Staff Directory

Yesika S. Montoya, LCSW-R, is Director of Advising at Columbia University School of Social Work (CSSW).

Ms. Montoya is also an adjunct faculty teaching the Professional Immersion Seminar for international students at CSSW. The class supports students to adapt to academic study and field education in the USA, recognizing cultural differences and similarities.

In her previous work experience, Ms. Montoya provided individual, family and group psychotherapy. In her practice she addressed the interaction of mental illness, cultural beliefs, socio-economic conditions and immigration status (where applicable) and using an anti-oppression practice. She has experience working with different populations (children, adolescent, adults, homeless SPMI, MICA, HIV).

Ms. Montoya has worked at the Mount Sinai Medical Center’s World Trade Center Program, with people who participated in the rescue, recovery and clean-up efforts at Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks. This experience allowed her to develop an additional expertise on trauma.

Ms. Montoya is a psychologist in her native country of Colombia, with a degree from the Universidad Santo Tomas. She earned a Masters in Social Work (MSW) with a concentration in clinical practice from Fordham University.

Currently the Associate Dean of Practicum Learning at Columbia University’s School of Social Work, Warren has previously served as Assistant Dean of Practicum Education and Clinical Associate Professor at SUNY Stony Brook, and Assistant Director of Field Education for the MSW Program at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. 

As an educator, Warren’s teaching pedagogy includes courses in undergraduate and graduate courses like: Anti-Racist Social Work: Understanding White Fragility and Black Rage,  Human Behavior in the Social Environment, Contemporary Social Justice, Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals in a Family Context, Oppression, Diversity, and Human Rights, Foundations of Social Work Practice, Introduction to Social Work, Diversity and Oppression in Clinical Social Work Practice utilizing a P.I.E. Perspective, and Advanced Clinical Practice with Families and Couples.

Prior to academia, Warren’s 21 years of past direct practice experience include outpatient substance use and mental health, alternatives to incarceration treatment programs, and practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. His forensic experience came as a result of overseeing the Nassau County Family Treatment Court and Juvenile Drug Treatment Court programs; as a grant funded Evidence Based Interventionist with Suffolk Department of Probation; and maintaining a court appointed forensic practice for 15 years. The clinical practice that includes court appointed work also includes a clinical private practice, Preferential Peace, LCSW, PC.

Warren is a 20 year active member of the National Association of Social Workers as NYS President, Board member for the NYS Social Work Educators Association, and co-chair of the Council on Social Work Education’s Council on Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Diversity.

Vivianne Guevara has been a restorative justice practitioner and facilitator for 10 years and a social worker in public defense for over 16 years. She is the Director of Integral Justice, an organization that provides private mitigation in state and federal criminal cases nationwide, as well as restorative justice training and facilitation globally.
Vivianne began facilitating restorative circles in 2014, when she facilitated the first-known restorative circle for a Federal District Court case. Since then, Vivianne planned and facilitated hundreds of circles within/for the criminal legal system, schools, universities, coalitions, community members, and private and non-profit organizations. She co-created the first restorative justice course at Columbia University’s School of Social Work and facilitated restorative circles at NYU School of Social Work, Hunter’s Silberman School of Social Work, Columbia Law School, NYU Law School, Texas A&M Law School, Yale Law School, New York Law School, as well as myriad public defender conferences, workshops, and offices.

Vivianne was the founding Director of Social Work and Mitigation at the Federal Defenders of New York in the Eastern District, where she developed one of the first Federal Defender social work practices in the nation and led the social work practice from 2012-2023. Vivianne was previously an Investigator and Social Worker at the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta, Georgia, where she supported litigation that challenged conditions in juvenile and adult jails and prisons in Georgia and Alabama, the provision of indigent defense in Georgia, and the proliferation of debtor’s prisons in Georgia. She began working in public defense as a Social Worker at the Bronx Defenders in 2007, where she worked with clients charged in domestic violence and mental health courts. Vivianne has planned and provided training in defense social work practice and mitigation since 2011 – at national Federal Defender workshops and conferences, law schools, and federal & state public defender offices/districts nationwide.

Vivianne comes from a family of farmworkers, faith workers, and social justice workers. She strives to honor their legacy and that of her ancestors through a life of service. Vivianne continues to learn through teaching others and by providing opportunities that promote community and healing.

