Joseph Merighi named School of Social Work interim director

We are pleased to announce that Associate Professor Joseph Merighi has been named the interim director of the School of Social Work. In this role, Merighi, who currently serves as director of graduate studies, will articulate and enact the vision, mission, and goals of the school and help meet the needs of the school within the college and the University, working with the dean and CEHD academic leadership team. He also will represent the school outside the institution and provide leadership in the wider SSW and CEHD communities.

“I welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively with the faculty and staff in the school so that, together, we can build upon its well-established tradition of excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement,” Merighi said.

Merighi holds a MSW and PhD in social welfare from the University of California, Berkeley. His research interests lie in the area of social work practice in health care settings, with a particular emphasis on dialysis clinics. His work aims to strengthen the overall quality and delivery of psychosocial services to patients, provide better work environments for nephrology social work practitioners, and contribute to improved health outcomes of people with kidney disease.

“We are happy Joe accepted the position of interim director, as he will promote excellence in SSW, given his scholarship in social work and interests in practice,” said Interim CEHD Dean Michael Rodriguez. “He brings a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and with our support, will help us meet the goals of the school. It is my hope that we all, within SSW and CEHD, support Joe in taking on this leadership role during these times of great uncertainty, and that each of us does our part.”