Social Work

Li-Mei Chen, PhD

mthomp7 — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 16:50:26 +0000

Li-Mei Chen, PhD mthomp7 Tue, 09/05/2023 - 12:50

Assistant Professor, Social Work

Contact Information

Dr. Li-Mei Chen
Assistant Professor
Department of Social Work
College of Public Health

CV

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Biography

Dr. Li-Mei Chen is Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work, College of Public Health. Chen’s teaching and research focuses on dementia and aging, productive aging (volunteer, caregiving, self care, and employment), intersectionality and role of lifecourse in older ethnic minorities, community gerontology, and social policy. Among her recent projects included hosting an international seminar on person-centered care for dementia, several case studies on community-based strategies for civic engagement of older adults and the role of structural injustices and social exclusion on minority health and well-being. Before coming to Mason, Chen taught social work at Columbia University, University of Houston, Washington University in St. Louis, Kwansei Gakuin University (Japan), and Yokohama City University (Japan).

Awards

2023 Yokohama Chinatown Union Award for Research
2022 Silver Medal for Poster Competition, 5th International Putra InnoCreative Carnival in Teaching and Learning (i-PicTL2022)

Professional Affiliations/Memberships

Member, Society for Applied Gerontology Japan
Member, Association for Social Policy Studies
Member, Japan Research Association of Community Development
Member, Japanese Society of Public Health
Member, Japan Socio-Gerontological Society
Member, Japan Society for the Study of Social Work
Member, Society for Social Work Research (SSWR)
Member and Fellow, Gerontological Society of America (GSA)

Education

BA, Political Science, Bryn Mawr College, May 1993
PhD, Social Work, Columbia University, May 2002
MSW, Social Work, University of Michigan, December 1997

College of Health and Human Services and ServiceSource Establish a Center on Aging with a Focus on Healthy Aging and Workforce Development

Mary Cunningham — Wed, 18 May 2022 20:55:33 +0000

College of Health and Human Services and ServiceSource Establish a Center on Aging with a Focus on Healthy Aging and Workforce Development Mary Cunningham Wed, 05/18/2022 - 16:55

In This Story

Dr. Cathy Tompkins

Healthy aging is more important than ever in the U.S. as everyone in the Baby Boomer generation nears retirement age.

Post-doctoral student Hyun Kang, Associate Dean of Faculty and Staff Affairs and Professor Cathy Tompkins, Assistant Professor Michelle Hand, and Chair of the Department of Social Work Emily Ihara at the opening of the Wellness Center for Older Adults.

College of Health and Human Services and ServiceSource, Inc. (SSI) have established a Northern Virginia Center on Aging, which will be recognized as a satellite center with the Virginia Center on Aging (VCoA). The center will provide services, programs, and activities for older adults and workforce development and continuing education for health care professionals who support older adults. Faculty and students will be actively involved and are excited for this new opportunity.

The Center on Aging will expand the VCoA’s mission of being an interdisciplinary study, research, information, and resource facility for the Commonwealth of Virginia utilizing the full capabilities of faculty, staff, libraries, laboratories, and clinics for the benefit of older Virginians and the expansion of knowledge pertaining to older adults and aging in general. VCoA is a statewide agency created by the Virginia General Assembly.

“Healthy aging is now more important than ever as our over-65 and over-85 populations continue to grow in the coming decades,” said Associate Dean of Faculty and Staff Affairs and Professor Cathy Tompkins. “This collaborative program will help prepare the current and future geriatric workforce to optimize opportunities to maintain and improve physical and mental health, independence, and quality of life throughout a person’s life.”

By 2030, every person in the Baby Boomer generation will be 65 or older. With this generation being larger than generations before it, more resources are necessary to support the population.

The new center will provide workforce training to students across the College’s departments through practicums, internships, and other experiential learning opportunities on how to effectively work with older adults. Additionally, the Center will partner with other community organizations to provide continuing education and training for frontline workers and licensed professionals. College faculty will have opportunities to evaluate current interventions implemented by SSI staff and community partners.

The Northern Virginia Center on Aging will be housed at the new Wellness Center for Older Adults (WCOA), which is less than four miles from Mason’s campus.