Tonyasupports the online campus, where she passionately supports students and agency partners in the West Coast and Midwest. Hailing from Toronto, Canada, she was motivated to pursue an education in Social Work after spending five transformative years working abroad in Bogotá, Colombia.  Tonya is a dedicated social worker driven by a deep commitment to social justice, with a particular focus on the well-being of children, their families, and immigrant communities. A proud alumna of CSSW, Tonya specialized in International Social Welfare, Services to Immigrants and Refugees and Integrated Practice and Programming. Her extensive experience includes forensic social work, where she collaborated with an interdisciplinary team of attorneys, advocates and social workers to provide essential court-based advocacy for children, youth and families navigating the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. As Assistant Vice President of a preventive evidence-based program in Queens, NY, she continued her mission to uplift families navigating the complex and often dehumanizing challenges of the child welfare system. Most recently, prior to joining the Office of Practicum Learning, Tonya supported unaccompanied minors under the care of the Office of Refugee and Resettlement.  In this role, she assessed potential victims of human tracking and provided valuable recommendations grounded in best practices through a trauma-informed lens.

Stephanie is an alumna of the Columbia School of Social Work and in her role in the department, she supports students and agency partners within the Health, Mental Health, and Varying Abilities portfolio. Stephanie's career has been shaped by pivotal experiences at Mount Sinai Hospital, where she developed expertise at the intersection of healthcare, geriatric psychiatry, and caregiving. Her extensive knowledge of healthcare systems and her work with families in the Mount Sinai network led her to transition into community-based roles as a Geriatric Care Manager in the Tri-State area. Recognizing the challenges faced by the aging population and family caregivers, Stephanie became involved with startups focused on caregiving in the workplace and education. In these environments, she managed both business development and clinical roles, where she created workflows to support staff at the caregiving startup Wellthy. Stephanie played key roles at two companies that integrated social work principles into education and healthcare. She also facilitated national partnerships within social work delivery systems, providing graduate students with valuable practicum opportunities across the country. Additionally, Stephanie serves on the Social Work Delegate Assembly, contributing to the vision and policies of the National Association of Social Workers.

Dr. Hara’s work has focused on support for cancer patients, their caregivers, and those bereaved by cancer.

Dr. Richard Hara is a Lecturer at the Columbia School of Social Work, where he teaches courses on direct practice, clinical practice evaluation, and health care policy. He previously served as a clinical social worker at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and as Director of Online Services at CancerCare, in which role he managed a national program of online support groups serving the needs of cancer patients and caregivers.

Dr. Hara has presented on cultural competence in oncology social work, end-of-life and bereavement counseling, and the use of online communication with clients in a clinical context. He co-authored a guide for cancer caregiving, and has published articles on cancer survivorship, domestic violence screening, and intervention issues in the oncology population. He contributed a chapter on bereavement groups to the Handbook of Oncology Social Work (Oxford University Press, 2015). He has been the principal investigator for an institutional training grant from the American Cancer Society for second year MSW students in clinical oncology social work.

Regina is a board member of the National Domestic Violence Hotline based in Austin, Texas. The Hotline provides ongoing support, education, and resources to thousands of people every year through its phone, text, and live chat services. She holds a BA from Columbia College, an MPH in health administration from the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, and an MSSW from the Columbia School of Social Work.

Nina Limongelli is Special Assistant to the Associate Dean of Communications Strategy, Development and Alumni Affairs. Originally from Bucks County, PA, Nina graduated from Bucknell University in May of 2021 with a double major in International Relations and Theatre. Outside of academics at Bucknell, she was involved in all theatre and dance productions, the first-year orientation program, SpeakUp: Bucknell’s sexual assault prevention organization, and worked for admissions as a tour guide. After having graduated, Nina took a position as Special Assistant to the Chief Development and External Affairs at East Harlem Tutorial Program (EHTP), where she gained hands-on experience in development, communications, and public engagement within the organization. Her passion for the arts and advocacy initially led her to the nonprofit space where she could further lean into anti-racist work, and deeply values EHTP for their commitment to racial equity and attentiveness to the needs of the community. 

