Geri Crawley-Woods, Ph.D., LICSW
Professor Emerita of Social Work
Email: gcwoods@shepherd.edu
I am proud to be a member of the “Class of 2020”, having retired from Shepherd after 44 years as a social work educator, and “graduating” 50 years after my original graduation as an undergraduate from the University of Rhode Island in 1970, majoring in English with a minor in Sociology. Beginning my career in public welfare working with poor children and their families, I quickly realized that I was ill equipped to provide social work services competently. I soon returned to graduate school at the National Catholic School of Social Service to pursue the MSW degree, which is the one of the best decisions I ever made (next to marrying my husband!). However, the BSW degree is also a very useful one and many of our graduates have pursued an entire career as a BSW social worker. Multiple avenues are open for becoming an agent of change, in order to promote social justice and equality. In the tumultuous times of our collective lives, which each generation must confront in a new way, we are called as a profession to an ongoing and unwavering commitment to continue the fight against structural oppression and for the rights of the most vulnerable populations.
Education
• Ph.D. 2000 University of Maryland at Baltimore School of Social Work
• MSW 1974 The Catholic University of America, National Catholic School of Social Service
• B.A. 1970 University of Rhode Island
Ph.D. Dissertation — The Life Cycle of Welfare Reform: Local Renditions, A Comparative Case Study of the Implementation of the Work Requirements of TANF.
Papers and Presentations
“Using Memoir and Poetry in Teaching and Treatment” with Dr. Jennifer Soule
40th Annual National Institute on Social Work and Human Services in Rural Area
Vermillion, South Dakota, July 2015
“Bridges over Troubled Waters: Natural Neighbors and Indigenous Leaders “
39th Annual National Institute on Social Work and Human Services in Rural Areas.
University of Western New Mexico, Silver City, New Mexico, July 2014
“Saints and Sinners: Strengths and Barriers in Building Community” with Dr. Amy DeWitt
38th Annual National Institute on Social Work and Human Services in Rural Areas,
Millersville University, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, July 2013
Doug Horner, Ph.D.
Emeritus Faculty Social Work
• Ph.D. May, 1992 University of Maryland at Baltimore School of Social Work
• MSW Dec., 1975 University of Pittsburgh
• B.A. May., 1974 Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Professional Memberships:
• National Association of Social Workers
• Council on Social Work Education
• Bachelor Program Directors Association
• West Virginia Social Work Education Consortium
• Alpha Kappa Delta
Publications:
• Ph.D. Dissertation — Selected Factors Affecting Utilization of Social Services by Women Clients of Two Domestic Violence Shelters. Aug., 1992. University Microfilms.
Professional Papers and Presentations:
• “The Effects of Parental Education Attainment Levels and Academic Achievement: A Longitudinal Study of the Freshman Year”. Presented at the 9th International conference on the Freshman Year Experience. St. Andrews University, Scotland, U.K., July 14, 1996.
• “The Criminal, the Court, and the Community: What Social Scientists can do for Trail Attorneys”. Presented to the West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Conference, Charleston, WV., June 7, 1996.
• “The 1990 West Virginia Teachers Strike: An Application of Smelser’s Value-Added Theory”. Presented to the Popular Culture Conference, Louisville, KY., March 20, 1992.
Sponsored Research Projects:
• “Employment for Rural West Virginians with Disabilities” Funded by: US Dept. of Agriculture, Small Business Innovation Research Program; Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Services; Rural and Community Development. Grant # 98-00322. Aug., 1997-Dec., 1998.
Jennifer Soule, Ph.D.
Professor Emerita Social Work
My years at Shepherd are the heart of my professional life. I greatly enjoyed my time as a social work professor and department chair/program director. I relished teaching and being an active member in academic and social work communities. After retirement, I turned to poetry and earned a Master in Fine Arts in Writing with an emphasis on poetry. My undergraduate degree with a double major in English and Sociology was an early focus on my twin passions—literature and social change in the larger world. I grew up in South Dakota with the privilege of a big sky/land canvas that allowed me to believe anything is possible anywhere. A career in social work was the perfect choice for me. I believe and hope that social work students and graduates today would enjoy the same fulfillment in their professional lives. With a strong foundation in the humanities and the depth and breadth of the biopsychosocial underpinnings social work is a multifaceted career. It allows flexibility and options across the lifespan of both workers and clients. Social work is a vibrant field with many opportunities for growth and little room for boredom. It is my life’s work and I highly recommend it!