The College is home to the Department of Social Work and leads research and workforce development initiatives focused on healthy aging. Other departments actively involved in the new Northern Virginia Center on Aging include the School of Nursing and the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies.

SSI’s mission is to facilitate services, resources, and partnerships to support people with disabilities and it offers a wide range of services to serve the community, including operating the WCOA.

Other WCOA community partners supporting the Center include AARP Virginia, The Alzheimer’s Association American Health Care Professionals, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, INOVA Community Health, Insight Memory Care Center, Northern Virginia Community College, Shenandoah University, the Shepherd’s Center, and the Parkinson Social Network.

About Mason

George Mason University, Virginia’s largest public research university, enrolls 39,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason has grown rapidly over the last half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2022, Mason celebrates 50 years as an independent institution. Learn more at http://www.gmu.edu.

About the College of Health and Human Services

The College of Health and Human Services prepares students to become leaders and to shape the public's health through academic excellence, research of consequence, community outreach, and interprofessional clinical practice. The College enrolls more than 1,900 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students in its nationally-recognized offerings, including 6 undergraduate degrees, 13 graduate degrees, and 6 certificate programs. The college is transitioning to a college of public health in the near future. For more information, visit https://chhs.gmu.edu/.

Topics

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies

Nutrition News

Pursuing Excellence On and Off the Field

John Brandon Cantrell — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 13:13:05 +0000

Pursuing Excellence On and Off the Field John Brandon C… Wed, 03/23/2022 - 09:13

Undergraduate student-athletes in the College reflect on their proudest sports moment and how their classes supported their athletics.

Kai Muniz

Exercise is one aspect of staying healthy, so athletes pursuing degrees in the College of Health and Human Services are a natural fit. Six undergraduate students in the College of Health and Human Services were honored at the Peter N. Stearns Provost Scholar Athlete Awards ceremony on March 22. The ceremony recognized student-athletes who have maintained a GPA of at least 3.75 while continuing to represent Mason in their respective sports. Community health majors Ashley Dawson (cheer), Briana Dawson (cheer), Stephanie Der (volleyball), and Kai Muniz (cross country); nursing major Jessica McRae (track and field); and social work major Casey Nelson (track & field) were honored at the awards ceremony.

Being a college athlete requires dedication and hard work. The scholar-athletes found their College coursework has been helpful in their sports and with their teams, while their athletics also helped with their coursework, regardless of their major.

“My courses taught me how to roll with the punches and learn to understand my fellow teammates based on their own unique pasts. Public health is all about working together and guiding people towards their best possible outcomes and the classes I have taken has made me more conscientious about my actions as an athlete,” said Muniz ’22, Bachelor of Science in Community Health.

Casey Nelson

“Regarding athletics, my studies of social work have allowed me to see the importance of balancing the multiple demands of being a student-athlete. Additionally, it has allowed me to become more understanding and empathetic of challenges that student-athletes face regarding mental health, injuries, and other setbacks,” said Nelson ’22, Bachelor of Social Work with a minor in public health.

“Being a student-athlete has prepared me for the harder classes in my major because I was able to work hard and do well in the classes,” said McRae ’22, a Nursing major.

They have created many memories throughout college, and these athletes especially remember the big moments that contributed to their respective team’s success.

“My proudest sports moment at Mason would probably be toeing the line [being on the starting line] at the regional cross country meet with the guys. It's a grueling season and getting to see all our hard work pay off and run in Louisville on such a storied course with the people I've grown to love was so special to me,” said Muniz, who typically ran the 1500, the mile, and the 5K.

“My proudest moment at Mason would be winning the hammer event at the A10s championship last spring,” said McRae, who also competed in shot put and the weight throw.

Jessica McRae

“My proudest sports moment at Mason was during my freshman year when I was competing at the A10 Conference Championship meet at the University of Massachusetts in 2019. I placed 8th in discus scoring a point for my team. I was very happy to contribute as a freshman to my team winning at Conference. Every point counts!” said Nelson, who also competed in shot put and the weight throw.

