fields, mentors in and out of the classroom, and nationally recognized scholars in social work.
Our faculty are world class scholars who do research that addresses social issues, works to create equity and justice, and advances social work teaching and practice. As shown through their publications, funding, and engagement in sharing their work with a variety of audiences, our faculty are respected leaders in the field.
Faculty lead our simulation experiences to provide students with opportunities to practice clinical skills. As active and prolific scholars, their research works to solve social challenges, advance the field of social work pedagogy, and change practice.
Our Faculty and Staff
Dean
Michael LaSala
Dean, School of Social Work
Full-time Faculty
Joanna Almeida
Professor and Eva Whiting White Endowed Chair
Celia Arias
Assistant Professor of Practice and Onground MSW Practicum Education Specialist
Gary Bailey
Professor of Practice and MSW Program Director
Emilé Baker
Associate Professor of Practice
Jeremy Brown
Associate Professor of Practice and Online MSW Practicum Education Specialist
Jeannine Chester
Associate Professor of Practice and Associate Director of Onground MSW Practicum Education
Gordon Chinamasa
Associate Professor of Practice and Associate Director of the BSW Program
Aqueela Culbreath-Britt
Associate Professor of Practice and Director of On-ground BSW Practicum Education
Curtis Davis
Associate Professor of Practice and Associate Director of the DSW Program
Noelle C. Dimitri
Assistant Professor
Jacqueline Dyer
Associate Professor of Practice and DSW Director
Kristen Ethier
Assistant Professor
Abbie Frost
Associate Professor
Tanya Frost
Associate Professor of Practice and Assistant Director of Online MSW Practicum Education
Patricia Galan-Cisneros
Professor of Practice and Director of Online BSW Practicum Education
Rebekah Gibbons
Associate Professor of Practice
Renada Goldberg
Assistant Professor
Daren Graves
Professor
Johnnie Hamilton-Mason
Professor
Eugenia Knight
Associate Professor of Practice and Director of MSW Practicum Education
Peter Maramaldi
Professor and Social Work Alumni Fund Endowed Chair
Olivia Montgomery
Associate Professor of Practice and Onground MSW Practicum Education Specialist
Samuel Odom
Associate Professor of Practice
Erika Peter-Harp
Associate Professor of Practice and Assistant Director of Onground MSW Practicum Education
Tiffany Pinckney
Associate Professor of Practice and BSW Program Director
Kelly Pratt
Associate Professor of Practice
Michelle Putnam
Professor and Jennifer Eckert '08 School of Social Work Chair
Vanessa Robinson-Dooley
Professor and Director of the PhD Program
Christina M. Sellers
Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Innovation in Behavioral Health Education and Research
Amy Skeen
Professor of Practice and Associate Director of the MSW Program
Jeffrey Steen
Assistant Professor
Jennie Sucilsky
Associate Professor of Practice
Leah Hart Tennen
Professor of Practice and Director of Student Support Services
Kristie Thomas
Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Vee Williams
Associate Professor of Practice and Assistant Director of Online MSW Practicum Education
Proportional Faculty
Francis Kuehn
Associate Professor of Practice
Allah-Fard Sharrieff
Associate Professor of Practice at Simmons University in the Department of Social Work, SSWK - School of Social Work
Staff
Ivanna Adams
Faculty Support Coordinator
Sandra Bailly
Associate Director, Student Support and Alumni Networks
Patrick Bryant
Assistant Director of Operations
Carlie Capell
Assistant Director of ITTS
Michael Cicone
Copy Editor
Patrick Cunniffe
Director of Operations, College of Social Sciences, Policy, and Practice
Emily Dramstad
Program Specialist
Alexis Edwin
Digital Learning and Curriculum Specialist
Melissa Erlick
Practicum Operations Manager
Carlos Frontado
Director, SSW Admission
Kim Kogut
Administrative Assistant, SSW
La-Toya Larke
Academic Advisor, SocialWork@Simmons
Michele Livingood
Academic Advisor, SocialWork@Simmons
Latoya Oliver
Academic Staffing Specialist
Evan Rice
Administrative Assistant to the SSW Dean
Laekin Rowell
Academic Advisor, College of Social Sciences, Policy, and Practice
Laura Stevens
Research Manager
Ashari Wallace
Academic Advisor
Social Work Faculty in the News
Simmons Social Work Professor Featured in New Documentary Film
In a new documentary film, Never Cried: Boston’s Busing Legacy, sisters Leola Hampton and Linda Stark reflect on a trauma they endured fifty years ago. Dr. Gary Bailey, Professor of Practice and MSW Director of Simmons’ School of Social Work, makes appearances throughout the film.
Professor Visits University of Johannesburg as Fulbright Specialist
Professor Johnnie Hamilton-Mason received a Fulbright Specialist Award this year. Recipients of the Fulbright Specialist awards are "selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, demonstrated leadership in their field, and their potential to foster long-term cooperation between institutions in the U.S. and abroad."
Simmons Professor Practices Social Work in Support of Veterans
School of Social Work Associate Professor of Practice Samuel Odom shares the value of the Simmons MSW Clinical Practice with Active Service Members, Veterans, and Families certificate program.
2024 Simmons Faculty Awards Celebrates Stellar Researchers and Educators
Simmons faculty from various disciplines received awards in undergraduate and graduate teaching, research, service, and a commitment to DEI at the 2024 Faculty Awards.
Gerontological Society of America Selects School of Social Work Chair as Editor-in-Chief
The GSA — the nation’s largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging — has named Michelle Putnam, Professor and Jennifer Eckert ’08 Chair of Simmons’ School of Social Work, as the next editor-in-chief of the journal Innovation in Aging.
School of Social Work Professor Studies Impact of Inequity on Preterm Birth
Joanna Almeida, professor and Eva Whiting White Endowed Chair at Simmons School of Social Work, was quoted in a MedicalXpress article about her new study of factors impacting preterm birth in the Commonwealth.
Professor Hamilton-Mason Honored by Haymarket People’s Fund
The Haymarket People's Fund has described Professor Johnnie Hamilton-Mason as “an interdisciplinary researcher” and honored her for her work in support of the Fund.
Professor Gary Bailey Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth
According to the Mass.gov press release, this event “was a testament to the unwavering commitment of all involved to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for young people of all gender identities and sexual orientations.”