Social work faculty receives Global Engagement Award

Dr. Jennifer Harrison, assistant professor in the School of Social Work, has received a 2018 Global Engagement Award. The award, given annually by the Haenicke Institute for Global Education to recognize contributions to the global engagement of the university and to its students, faculty and staff; to our knowledge and understanding of global affairs; and/or to communities and stakeholders locally or abroad.

The award was presented at spring convocation in February.

Since coming to the College of Health and Human Services in 2011, Dr. Harrison has displayed her passion for global engagement. She has served as the field director for the School of Social Work, teaching courses in field education, individual and family practice and policy. She has led numerous interdisciplinary study abroad courses in Guatemala. 

In fact, Dr. Harrison found out about the award while preparing for her inaugural study abroad course trip to India.

"The college has been very supportive of global engagement efforts, including a strong interprofessional study abroad program, international research and presentations, and Spanish language efforts, not to mention my own professional growth," says Harrison. "I am so grateful to be a faculty member in the School of Social Work and the College of Health and Human Services, to have the opportunity to teach internationally as well as in Southwest Michigan, and to be identified alongside many talented colleagues for this award."

Dr. Harrison's research interests include Evidence-Based Practice development and implementation, co-occurring mental health and substance abuse, assessments of student learning, and the incorporation of peers into treatment services. She is also working on the Interprofessional Peer Education and Evidence for Recovery (I-PEER) project, an interdisciplinary, grant-funded project with the Department of Occupational Therapy that has recently been awarded a $1.8 million grant.