Professors are the coaches of the classroom who help students learn new skills and motivate them with new knowledge. For the ceremony, students were asked to identify their favorite faculty member who had impacted their college career. The student-athletes are thankful for what they’ve learned from their professors.

“Dr. Freedman is an outstanding professor. He does an excellent job engaging students by fostering a safe and inclusive classroom environment for everyone to respectfully share their thoughts and ideas. His immense passion and enthusiasm for students and their professional growth is greatly appreciated,” said Nelson, who is president of the Social Workers at Mason club.

“My favorite teacher in my major is Dr. Ali Weinstein. She presented the course content so well and gave us comprehensible situations to apply what we were doing in class in real-world scenarios. Talking with her gave me a lot of insight towards future careers,” said Muniz.

“My favorite teacher is Professor Frese because she is great at explaining pathophysiology to her students, and I feel like she really prepared us for what expect in real nursing situations,” said Mcrae.

Congratulations to all our student-athletes and best of luck in your future careers.

Topics

Students in Health-Related Programs are Encouraged to Apply for the 2023 AHEC Scholar Program and Join a National Cohort of Over 4,000 AHEC Scholars Across the Country

John Brandon Cantrell — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 18:22:07 +0000

Students in Health-Related Programs are Encouraged to Apply for the 2023 AHEC Scholar Program and Join a National Cohort of Over 4,000 AHEC Scholars Across the Country John Brandon C… Mon, 06/28/2021 - 14:22

Topics

In This Story

Karen Brown

Applications for the 2023 AHEC Scholar Program are being accepted. Apply by August 15 for full consideration.

Students who are currently enrolled in a health-related program, who are two years away from graduating, and plan to work in a rural, underserved area after graduating are encouraged to apply for the 2023 Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Scholar Program.

Students who are interested in learning more about the program and the application process can attend a virtual session on July 9 or July 14 at 12 pm. Click here to Register for the Virtual Session.

With the mission of increasing the number of skilled and culturally competent health professionals to practice in rural, underserved areas, the AHEC Scholar Program gives students in health-related programs an opportunity to develop new skills and be introduced to an interprofessional framework that will be pivotal to improving health and health care.

The two-year educational program provides students with 40 hours of didactic activities and 40 hours of clinical activities each year. Scholars can gain experience in interprofessional education, behavioral health integration, social determinants of health, cultural competency, practice transformation, current and emerging issues including substance use disorders, and regional topics.

“The AHEC Scholar Program is a valuable and unique way for students to gain real-world experience in their chosen fields by advancing their future careers through networking and training opportunities with health care professionals from across the state,” said Karen Brown, center director of Northern Virginia AHEC. “Scholars who are selected may be eligible for a stipend of up to $1,000 throughout the two-year commitment for completing program milestones.”

Click here to Apply for the 2023 AHEC Scholar Program.

CHHS Students Committed to Giving Back to the Community

John Brandon Cantrell — Tue, 04 May 2021 13:03:28 +0000

CHHS Students Committed to Giving Back to the Community John Brandon C… Tue, 05/04/2021 - 09:03

Topics

College of Health and Human Services

CHHS News

Graduating CHHS Seniors Reflect on Community Engagement.

Students who pursue public health-related fields are working to make an impact in their respective fields of study as well as their local communities. By applying skills they learned in their coursework, many students in the College of Health and Human Services work and volunteer for local organizations that support health, wellness, and social justice initiatives.

Tristan Corbett, a Bachelor of Social Work student, explains the importance of giving back to the community. “As a CHHS student, you learn across multiple classes [on] how important environmental influences are to both the health and well-being of an individual,” said Corbett. “It is easy to go about life and be a recipient of the benefits from the environment and [community], but I find it important to contribute to them as well; it is a group effort to sustain and improve our community, for our community.”

As a student studying social work, Corbett became involved with a local nonprofit, FACETS, while completing his practicum. “There are many opportunities to contribute to the community [at FACETS], from Hot Meals - a food distribution program for the local homeless population around NoVA - to the Education and Community Development branch, which seeks to enrich the lives of the subsidized housing communities around their offices.”