An economist and journalist by training, Dr. Kaushal is an expert on comparative immigration policy and the author of an acclaimed book on this topic, Blaming Immigrants.

She is professor of Social Policy and a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. She is also a research fellow at IZA, the Institute of Labor Economics (Bonn, Germany).

Her current research includes labor market impacts of foreign-trained registered nurses and physicians, how immigration of foreign-trained physicians impacts healthcare use and health outcomes of the U.S. population, cross-national research on immigration in the United States and Canada, the impact of local policies (such as local immigration enforcement and state DREAM Acts) on the health and mental health of undocumented immigrants, the effect of the Syrian refugee crisis on electoral preferences in Turkey, and the long-term impact of tribal resettlement in India.

Dr. Kaushal is the author of Blaming Immigrants: Nationalism and the Economics of Global Movement (2018, Columbia University Press), in which she investigates the core causes of rising disaffection towards immigrants globally and tests common complaints against immigration. She has authored or co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed scientific articles and book chapters on immigrants and other vulnerable populations. She writes a monthly column in the Economic Times, India’s largest financial daily, and she is currently working on a documentary on tribesfolk in India.

She holds a BA in economics from Sri Ram College of Commerce (India), an MA in economics from the Delhi School of Economics, and a PhD in economics from the Graduate School and University Center, City University of New York.

Dr. Jethwani is a developmental psychologist who specializes in educational reform. She analyzes the factors that will make students of all backgrounds feel welcome in school.

Monique Jethwani joined the full-time faculty at the Columbia School of Social Work in 2012. She previously served as a postdoctoral research scientist at CSSW’s Center for Research on Fathers, Children, and Family Well-Being and is now the director of faculty development.

Dr. Jethwani has experience in developmental research, program development and evaluation, and direct services for youth. For several years she was director of the Safe Harbor program at Safe Horizon, where she managed the local operation (five sites) and national replication (ten sites) of a comprehensive school-based violence prevention program. She has also provided consulting services that include training, curriculum development, and program planning and evaluation for organizations such as The Children’s Aid Society, The After-School Corporation, Educators for Social Responsibility, Forestdale Inc., and the Partnership for After-School Education.

Dr. Jethwani has also worked with schools and youth organizations in India, Bermuda, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, where she conducted quantitative and qualitative research and evaluation studies, consequently identifying best practices. Her mixed-methods doctoral dissertation from New York University, entitled When Teachers Treat Me Well, I Think I Belong: School Belonging and the Psychological and Academic Well-Being of Adolescent Girls in India, earned her the NYU Steinhardt award for outstanding research contribution. Her work in Bermuda focused on the lives of unemployed young Black Bermudian men and the gender gap in educational attainment. It resulted in educational policy recommendations made directly to the Bermudian premier and was featured on the front page of The Bermuda Royal Gazette.

Most recently, Dr. Jethwani has partnered with the NYU Tandon School of Engineering to evaluate several projects funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Security Agency. These projects aim to engage middle school, high school, and college students and their teachers in robotics and cybersecurity activities. Findings have identified strategies to better engage female and minority students in STEM-related activities and careers.

Dr. Jethwani holds a BA from Barnard College, an EdM from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education, and a PhD from the New York University School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.

Moira Curtain is Assistant Dean and Director of the Advising Department at CSSW. She previously served as an associate director in the Field Education Department, and managed the International, Immigrant and Refugee Field of Practice. She has taught the Immersion Seminar and the Seminar in Field Instruction at CSSW.

Prior to joining CSSW, Ms. Curtain was involved in work related to medical social work, foster care, and human rights. She was a Program Director at the Center for Urban Community Services in New York for five years, in which role she worked with formerly homeless people, many of whom also were living with substance use problems, mental illness, and HIV/AIDS. She has consulted with the United Nations, the Soros Foundation, and the International Studies Trauma Program. She serves as a representative to the UN for the International Association of Social Work, and as co-chair of NASW-NYC’s Chapter for the International Affairs Committee. Ms. Curtain earned her BA from La Trobe University (Australia), her BSW from the University of Melbourne (Australia), and her MSW from the Columbia School of Social Work.

Melissa Begg became Dean of Columbia School of Social Work on September 1, 2019. She is deeply committed to the pursuit of better science for a better society through research, education, practice and collaboration.

