Shanza Isom 

Department: Social Work

Areas of expertise:

• Mindfulness
• Mindful living & life balance
• Holistic well-being
• Radical self-care 

In addition to being an assistant professor in the department of social work where she teaches undergraduate social work courses, Isom is also the director of field instruction where she manages the practicum component of the social work program. 

With expertise in the areas of mindfulness and holistic well-being, Isom teaches classes and facilitates workshops and trainings to diverse groups locally, regionally and nationally. She can speak broadly to the role of mindful well-being, teaching practical skills to those across the lifespan in various settings. She has a special research interest in holistic self-care practices, including mindfulness, and its impact on the well-being of those in helping professions to reduce the risk of burnout, secondary trauma and compassion fatigue. She trains and teaches educators in K-12, parents and those in helping professions in the incorporation of mindfulness in their personal and professional lives to improve their ability to be present, show compassion, have life balance and be well.    

Isom earned her bachelor's and master’s degree in social work at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Media contact: Eric Gorton, gortonej@jmu.edu, 540-908-1760.