Many students find community engagement opportunities as a way to gain real-world experience by problem-solving, communicating, and collaborating with others to address issues facing their community.

"Giving back to your community is an opportunity for you to evolve as a person and understand how you fit into the world around you. Engaging with different communities will enhance your life and connect you to people and ideas that will positively influence you in different walks of life." - Pratishna Thapa

For Pratishna Thapa, a Bachelor of Social Work student in the College, giving back to the community is a way for her to help individuals through challenging situations while she earns her degree at Mason.

“I have had the privilege to work with different communities -- from working with children and adults with disabilities, organizing disaster relief programs for people affected by natural disasters, strategizing ways to enhance the well-being of marginalized women in developing countries, advocating for victims and witnesses of domestic violence to assisting formerly incarcerated women to get back into the society,” Thapa said.

Thapa has worked with the Alexandria Victim Assistance Program, a Virginia organization staffed by Crime Victim Advocates who provide support and services to crime victims during the aftermath of a crime and throughout the criminal justice process. While working as an advocate in the organization, Thapa attended court with individuals who have survivors of crimes and organized vigils for those who have died due to domestic violence.

Currently, Thapa serves as a case manager intern for Friends of Guest House, where she provides emotional support and coping strategies for formerly incarcerated women.

“My daily responsibilities entail helping the women identify their stressors, identify coping plans, document case notes for my clients, and lead psychoeducational groups like Interpersonal Skills and Seeking Safety weekly,” Thapa said.

Through her advocacy work, Thapa was inspired to pursue research opportunities relating to women's experiences in the prison system. “I have observed an inconsistency in the demographic of women being rehabilitated versus the actual prison population,” Thapa said. “This has piqued my interest in researching the gaps within the prison system while pursuing my Master's in Social work through the Advanced Standing Program at Mason.”

Kendal Chase, a student in the School of Nursing, also has a mission to help others in her community. Chase’s community engagement began at the macro-level by serving her country in the United States Army.

"Learning at Mason taught me that my education and experience were not about myself but about the needs of the community and where I can help out as an individual." -Kendal Chase

“I proudly served 8 years of Active-Duty service as a Pharmacy Technician,” Chase said. “I was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas and Fort Belvoir, Virginia, serving in both field exercise and hospital settings.”

While serving in the Army, Chase became the liaison for Fort Belvoir’s Hazardous Waste Program, where she educated healthcare professionals on the importance of medical disposal practices. This experience led to more opportunities to help others when Chase transitioned into a career outside of the Army.

While serving as an Outreach Coordinator for Fairfax County, Chase implemented strategies to help the community safely dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs. “I focused much of my work on researching and designing a pilot Drug Take-Back program for privately-owned pharmacies,” Chase said. “This program was then presented to the Virginia State Wastewater employees at the WaterJam conference in 2019.”

When she was accepted into the School of Nursing, Chase continued helping others by joining Mason’s Student Nursing Association (SNA) board. “My primary motivation for applying for the SNA board was to provide a better avenue for communication for the students and faculty,” Chase said.

As a board member, Chase helped navigate the group through a challenging year due to COVID-19. However, the pandemic didn’t stop Chase and her fellow board members from helping other nursing students.

“[Working together] during a COVID environment has proven to be difficult, but I’ve learned it’s only made us closer as a group, as we have to be creative, innovative, and dedicated to making it work,” Chase said. “It was because of our continued teamwork that our club was turned into a constituent at the national level. We’ve conducted coat drives, food drives, and promoted a mentorship program for pre-nursing and nursing students, to name a few [projects].”

Due to the global impact of COVID-19, there is a strong need for community engagement initiatives to help with the local implications of the pandemic. Mei Qiu, a Bachelor of Social Work student in the College, continued serving her community and expanding her professional skills by connecting others to helpful resources throughout the pandemic.

"Volunteering my time helps give me a purpose and improve social inequalities that are occurring in the area." -Mei Qiu

“During quarantine, I was able to help volunteer at many facilities to help detect COVID-19 in the Prince William county area with the Virginia Medical Reserve Corps,” Qiu said.