Dr. Begg is a population health scientist with 30 years of experience and a longstanding commitment to developing the strongest possible evidence base for human health and well-being. Her early research focused on technical methods for evaluating associations from correlated data (such as sibling and family studies), especially as applied to early life determinants of adult health. Dr. Begg has promoted innovation in graduate health professional education, including the implementation of a major redesign of the Columbia MPH curriculum, emphasizing interdisciplinary engagement, practical skill-building, and leadership training for health professionals at all levels. In collaboration with public health and social work colleagues, she participated in launching a new cultural competency training program for MPH students, co-authoring a manuscript on the results. She formerly served as Vice Provost for Academic Programs for Columbia University and Co-Director of the Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research.

Throughout her career, Dr. Begg has developed and directed a number of educational and career development programs to support success in interdisciplinary team science. She has led two NIH-funded training programs to promote diversity: one aimed at undergraduates from under-represented groups, introducing them to careers in the population health sciences; and one aimed at under-represented junior faculty, providing grant-writing advice, career guidance, and mentorship. In 2006, Begg received both the University-wide Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching and the Mailman School Teaching Award from the Graduating Class. She also received the 2013 ASPPH/Pfizer Award for Teaching Excellence. Over the past 15 years as an academic administrator, she has focused on convening interdisciplinary scientific teams, developing innovative curricula, creating mentorship programs, and enhancing diversity in the research workforce.

Dr. Begg received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Fairfield University and a Doctor of Science in Biostatistics from the Harvard School of Public Health.

Born and raised in Queens, New York, Dr. Melissa Begg first joined Columbia University as an Assistant Professor of Public Health (Biostatistics) in 1989, after receiving her ScD from the Harvard School of Public Health. Her early research focused on technical methods for evaluating associations from correlated data such as sibling and family studies, especially as applied to early life determinants of adult health.

As she progressed as an academic, Dr. Begg found herself becoming more and more invested in developing and evaluating academic programs. She found it fascinating to consider how educational programs are created and implemented, and ways to assess whether students in these programs achieve the goals set for them. Reflecting this growing interest, she occupied a series of positions that expanded her capacity as an academic administrator.

Rising to the position of Co-Director of the Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research at the Irving Medical Center—one of over 60 medical research institutions across the nation that work together to speed the translation of research discovery into improved patient care—Dr. Begg promoted innovation in graduate health professional education and directed a number of career development programs for young investigators. With independent funding from the NIH, she initiated two career development programs to promote diversity: one aimed at college undergraduates, introducing them to careers in the population health sciences; the other at underrepresented junior faculty, providing grant-writing advice, career support, and mentorship.

When serving as Vice Dean for Education at the Mailman School of Public Health, Dr. Begg succeeded in implementing the redesign of the Master of Public Health program’s core curriculum to what has now become the industry standard—a daunting project that required close monitoring and evaluation on multiple levels.

On the strength of these many achievements, Dr. Begg was recruited to join the Provost’s Office in 2014 as Vice Provost for Academic Programs. In this role she is charged with overseeing university accreditation, approval processes for all new educational programs university-wide, educational agreements with domestic and international partner institutions, cross-school fellowships and awards, the support of interdisciplinary research and teaching, selected faculty leadership development programs, and the academic review of schools and institutes at Columbia.

Dr. Begg is the recipient of numerous awards, including the University-wide Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching and the Mailman School Teaching Award from the Graduating Class in 2006. In 2012, she was elected a Fellow of the American Statistical Association and received the Lagakos Distinguished Alumni Award in Biostatistics from her alma mater, the Harvard School of Public Health.

Mary's current position with the Office of Practicum Learning involves streamlining systems and reporting through integrating OPL’s Online Placement Management software Sonia into Practicum Learning processes. She is the student go-to for questions about Sonia forms, documents, placement preferencing and all things virtual paper. She is also a member of the reaccreditation team. Mary has worked on and off again for CSSW since the early 90s. She has taught English, Screenwriting and Acting locally, online and internationally to a diverse cohort of students (SUNY, NYFA, Mahanaim). She has trained corporate staff on disparate software programs and written technical training policies and materials. She also works as a freelance editor and writer.

