High quality research in social work is important for many reasons. Research may be utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of the practice in which social workers engage and the programs they implement.Development of new knowledge, policies and programs often result from research efforts. It is also essential for faculty to conduct scholarship about teaching and learning in social work education to ensure that our department is providing high-quality education for our students.

Faculty members in the Department of Social Work are actively involved in the creation of new knowledge for social work practice and education. They often work together, with faculty from other departments/universities and/or with students as they engage in research efforts. Building from their areas of interest and practice experience, JMU social work faculty are studying a wide range of topics including groupwork with vulnerable youth, military families, diversity education, service-learning, substance abuse, interprofessional education, child welfare partnerships and field education.

The results of their scholarship efforts are disseminated through books, journal articles and presentations. In the past four years, JMU social work faculty made over 20 presentations at national or international conferences, as well as an additional 13 state and local presentations.

Faculty Scholarship

Books:

Hunter, C.A., Moen, J.K., & Raskin, M. (Eds.). (2015). Social work field directors: Foundations for excellence. Chicago, IL; Lyceum Books, Inc.

Book chapters:

Hunter, C.A. & Poe, N.T. (2015). Developing and maintaining partnerships with practice settings. In Hunter, C.A., Moen, J.K., & Raskin, M. (Eds), Social work field directors: Foundations for excellence. Chicago, IL; Lyceum Books, Inc.

Peer-reviewed articles/monographs:

2025

Berrick, J. D., Barth, R. P., Drake, B., Jonson-Reid, M., Garcia, A. R., Greeson, J. K. P., & Gyourko, J. R.  (2025). Is child welfare oppressive? Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 45(2), 362-383. https://doi.org/10.1080/08841233.2025.2469544

Gyourko, J. R., Silver, J., & Greeson, J. K. P. (2025). Financial and psychosocial challenges reported by social work students: Findings from a cross-sectional online survey. Transformative Social Work, 2(2), 1-31. https://doi.org/10.55016/ojs/tsw.v2i2.79851

Ihara, E. S., Kang, H., Tompkins, C. J., Keesee, F. A., Lauber, M. S., Hardy, G. N., Magee, C. M., Barrett, K., Holden, M., & Pantleay, H. (2025). Can brain exercises mitigate cognitive decline? A quasi-experimental evaluation of the StrongerMemory program. Educational Gerontology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601277.2025.2528677

Hand, M. D., Kang, H., Harvey, K., Inoue, M., Tompkins, C. J., & Ihara, E. S. (2025). Intergenerational learning strategies for addressing ageism among college and university students: A scoping review. Educational Gerontology, 1–28. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601277.2025.2490023

Kang, H., & Ihara, E. S. (2025). Age discrimination and depression among older adults in South Korea: Moderating effects of exercise. Aging and Health Research, 5(1), 100218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahr.2024.100218

2024

Funge, S. P., & Foust, K. (2024). "Get Out There": Impact of a social work short-term academic sojourn. Journal of Applied Learning in Higher Education, 10(Fall), 56-69. https://doi.org/10.57186/jalhe_2024_v10a5p56-69

Gyourko, J. R., Greeson, J. K. P., Vasquez, N., Mack, L., Kenyatta, A., Barth, R., & Garcia, A. R. (2024). Research on the lived experiences of adolescents and adults with foster care history: A scoping review. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1086/733727

Tompkins, C., Ihara, E., Keese, F., Hardy, G., Lauber, M., Magee, C., Kang, H., Barrett, K., Pantleay, H., Velazquez-Dominguez, V., & Holden, M. (2024). I have decided to read out loud for the rest of my life!: Cognitive health and the StrongerMemory Program. Families in Society. https://doi.org/10.1177/10443894241276891

2023

Hatfield, A., Roehm, D., Griffiths, A., & Funge, S. P. (2023). Collective wisdom from Kentucky’s foster parents. The Journal of Foster Care, 4(1), 43-62. Https://jfc-ojs-ttu.tdl.org/jfc/issue/view/4 

Prior to 2023

Yeom, H. S. (2015). Utilization of substance abuse treatment: Gender differences among participants in an aftercare program. Social Work in Public Health, 30(7), 578-91.

Yeom, H. S. & Ward, T. P. (2015). Integrating North Korean refugee youths into the South Korean educational system: A preliminary needs assessment. International Journal of Diversity in Education, 16(1), 29-41.

Professional Presentations:

2025

Gyourko, J. R., & Rowe, M. (2025, October). Practicum poverty: Financial and psychosocial hardships reported by social work students. Paper accepted for presentation at the 71st Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Denver, CO.

