Innovative research from the School of Social Work in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics was at the forefront of the recent Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference in Seattle, Washington.
The theme of this year’s conference was “Strengthening Social Impact through Collaborative Research,” and School of Social Work Chair and Professor Carrie Smith says the faculty members, research assistants, and students from Syracuse University presented an “outstanding level of work” at what has become social work’s flagship research conference.
“We are so proud of the outstanding contributions and the meaningful impact that of our social work faculty, research assistants, and students are making on the ways we facilitate positive change in the lives of individuals, families, groups, and communities,” Smith says. “We thank our faculty for their dedication to advancing social work research and inspiring others in the field.
Here’s a list of the School of Social Work representatives who presented at the 2025 Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference:
Where the Horses Are Buried: An Autoethnographic Account of Topophilia, Solastalgia, and Exurbanization
Yvonne Smith, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Syracuse University
How Do Longitudinal Classes of ACEs Exposure Predict Sexual Behavior: A Longitudinal Latent Class Analysis
Xiafei Wang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Syracuse University
Qingyang Liu, MS, Research Assistant, Syracuse University
Corinne Blake, MSW, Research Assistant, Syracuse University
Sara Vasilenko, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Syracuse University
Unveiling the Interconnections between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Adult Attachment, and Adult Children’s Relationships with Parents: Insights from a Longitudinal Study in China
Lixia Zhang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of Louisville
Xiafei Wang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Syracuse University
Camie Tomlinson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of Louisville
Role Confusion and Administrative Control: The Challenges of Community Schools Coordinators Working to Advance Student Health
Ripley Hoffman, MSW, Community Schools Project Manager, Syracuse University
Mackenzie St. John, Research Assistant, Syracuse University
Ryan D. Heath, Ph.D., LCSW, Associate Professor, Syracuse University
Patterns of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Differences in Mental Health and Social Support in Young Adulthood
Ryan D. Heath, Ph.D., LCSW, Associate Professor, Syracuse University
Xiafei Wang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Syracuse University
Nayla Khoury, MD, MPH, Child Psychiatrist and Associate Professor, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse
Examining E-Cigarette Use and Mental Health Among BIPOC Sexual and Gender Minority Young Adults
Lance Keene, Ph.D., MSW, Assistant Professor, New York University
Ryan D. Heath, Ph.D., LCSW, Associate Professor, Syracuse University
Dale Maglalang, Ph.D., MA, MSW, MPH, Assistant Professor, New York University
Exploring the Relationship between Community Violence Perception and Parental Stress from Early Childhood to Adolescence: A Parallel Growth Analysis
Fei Pei, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Syracuse University
Nicole Pangelinan, MSW student, Syracuse University
Xiaomei Li, Ph.D., Postdoc Fellow, Queen’s University, Canada
Kathryn Maguire-Jack, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of Michigan
Grandfamilies’ Resilience Profiles: A Latent Profile Analysis
Yanfeng Xu, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of South Carolina
Fei Pei, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Syracuse University
Nancy Mendoza, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, The Ohio State University
Theresa Harrison, Ph.D., Carolina Family Engagement Center Project
A Comprehensive Investigation of the Links between Exposure to Gun Violence and Adolescent Delinquency
Fei Pei, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Syracuse University
Xiaomei Li, Ph.D., Postdoc Fellow, Queen’s University, Canada
Enhancing Patient Outcomes Through Collaborative and Integrated Care: The Evolving Role of Social Workers in Healthcare
Moderator: Ting Guan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Syracuse University
Social Workers in Palliative Cancer Care: A Qualitative Study of Their Roles, Barriers, and Facilitators
Ting Guan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Syracuse University
Karlynn BrintzenhofeSzoc, Ph.D., Professor and Dr. Renato LaRocca Endowed Chair in Oncology Social Work, University of Louisville
Sadaf Sedaghatshoar, Doctoral student, University of Louisville
Shameem Varikkodan, Doctoral student, University of Louisville
Ava Henderson, MSW student, Syracuse University
Dyadic Health Research: Promise, Pitfalls, and Emerging Directions
Tess Thompson, Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Katrina Ellis, Ph.D., MPH, MSW, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ting Guan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Syracuse University,
Chiara Acquati, Ph.D., LMSW, FAOSW, University of Houston
Joy Noel Baumgartner, Ph.D., MSSW, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
U.S. News and World Report ranked the Syracuse University School of Social Work among the “Best Schools of Social Work” in the country. To learn more about the School of Social Work’s academic programs, experiential learning, and career opportunities, visit the Falk College website.