Marlena is a proud native New Yorker of Dominican descent. In her role, she plays a pivotal part in supporting both students and agency partners within the Family, Youth, and Children Services field. Marlene holds a B.A. in Public Administration and Sociology from Alfred University. During her tenure as a Family Advocate at Legal Aid, she was inspired to pursue a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Columbia University’s School of Social Work, specializing in Social Enterprise Administration. With over 15 years of dedicated experience in social justice, Marlene has implemented critical programming and court advocacy initiatives for the incarcerated population. She has also been a strong advocate for survivors of intimate partner violence, particularly those who are defendant-victims. In her work, she has forged vital community partnerships, notably supporting young adults on Rikers Island. Additionally, she serves as the Finance Manager on the board of Young Life in Jamaica, NY, a faith based nonprofit organization that serves youth. She also provides trauma-informed counseling to individuals reflecting her deep commitment to holistic care and empowerment.

Loren Childress is the Director of Marketing and Communications. She has worked in and transformed the educational and nonprofit space for the past decade. Loren is proud to have worked within education reform for some of the nation’s largest charter networks and school systems holding executive positions and illuminating each network’s mission through thoughtful, strategic content. Her thorough upkeep to their websites, social channels, multimedia presentations, and relationships with community members and patrons have been direct catalysts in building more awareness and opportunities for these incredible institutions. Loren firmly believes that education is an indispensable human right–one of the most powerful tools at our disposal–and that wielding that tool wisely is critical for our evolution and elevation.

The Associate Dean for Communication Strategy, Development and Alumni Affairs is responsible for engaging alumni and friends who share the School’s vision; promoting the visibility of the School through strategic communications; expanding connections with key stakeholders; managing existing and new fundraising initiatives, with a particular focus on scholarship support; identifying new partners and supporters dedicated to social and racial justice; leading impactful cross-disciplinary teams, initiatives, and projects; and, serving as liaison to the University’s development and alumni relations efforts.

Dr. Marshall is currently the manager of course development and a lecturer at Columbia School of Social Work’s Online Option. She previously worked at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health as the evaluation lead in the Tobacco Control and Prevention Program within the Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention. She has 10 years of medical research administration experience in immunology, heart disease, and oncology, during which she developed an expertise in managing NIH grants and in clinical trial administration. Prior to receiving her MSW, Dr. Marshall also served as a massage therapist in hospital neonatal intensive care units and in assisted living facilities for older adults. Being witness to inequities in these health care settings inspired her to move into social work.

Her MSW internships include Peace Over Violence, a center for the prevention of sexual and domestic violence, intimate partner stalking, child abuse, and youth violence, where she served as an individual and group therapist. Her second-year internship was in the Department of Professional Training at the Alzheimer’s Association, where she trained helping professionals in the therapeutic care of those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. She received her PhD in Social Welfare from UCLA, where her research focused on older adult well-being and prolonging independence and ability to age in place by investigating the interconnections among social isolation, mobility, and the built environment.

Dr. Marshall received a Masters of Social Work from California State University, Los Angeles, and a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from the University of California at Santa Cruz. She is passionate about social justice and health equity.

Kristin supports the online campus and east coast and part of the southwest portfolio. She has prior experience as a marketing professional and freelance writer. She is also the author of the memoir, The Pornographer's Daughter (Skyhorse Publishing, 2014), and co-screenwriter for In Deep, a TV drama series based on her book. Kristin started her career as a social worker at an agency providing services to older adults and parlayed her interest in improving people's lives into legislative and communications work on Capitol Hill. She also served in marketing and communications roles at corporate start-ups, non-profit organizations, and advocacy organizations dedicated to raising awareness about mental health issues, providing online graduate degrees and continuing education, and improving policies to support behavioral health providers. She has published articles and blogs for The Huffington Post, New York Journal of Books, Thrillist, ELLE Magazine (Australia), NASW News, and Social Work Today. Kristin wrote a bi-monthly personal branding column Your Social Work Brand for New Social Worker Magazine. She was a contributor to The Daily Beast and published articles about the adult industry and the controversy surrounding pornography. Kristin graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Columbia University with a Master of Science in Social Work Degree.