For Qiu, getting involved in community engagement is an important component of her future career. “It’s important to give back because, as a future social worker, I need to familiarize myself with my community and what resources and services are needed,” Qiu said. “Volunteering my time helps give me a purpose and improve social inequalities that are occurring in the area.”

In addition to working as a research assistant, Qiu has also focused on helping others who face food and housing insecurity. “Most recently, I have been volunteering my time with the Hot Meals program at FACETS as a driver and to help give out meals to people who are homeless in the Fairfax county area,” Qiu said.

Community engagement has offered these seniors opportunities to make meaningful contributions that improve the lives of those around them while completing their degrees. Through this type of advocacy work, Mason’s future leaders in public health are well-prepared to serve their communities and continue to better their communities.

Before graduating in May, Corbett, Thapa, Chase, and Qiu were honored as Community Engagement Medallion Awardees by Mason’s Social Action and Integrative Learning (SAIL) organization.

A Thank You from the Dean: To Our Nurses, Social Workers, Public Health Professionals, and Others Battling This Pandemic

dhawkin — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 21:37:33 +0000

A Thank You from the Dean: To Our Nurses, Social Workers, Public Health Professionals, and Others Battling This Pandemic dhawkin Tue, 04/07/2020 - 17:37

Mason faculty and staff pictured outside the Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinic responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Liz McGrath, MAP Nurse Practitioner; Rebecca Sutter, co-director of the MAP Clinics; Bridget Jennison MAP Clinic Coordinator)

Dear Mason Colleagues, Students, and Alumni:

The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has brought out the best in so many and has provided countless opportunities for leadership, community spirit, and generosity. I am so very proud of the work that all our alumni, students, staff, and community partners are doing to combat this disease. It will take all of us to prevail.

I wanted to take a moment to spotlight the work of our nursing and public health workers–faculty, staff, students, and alumni–who are helping deliver health care in our community. Our MAP Clinics and Population Health Center have rapidly expanded telehealth services at this time of crisis to make a difference in the lives of many, including our most vulnerable populations. While our care related to COVID-19 is front and center, I’ve not lost track of the importance of managing complex chronic diseases, substance misuse and preventive services among so many other issues.

As we celebrate the Year of the Nurse and Midwife in 2020, I think back to the start of my career as a nurse where I worked largely in surgical specialty units and renal dialysis. Since I was in school full-time, I worked second shift and had limited resources relative to the day shift, despite it being the time of day when many patients’ health took a turn for the worse.

Watching the news has made me realize how many resources I actually had at my disposal relative to what nurses and others have to work with today in battling this pandemic. Across all outbreaks and pandemics, nursing and public health workers are essential in not only controlling spread but in helping affected individuals and communities recover. Nursing and social work are time-honored professions. Throughout the 21^st century, annual Gallup polls report that nurses have the top rankings for ethics and honest—higher than that for physicians, pharmacists or dentists. A recent Gallup poll reported that “…the nursing profession continues to serve as the very lifeblood and connective tissue of the U.S. healthcare system.” All of you are a part of this fabric.

To all faculty, staff, and alumni continuing to practice your profession and to our students faced with learning skills that earlier cohorts escaped, I applaud you. Be safe, be well and know you’re appreciated.

With pride and thanks,

Germaine

Germaine M. Louis, PhD, MS
Professor and Dean
College of Health and Human Services

Mason Social Work Students Take Action Amidst Pandemic to Connect Community with Needed Supplies

mthomp7 — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 01:29:07 +0000

Mason Social Work Students Take Action Amidst Pandemic to Connect Community with Needed Supplies mthomp7 Wed, 03/18/2020 - 21:29

Photo Credit: Emily Bartenfelder, BSW '20

Photos to the right capture community members helping one another during the pandemic.
Photo Credit: Emily Bartenfelder, George Mason University BSW '20

Rachel Pinon, senior in the Social Work program, helps others during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senior Maricza Hinnah is connecting Northern Virginia residents with needed supplies via Facebook.

In the midst of panic shopping due to COVID-19, Rachel Picon and Maricza Hinnah (BSW '20) help those in need of high-demand supplies.