Greeson, J. K. P., Gyourko, J. R., Vasquez, N., Mack, L., Kenyatta, A., Barth, R., & Garcia, A. R. (2025, June). Research on the lived experiences of adolescents and adults with foster care history: A scoping review. Paper presented at the 12th Conference of the Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood, Charleston, SC.

Greeson, J. K. P., Gyourko, J. R., Wasch, S., & Page, C. (2025, January). Reintegration of street-connected children in Kenya: Evaluation of Agape Children’s Ministry’s Family Strengthening Program. Poster presented at the 29th Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research, Seattle, WA. https://sswr.confex.com/sswr/2025/webprogram/Paper55837.html

2024

Kang, H., Ihara, E., Tompkins, C., & Lauber, M. (2024, October). Multi-domain interventions to prevent cognitive decline among Korean older adults [Conference presentation]. 2024 CSWE 70th Annual Program Meeting (APM), Indiana, United States. Council on Social Work Education.

Kang, H., & Kim, H. (2024, September). Continuity and change in grandchild care: Implications for health and life satisfaction of South Korean grandmothers [Conference presentation]. Building Bridges: Connecting Caregiving Research, Policy, and Practice – Third Biennial Conference on Caregiving Research, Pennsylvania, United States. University of Pittsburgh’s National Rehabilitation and Training Center (RRTC) on Family Support.

Greeson, J. K. P., Gyourko, J. R., Wasch, S., & Page, C. (2024, August). Reintegration of street-connected children in Kenya: Evaluation of Agape Children's Ministry's Family Strengthening Program. Poster presented at the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect, Uppsala, Sweden.

Greeson, J. K. P., Gyourko, J. R., Wasch, S., & Page, C. (2024, August). “The program encourages people not to have a heavy heart”: A qualitative study of family strengthening programs in Western Kenya. Poster presented at the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect, Uppsala, Sweden.

2023

Jen, S., Kang, H., Kim, H. J., Lafountain, O., & Fredriksen-Goldsen, K. (2023, November). Mapping mental health pathways among bisexual women, men, and nonbinary individuals in mid and later life [Conference presentation]. 2023 GSA Annual Scientific Meeting, Florida, United States. The Gerontological Society of America.

Hand, M. D., Tompkins, C., Ihara, E. S., Inoue, M., Kang, H., & Harvey, K. (2023, November). Intergenerational learning to address ageism in higher education: Scoping review findings [Conference presentation]. 2023 GSA Annual Scientific Meeting, Florida, United States. The Gerontological Society of America.

Prior to 2023

Bryson, B.J. (2017). Fostering Academic Justice for African American Women from K-PhD. Social Inclusion and Social Justice Conference, Shippensburg University, Shippensburg PA.

Yeom, H. S. (2017). Impact of Promotores de Salud Program on Promotores’ Employment, Education, and Self-Efficacy. Annual BPD 2017 Conference. New Orleans, LA.

Bryson, B.J. (2016). Working Across and with Difference. Expanding Horizons, Early Impact Conference, Richmond VA.

Bradley, J., Hunter, C.A., Moen, J. (2016). Foundations for field education excellence: training for field directors, Council on Social Work Education, Annual Program Meeting, Field Directors Institute. Atlanta, GA.

Denton, K.N., & Hunter C.A. (2016). Designing learning agreements and evaluation based on the 2015 SWE competencies: grading and program assessment connections. Connect Session at Council on Social Work Education, Annual Program meeting. Atlanta, GA.

McGuire, L. & Bryson, B.J. (2016). Preparing for EPAS 2015: Building leaders for interprofessional collaboration in BSW Programs. Workshop presented at BPD Conference, Dallas, TX

Yeom, H. S. (2016). Integrating North Korean Refugee Youths in the South Korean Educational System: Needs Assessments. Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development. COEX, Seoul, Korea.

Yeom, H. S. (2015). Embracing Diversity in South Korea: Integrating North Korean Refugee Youths in the South Korean Educational System. Fifteenth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations at University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Akerson, E., Stewart, A., McGuire, L., Lewis, E. Bryson, B. (2015). Practicing Interprofessional Decision-making: A toolkit for Faculty and Trainers. Collaborating Across Borders V, Roanoke, VA.

JMU Presentations:

Hunter, C. (2016) Raw Footage: Reflections on why People Emigrate from one Town in El Salvador. JMU Department of Foreign Languages Annual conference, Migration: a phenomenon of human history from its ancient origins to the present global situation.