Jenny Crawford maintains a private mitigation practice working on state and federal cases. She joined CSSW in 2011 after serving as the Director of Social Work with Urban Justice Center’s Mental Health Project. At CSSW, she supports students in field practicums, with a focus on interdisciplinary practice within social work and the law.  She teaches Contemporary Social Issues and developed the first forensic social work class offered at CSSW, which she teaches.  Ms. Crawford also teaches supervision and field instruction, and co-created a curriculum for practitioners and organizations on recognizing and managing vicarious trauma.

Before joining the Mental Health Project, Ms. Crawford served at The Bronx Defenders, a public defender office in the South Bronx that provides criminal, family, and civil defense to indigent clients arrested and charged with crimes in the Bronx. In 2005, she became The Bronx Defenders’ first Director of Social Work. Ms. Crawford was part of an interdisciplinary planning team that developed the family defense practice, which represents parents charged with abuse and neglect in Bronx County.  In 2009, Ms. Crawford received the New York City Chapter of NASW’s Social Work Image Award. She has served as an adjunct professor at Fordham University, where she co-taught Interdisciplinary Responses to Child Abuse and Neglect to law and social work graduate students.

James comes to us with 16 years of experience in human service, higher education, and parish ministry. He previously served as Program Director at Harlem United where he managed and oversaw nine government contracts totaling 1.9 million dollars as well as managed the day to day operation of the H.O.M.E. Program that provided supportive services to LGBTQ youth and young adults living with HIV. In 2010, he accepted a call to The Riverside Church and served as the Direct for Children, Youth, and Families in the Education Ministry up to and through 2015.  During his tenure at The Riverside Church, he expanded the program portfolio by adding six new program initiatives during his first year as director. Additionally, in 2015, he led a group of nine at risk high school students to the White House to meet President Obama after competing in the Annual White House Student Film Festival.  His students were awarded First Prize for their documentary film on Mentoring in Harlem.  Since 2008, he has taught as an Adjunct Lecturer in the African Studies and Communications Departments at CUNY.  While a graduate student at the Columbia School of Social Work, he had the privilege of providing support as a research assistant to Dr. Mincy at the Center for Research on Father’s Children Family and Well-Being. He provided research assistance on two qualitative studies (Income Support Policies for Low-Income Men and Noncustodial Fathers and A Qualitative Look into the Lives of Unemployed Young Black Bermudian Men and the Gender Gap in Educational Attainment).  James is a 2010 graduate of Columbia University School of Social Work and Union Theological Seminary and he holds a Master of Fine Arts Degree from The New School.

Heidi L. Allen studies the impact of social policies, like Medicaid – America’s health insurance for the poor – on access to health care, health and mental health outcomes, and financial well-being. She is a former emergency department social worker and spent several years in state health policy, where she focused on health system redesign and public health insurance expansions. The primary aim of her research is to eliminate disparities by rigorously informing and evaluating social policies that sit at the intersection of health and poverty. Allen was a lead investigator on the Oregon Health Insurance Experiment, a landmark study of the causal effects of expanding Medicaid, where she oversaw primary data collection for mail survey and in-person health screenings, qualitative interviews, and the development of an administrative emergency department claims database. Allen recently concluded an R01 survey and biomarker data collection effort that examined health and mental health outcomes in a randomized control trial of an expanded Earned Income Tax Credit. She has a newly funded R01 that follows up with Pregnancy and Risk Monitoring Survey (PRAMS) participants to understand access to health care, mental and physical health and social determinants of health at 12 months postpartum. This study will produce representative data for seven states and NYC. Allen has worked with numerous administrative data sources in her research, including evictions, payday loans, and all-payer claims health care data. Over the past decade, her research has been published in the leading medical and health policy journals and featured prominently in the media and during Medicaid policy proceedings. Allen is currently serving as a Commissioner on the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), a non-partisan legislative branch agency that provides policy recommendations to Congress, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the states, on issues affecting Medicaid and Medicaid enrollees.