EDUCATION
2008: MFA in Creative Writing, University of Nebraska
1982: PhD, University of Maryland, School of Social Work and Community Planning
Dissertation: “Influence of Attitudes of Students and Other Health and Human Service
Professionals in Their Assessment of Sexual Behavior.” Director: Dr. Paul H. Ephross.
Graduate assistant: 1976-1978
1974: MSW, West Virginia University, Graduate School of Social Work
1969: BA, University of South Dakota
Majors: sociology and English
Minors: psychology and French
1980-1999: Shepherd College, Shepherdstown, West Virginia
Professor and Chair, Department of Social Work; Co-coordinator, Women’s Studies
Program; Director, Community Service Learning
1976-1980: Instructor and Fieldwork Supervisor, School of Social Work and Community
Planning, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
1974-1976: Instructor and Fieldwork Supervisor, Social Work Department, Murray State
University, Murray, Kentucky
EXPERIENCE: SOCIAL WORK
2004-2005 Social worker, Mental Health, Addictive Disorders Service System, Black Hills VA,
Hot Springs, South Dakota
1982-1999: Clinical practitioner, Shepherdstown, West Virginia
1975-1976: Social worker and clinician, Comprehensive Care Center (mental health), Murray,
Kentucky
1973-1974: Social worker and clinician, Valley Comprehensive Community Mental Health
Center, Morgantown, West Virginia
1972-1973: Lobbyist, Legislative Office, National Organization for Women (NOW),
Washington, D.C.
1969-1971: Community organizer, Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA)
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
“Using Memoir and Poetry in Teaching and Treatment” with Dr. Geri Crawley-Woods
40th Annual National Institute on Social Work and Human Services in Rural Areas
Vermillion, South Dakota 2015
“The Hiawatha Asylum for Insane Indians.” Western Studies Conference. Sioux Falls, South
Dakota. 2002.
“Homelessness in Rural America.” Annual Rural Social Work Conference. Salisbury, Maryland.
July 1999
“Colleges and Community Learning: Two-way Bridges.” National Society for Experiential
Education. Snowbird, Utah. 1996.
“Research as Service: An Ethnographic Study of Family Needs.” International Conference on
Experiential Education. Washington, D.C. 1994.
“College Students Help Bridge Service Delivery Gaps in Rural Communities through Service
Learning.” Eighteenth National Institute on Social Work and Human Services in Rural
Areas. Oxford, Georgia. July 1993.
PUBLICATIONS: ACADEMIC
“Beginner’s Mind” Reflections (Fall 2007)
“Reflections on Social Work for Graduates.” The New Social Worker. 11:3 (Summer 2004).
Bethany House: Photographs and Words, with Benita Keller exhibition at the Frank Arts
Center, Shepherd College, Shepherdstown, West Virginia, January 1999).
“Death at the Hiawatha Asylum for Insane Indians,” with Bradley Soule. South Dakota Journal
of Medicine 56.1 (January 2003).
“At Home with Poor Women and Children: My Sabbatical at Bethany House.” Reflections
(Summer 2000).
“Social Work Students’ Knowledge of Feminism” (with C. Munson). Journal of Teaching in
Social Work 16.1-2 (1998).
Review essay (K. Weingarte and M. Bog’rad, Reflections on Feminist Family Therapy Training,
and M. Hill and E. D. Rothblum, Couples Therapy: Feminist Perspectives). Affilia
(Winter 1997).
“The Partnership Model: A Feminist Supervision/Consultation Perspective” (with C. Munson).
The Clinical Supervisor (Spring 1995).
Review of A. A. Roberts, Social Work in Juvenile and Criminal Justice Settings. The Clinical
Supervisor (Summer 1985).
PUBLICATIONS: POETRY
South Dakota: Sunsets and Snowstorms chapbook (self-published)
“Surprise” Trees in This Neighborhood Remember Me Scurfpea Anthology Fall 2017
“Winter Moon”, “South Dakota Summer Vacation: Circa 1957” Pasque Petals Spring 2017
“Cultural Triangle” Plainsong Summer 2017
“Small Town Snapshots” Pasque Petals Spring 2016
“New in Town” The Scandalous Life of Butterflies Scurfpeea Anthology Fall 2015
“Border town” Rural Social Work Journal 2015
“Winter Woman”, “Weddings”, “Fall Equinox in Hot Springs” A Walk by the River Anthology
Scurfpea Anthology Fall 2016
“Poetry Man”, “Morning Circle”, “Bookstore Church”,”November Haiku”Pasque Petals Fall
2015
“Pluto: The Boogeyman Planet”, “An Ongoing Affair ”Pasque Petals Spring 2015
Hiawatha Asylum Finishing Line Press January 2015
“Prairie Beat” “Anomie” “Custer County Sheriffs Log” Memory Echo Words Anthology
Scurfpea December 2014
“Feral Peacocks” The Briar Cliff Review: Volume 26: 2014
“Murder of Crows” Chinaberries and Crows Anthology 2012
“Women of a Certain Age” Last on the Mountain: Views from Writers over 50” 2010
“Hiawatha Asylum for Insane Indians” South Dakota Review. (Summer 2009)
“Deshabille.” Birmingham Poetry Review (Fall 2008).
