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.

An overview of the Social Work program at Simmons University.

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

Dean Michal Lasala

Michael LaSala

Dean, School of Social Work

Full-time Faculty

Joanna Almeida photo

Joanna Almeida

Professor and Eva Whiting White Endowed Chair

Celia Arias headshot

Celia Arias

Assistant Professor of Practice and Onground MSW Practicum Education Specialist

George Bailey

Gary Bailey

Professor of Practice and MSW Program Director

Photo of Emilé Baker

Emilé Baker

Associate Professor of Practice

Jeremy Brown

Jeremy Brown

Associate Professor of Practice and Online MSW Practicum Education Specialist

Jeannine Naidoo Chester

Jeannine Chester

Associate Professor of Practice and Associate Director of Onground MSW Practicum Education

Gordon Chinamasa

Gordon Chinamasa

Associate Professor of Practice and Associate Director of the BSW Program

Aqueela Culbreath-Britt photo

Aqueela Culbreath-Britt

Associate Professor of Practice and Director of On-ground BSW Practicum Education

Curtis Davis

Curtis Davis

Associate Professor of Practice and Associate Director of the DSW Program

Noelle Dimitri

Noelle C. Dimitri

Assistant Professor

Jacqueline Dyer profile photo

Jacqueline Dyer

Associate Professor of Practice and DSW Director

Photo of Kristen Ethier

Kristen Ethier

Assistant Professor

Abbie Frost photo

Abbie Frost

Associate Professor

Tayna Frost

Tanya Frost

Associate Professor of Practice and Assistant Director of Online MSW Practicum Education

Patricia Galan-Cisneros

Patricia Galan-Cisneros

Professor of Practice and Director of Online BSW Practicum Education

Rebekah Gibbons

Rebekah Gibbons

Associate Professor of Practice

Renada Goldberg headshot. Photo by Sheryl Hess.

Renada Goldberg

Assistant Professor

Profile photo of Daren Graves

Daren Graves

Professor

Eugenia Knight headshot photo

Eugenia Knight

Associate Professor of Practice and Director of MSW Practicum Education

Peter Maramaldi photograph

Peter Maramaldi

Professor and Social Work Alumni Fund Endowed Chair

Photo of Olivia Montgomery

Olivia Montgomery

Associate Professor of Practice and Onground MSW Practicum Education Specialist

Samuel Odom Profile Pic

Samuel Odom

Associate Professor of Practice

Photo of Erika Peter-Harp

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

Kelly Pratt

Associate Professor of Practice

Michelle Putnam photo

Michelle Putnam

Professor and Jennifer Eckert '08 School of Social Work Chair

Vanessa Robinson-Dooley headshot

Vanessa Robinson-Dooley

Professor and Director of the PhD Program

Christina M. Sellers headshot

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 Online MSW Practicum Education

Jeffrey Steen

Jeffrey Steen

Assistant Professor

Jennie Sucilsky

Jennie Sucilsky

Associate Professor of Practice

Leah Hart Tennen photo

Leah Hart Tennen

Professor of Practice and Director of Student Support Services

Kristie Thomas Profile Photo

Kristie Thomas

Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Dr. Vee

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

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

Sandy Bailly

Sandra Bailly

Associate Director, Student Support and Alumni Networks

Patrick Bryant

Assistant Director of Operations

Carlie Capell

Senior Project Manager

Michael Cicone

Copy Editor

Patrick Cunniffe

Patrick Cunniffe

Director of Operations, College of Social Sciences, Policy, and Practice

Emily Dramstad

Program Specialist

Alexis Edwin

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

Ivy Noonan

Assistant Director of Admission, SSW

Latoya Oliver

Academic Staffing Specialist

Evan Rice

Administrative Assistant to the SSW Dean

Laekin Rowell

Academic Advisor, College of Social Sciences, Policy, and Practice

Ashari Wallace

Academic Advisor

Social Work Faculty in the News

US Flag and MA State flag fying in front of Simmons MCB

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.


Recipients of the 2024 Faculty Awards, along with President Wooten, Provost Cosner and Associate Provost Doherty.

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.


Covers of journals produced by the Gerontological Society of America

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.


A mother holding her premature baby through the walls of an incubator

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 of Social Work Johnnie Hamilton-Mason

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.


Pride Flag flying with MA state flag in front of Simmons MCB

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.”


The waiting room of an overdose prevention center in New York City

Advancing Harm Reduction: The Case for Overdose Prevention Centers

A conversation with Jeffrey Steen, Assistant Professor in the Simmons University School of Social Work.


A close up of the United States on a globe with a variety of push pins marking different locations

Exploring Immigrant Stories: Being, Longing, Surviving and Thriving

A conversation with Hugo Kamya, Professor in the Simmons University School of Social Work and Associate Director of the Center for Innovation in Clinical Social Work.