Dr. Allen is also interested in preparing social workers to work in the field of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT). She has a certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research from the California Institute of Integral Studies (2023) and completed the MDMA Therapy Training Program offered by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) in 2022. Dr. Allen is developing a curriculum for psychedelic assisted therapy (PAT) specific to within-degree training programs for social workers. Columbia School of Social Work is welcoming the inaugural cohort of students for the Psychedelic Assisted Therapy Training Program (PTTP) in fall 2024. Dr. Allen serves on the Clinical Advisory Board at the Usona Institute, which is in Phase 3 clinical trials of psilocybin for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Dr. Allen was a speaker at Horizons New York and Psychedelic Science 2023.

As a non-profit and education professional with over 20 years of service in the field Hans has drawn on his MPA from The Metropolitan College of NY, and LCSW, from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. Given his years of work experience coordinating school and community based programming, he has acquired the skills needed to successfully collaborate with the range of stakeholders currently supporting social work and social justice practices. Hans has helped build programs from startup to established organizations, specifically as Co-Founder of the Wediko NY School Based Program and Director of Harlem Grown, a NYC based food justice organization, while also serving as a school social worker in the New Rochelle City School District. In addition to his school based roles, Hans has also provided direct clinical support to children and adults through a number of NYC based community organizations.

The Senior Associate Dean for Administration, Finance and Planning (SADAFP) serves as the chief financial and administrative officer of the School and is responsible for financial planning and operations, human resources, computing and instructional technology, facilities management and administrative planning. Under the direction of the SADAFP, the Office of Administration, Finance and Planning facilitates the procurement, hiring, space and other needs of the faculty and staff of the School of Social Work, and oversees the activities of the Office of Computing and Instructional Technology. The office works closely with the CSSW Office of Sponsored Projects in the management of externally funded activities. It serves as liaison to various University offices, including: Office of Budget & Management, Controller, Provost Office, Treasury, Internal Audit, Procurement, Human Resources, General Counsel and Facilities.

Ericka Echavarria, LMSW, JD, currently serves as an Associate Director of Field Education and Adjunct Faculty at Columbia University School of Social Work, and is the Coordinator of the Seminar in Field Instruction for CSSW Field Instructors. Ericka is passionate about preparing future and current social work professionals for a justice-based practice with clients/participants and systems, through: a power, race, oppression, and privilege lens; the use of contemplative practices and inquiry to cultivate self-care and self-awareness practices; a solid foundation in social justice advocacy; and a grounded ethical, professional identity.

Prior to her role at CSSW, Ericka served as a mitigation specialist/sentencing advocate and had her own private practice working closely with defense attorneys of both court appointed and privately retained cases, where she advocated for clients in serious federal and state felony cases, including death penalty eligible cases, through the use of comprehensive psychosocial investigations, narratives, sentencing advocacy, in-depth assessments, storytelling, and case management , in the federal, and several state criminal legal systems. Ericka also spent several years advocating for youth, children, and their families in schools and community-based agencies in Washington Heights and Harlem. Ericka received her Masters in Social Work from Columbia University in 2008 (FYC/AGPP), and her Juris Doctorate from Albany Law School in 2002. Ericka is also a mother, a caregiver, and identifies as Afro-Dominican, born to immigrant parents, and aspires to leave a legacy of love, courage, hope, and compassion for future social workers and above all, her son and nephews.

Dr. Cogburn directs a research group that uses innovative means to characterize and measure racism and evaluate its effects on mental and physical health.

Associate Professor Courtney D. Cogburn employs a transdisciplinary research strategy to improve the characterization and measurement of racism and in examining the role of racism in the production of racial inequities in health. She is also conducting research exploring the use of emerging technologies, including computational social science to examine patterns and psychosocial effects of cultural racism and how virtual reality experiences can lead to changes in attitudes, social perception and engagement (empathy, racial bias, structural competence and behavior). Dr. Cogburn is the lead creator of 1000 Cut Journey, an immersive virtual reality racism experience that was developed in collaboration with the Virtual Human Interaction Lab at Stanford University and which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2018. She is on the faculty of the Columbia Population Research Center and a core member of the Data Science Institute where she also co-chairs the Computational Social Science working group. Dr. Cogburn is also a faculty affiliate of the Center on African American Politics and Society. She directs the Cogburn Research Group and co-directs the Justice Equity + Tech (JE+T) Laboratory at Columbia University. Dr. Cogburn completed postdoctoral training at Harvard University in the Robert Wood Johnson Health & Society Scholar Program and at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. She received her Ph.D. in Education and Psychology, and MSW from the University of Michigan and her BA in Psychology from the University of Virginia. She is also a board member of the International Center Advocates Against Discrimination..