“Smoking Mr. V.” The Sow’s Ear Poetry Review Vol. XVIII, No. 3(Fall 2008).
“Directions to the Vineyard.” The Sow’s Ear Poetry Review Vol. XVIII, No. 3(Fall 2008).
“Walking Women” and “Not Here for the Party.” Affilia: Journal of women in Social Work
(Winter: 2007).
“Imagine a Dog,” and “Seasonal Moves” Alabama Conclave Summer 2007.
“Pensacola Morning” and “Picasso in Pensacola” Emerald Coast Review 2007? or 2006?
Fourth Grade —Hurricane Review 2006?
“Black and White Fox.” Modern Haiku (Fall, 2006).
“Morning Takes” and “On Reading the Obituary of My High School English Teacher” South
Dakota Review. Volume 43 Numbers 1 and 2(Spring/Summer 2005).
“Heron Time.” Modern Haiku, 36.2(Summer 2005).
“Creeping Charlie and the Prairie Painted Lady” and “Prairie Women of Mary Groth.” North
Dakota Quarterly. 71.4(Fall 2004).
“Banana Bread and Coffee.” Crazy Woman Creek: Women rewrite the American West/ edited by
Linda Hasselstrom, Gaydell Collier, and Nancy Curtis. Houghton Mifflin, 2004.
“Goodwill.” Plainsong XXIV, Number 2(Winter 2004).
“Hospitals and Rolling Pins.” South Dakota Journal of Medicine
“Dakota Bar.” Frogpond XXIII: I (Winter 2004).
“Tumbleweeds.” South Dakota Magazine (Nov./Dec. 2003).
“Saturday Morning.” Modern Haiku 34.3 (Autumn 2003).
“Greeting Cards.” Journal of Poetry Therapy 16.2 (June 2003).
“Roses on a Bridge.” Journal of Poetry Therapy 16.2 (June 2003).
“Seeing.” Journal of Poetry Therapy 16.2 (June 2003).
“Jane Addams Sets the Record Straight.” Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work 18.1
(Spring 2003).
“Solid Citizen Sex Offender.” Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work 18.1 (Spring 2003).
Haiku. Haiku Member’s Anthology (2002).
“Wind.” South Dakota Magazine (July/Aug. 2002).
“Homeless at McDonald’s.” South Dakota Magazine. (May/June 2002).
“Snow Geese.” South Dakota Journal of Medicine 55.5 (May 2002).
“Dove Eggs.” Prairie Winds (Spring 2002).
“September 12.” Prairie Winds (Spring 2002).
“Autumn.” Prairie Winds (Spring 2002).
“Bald Eagles.” Coal City Review (Winter 2002).
“A Country Mouse.” Vermillion Literary Project (2002).
“December on the Great Plains.” Vermillion Literary Project (2002).
“Circle Broken.” Affilia: A Journal of Women and Social Work (Spring 2001).
“Still Not Funny.” Affilia: A Journal of Women and Social Work (Spring 2001).
“Starfish.” A Journal of Contemporary Haiku (Spring 2001).
“Love in the Mail.” Vermillion Literary Project (2001).
“Looking at a Pelican.” American Poets and Poetry (Nov.-Dec. 2000).
“Listening to Odyssey while Driving the Keys.” American Poets and Poetry (Sept.-Oct. 2000).
“Crinkled Sunshine.” Haiku Members Anthology (2000).
Two haiku. Modern Haiku 30.3 (Fall 1999).
“Canadian Travelers.” Shepherdstown Chronicle (Apr. 1998).
“Fawn Instincts.” Shepherdstown Chronicle (Apr. 1998).
“Winter Morning.” Shepherdstown Chronicle (Apr. 1998).
“Frosted Fields.” Shepherdstown Chronicle (Jan. 1998).
“The One-Minute Traffic Problem.” Shepherdstown Chronicle (Jan. 1998).
“Winter.” Sans Merci (1996).