Rachel Picon and Maricza Hinnah, two seniors in the Department of Social Work at Mason's College of Health and Human Services, created a Facebook page, “Northern VA COVID-19 Craziness Supply Exchange.” The community in Northern Virginia, along with the rest of the country, has been struggling to find basic household necessities such as toilet paper and hand soap. Photos of empty shelves have been featured on platforms like Twitter and Facebook, as frustrated citizens go from store to store hoping to find what they need.

Community members helping one another during the pandemic. Photo Credit: Emily Bartenfelder, George Mason University BSW '20

Picon and Hinnah created the supplies exchange Facebook page on March 13, 2020 to support the community of Northern Virginia and “to be a resource and safe place during this time.” They now moderate the burgeoning 7,266 members and 1,482 posts. The page is open to anyone.

“This is a friendly, no judgement zone. If you are shy or embarrassed to post something you need, direct message me or Rachel,” says Hinnah, “and we will find a way to get you whatever it is you need.”

To ensure safety and trust, the group has standard rules that maintain order and restrict wrongdoings such as price gouging, hate speech, political posts and spam. Fair trades, resale of items and donations of goods is permitted within the group. With so many active members, people with unmet needs due to panic buying have been offered a source of relief and support.

Once the Facebook group gained significant traction in the community, Picon and Hinnah realized, “by submerging [ourselves] in the acts of service and empowering the community to help each other we found we were curbing our own anxieties as well.”

The news of our Mason students taking initiative and inspiring good has spread to several news outlets, including Fox5, and InsideNova. During these extraordinary times of uncertainty and anxiety, there is a silver lining found in communities of people who come together to lift one another up.

When asked about their inspiration to start the Facebook Group, Picon responded, “We originally thought, what about the elderly or the people with financial insecurities who may not be able to stockpile things or have access to basic items?”

Community members helping one another during the pandemic. Photo Credit: Emily Bartenfelder, George Mason University BSW '20

Social justice is a core concept in the Social Work program at Mason. In fact, in an email to all students earlier this month, Dr. Emily Ihara, interim chair and faculty in the Department of Social Work, said, “For generations, social workers have emphasized economic and social justice, human rights, and equity in our work and commitment to the most vulnerable among us. As we navigate the ever-changing terrain over the next several weeks, please remember to take good care of yourself and your families by following good public health practices, use your critical thinking skills to identify reliable sources of information based in science, and think creatively about how to promote social work values in your neighborhood and community.”

And her students, Picon and Hinnah, did exactly that. “We want everyone to know that one person reaching out to just one other person to perform an act of kindness is where we can make an impact and where change truly becomes the power of every American,” said Picon and Hinnah. Both women plan to pursue Master’s in Social Work degrees at Mason after they graduate to continue serving others.

-- Written by Nicole Cummings
-- Photo Credit for Pictures Above: Emily Bartenfelder, George Mason University BSW '20

CHHS Graduate Programs Rise in 2020 Rankings by U.S. News & World Report

dhawkin — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 12:45:17 +0000

CHHS Graduate Programs Rise in 2020 Rankings by U.S. News & World Report dhawkin Tue, 03/12/2019 - 08:45

Five CHHS Master’s programs are ranked within the top 100 of their discipline, as recognized by US News & World Report 2020 rankings of graduate programs. Three CHHS programs ranked within the top 50 in their respective discipline.

“Rankings are just one of the many ways to measure the success of our College. Our faculty students, alumni, staff, and community partners remain proud that CHHS is committed to the mission of improving the health of all populations in a rapidly changing world,” says Dean of CHHS, Dr. Germaine M. Louis.

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs continue to rise in the ranks, reaching #49 and #37 respectively. The Master of Health Administration (MHA) maintains its spot at #33, and the Master of Public Health (MPH) makes a welcome debut at #78. The Master of Social Work (MSW) remained in the top 100 programs, tied with 24 other schools at #96.

CHHS offers five undergraduate degrees, twelve graduate degrees, and eleven certificate programs. CHHS is moving toward the goal of becoming a global college of public health in the near future.