The Assistant Dean for Student Services leads the Offices of Career Services and Leadership Management, Student Life, and Student Services. The Career Services arm guides students and alumni toward successful career outcomes by providing resources, support, and connections to opportunities and networks that enhance their educational and professional experience. The Office of Student Life plans and oversees all aspects of student life, including but not limited to: managing our three student orientations each academic year; training peer mentors; and overseeing 25+ student groups and the Student Union. The team also plans and executes the school-wide graduation ceremony and advises and guides students in producing the school’s affinity graduations. Student Services manages student enrollment and all matters related to registration each term. The team administers program requirements and academic policies, conducts degree certifications, facilitates disability accommodations, assigns classrooms, manages student records and licensing paperwork, and provides market research around student enrollment and course data to other student support offices.

Cameron Rasmussen is a social worker, educator and facilitator, and the program director at the Center for Justice at Columbia University, where he supports a variety of programmatic efforts to advance individual, institutional, and societal transformation for a safer and more just world. He is committed to reimagining our responses to human behavior and pathways to social justice and to contributing towards the larger movement of an anti-oppressive social work practice. At the Center for Justice, his work is focused on ending the punishment paradigm and advancing approaches to justice rooted in prevention, healing, and accountability.

Cameron is currently a PhD student in the CUNY Graduate Center’s Social Welfare program. He is an adjunct lecturer at Columbia School of Social Work and received his master’s degree in Social Work from Columbia University.

Bethany C. Medley (she/her) is a doctoral student at the Columbia University School of Social Work. Her research aims to improve the health and rights of people who use and/or sell drugs. Specifically, her interests include overdose prevention, peer-driven harm reduction interventions, and equitable access to opioid agonist medications (buprenorphine and methadone). Currently, Bethany is working with Dr. Louisa Gilbert on the HEALing Communities Study, which aims to reduce overdose deaths in New York State.

Before entering the doctoral program, Bethany was an adjunct lecturer for CSSW courses on harm reduction policy, programming, and practice interventions. Her previous experience includes facilitating train-the-trainer overdose education and naloxone distribution, increasing community-based buprenorphine access, developing anti-stigma campaigns, and promoting best practices for pregnant people who use drugs. Bethany remains actively involved in drug user led advocacy efforts that guide her research projects.

Bethany holds a Bachelor’s in Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and a Master’s in Social Work from Columbia University.

Originally from the Bronx, Asia graduated from the Silberman School of Social Work with a specialized focus on children, youth, and families. Over the past two decades, she has dedicated herself to a fulfilling career in social work within the legal sector, where her role as a forensic social worker has allowed her to provide essential clinical resources and steadfast support to marginalized communities facing legal ramifications in Family, Criminal, Immigration and Civil Courts. In addition to her core responsibilities, Asia also served as a Team Leader for several years, showcasing her strong leadership abilities in overseeing the onboarding process and conducting hiring interviews. Moreover, she has made significant contributions as a practicum instructor and task supervisor for Master of Social Work (MSW) students, nurturing their professional development with care and dedication. Many of her MSW students have flourished under her mentorship, securing positions within the agency upon graduation, underscoring Asia's profound impact as a guide and mentor in the field of social work.

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Ana Abraído-Lanza's research focuses on cultural, psychological, social, and structural factors that affect health and mortality among Latinos; health disparities between Latinos and non-Latino whites; and the health of immigrant Latinos.  Her research on the Latino mortality epidemiologic paradox and on acculturation have contributed to national and international debates on the health of Latinos.  Prior to joining Columbia’s School of Social Work, she was Vice Dean and Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences at New York University’s School of Global Public Health, and Professor of Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health.  Her honors and awards include the Dalmas Taylor Distinguished Contributions Award from the Minority Fellowship Program of the American Psychological Association, the Student Assembly Public Health Mentoring Award from the American Public Health Association, and the Mailman School’s Teaching Excellence Award. She served on the Community Task Force on Preventive Services of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; and on Editorial Boards of Health Education and Behavior, and Annals of Behavioral Medicine.