Edward Mullen

Edward Joseph Mullen is the Willma and Albert Musher Professor Emeritus, previously serving as CSSW Acting Dean and Associate Dean. Before joining the Columbia University faculty, he was a tenured professor at the University of Chicago and Fordham University. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Oxford Bibliographies in Social Work, Oxford University Press.

Dr. Mullen’s scholarly work has focused on social work practice research, mental health services research, and evidence-based policy and practice implementation, contributing to the development of rigorous methods for assessing policy and practice outcomes. Dr. Mullen has authored numerous books, book chapters, and journal articles, contributing significantly to the profession’s knowledge base. His scholarship is the subject of the festschrift: Soydan, H. (Ed.) (2015). Social work practice to the benefit of our clients: Scholarly legacy of Professor Edward Joseph Mullen. Bolzano, Italy: Bolzano University Press.

Dr. Mullen has held numerous research leadership roles, including as principal investigator for multiple National Institute of Mental Health-funded predoctoral and postdoctoral mental health services training programs at the University of Chicago and Columbia University. He has directed several prominent research centers, including the Institute of Welfare Research, Community Service Society of New York; Center for the Study of Social Work Practice, Columbia University and the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services; and the Willma and Albert Musher Program for Life Betterment through Science and Technology, Columbia University.

Dr. Mullen has been a leading contributor to international social work and social welfare research, notably as a co-founder of a European network of social work research centers that fostered collaboration and advanced research in social welfare across Europe. Dr. Mullen led the Asia Society’s Southeast Asia Development Advisory Group as Deputy Chairman of the Vietnam-Laos-Khmer Panel. He has held leadership positions with the Networks of Centres of Excellence of Canada. He is contributing to social research methods education in China through the Beijing-based GEC Academy.

Dr. Mullen earned his Ph.D. from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Columbia University and holds both a B.A. and M.S.W. from the Catholic University of America. Over the course of his career, he has been honored with numerous awards and recognitions, including the Distinguished Alumni Award from the National Catholic School of Social Services at the Catholic University of America, election as a Fellow of the prestigious American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare, and induction into the Columbia School of Social Work Hall of Fame.