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Adjunct Associate Clinical Professor and Chair of Practice Sequence
Dr. Lesser's professional interests include multicultural clinical practice, education and research, with an emphasis on cross-racial and cross-cultural relationships. Dr. Lesser has over 25 years of experience in the field of social work including clinical practice, supervision, administration, research and community-based practice. Prior to her academic career Dr. Lesser was Director of Social Work at Flower Hospital in New York City. In addition to her role as educator and scholar, Dr. Lesser developed community-based mental health services in a family medical practice in Holyoke, the Pioneer Valley Professionals, where she provides clincal services. Dr. Lesser's areas of interest include neurobiological disorders of childhood and adolescence and the treatment of trauma with children, adolescents, adults and the aged. She has worked internationally in Kingston, Jamaica on the effects of violence on children and in Ghangzhou, China to address the growing rates of depression and suicide among older adults. Dr. Lesser's most recent research explores the topic of non-Jewish mothers raising Jewish children with their Jewish partners. Dr. Lesser has presented her work nationally and internationally. She is the author of several articles and the co-author of two social work textbooks, one of which has been translated into Chinese. Dr. Lesser is the chair of the social work practice sequence and teaches in this sequence. She also teaches advanced clinical treatment in the doctoral program. Dr. Lesser is particularly interested in the application of psychological and social theories to clincial practice, and has expertise in a wide range of theoretical models and treatment modalities including psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, narrative, mindfulness-based practice, play therapy, family treatment and group therapy.
Adjunct Associate Professor and Thesis Coordinator
Jean LaTerz is an adjunct associate professor at Smith College School for Social Work. She currently serves as the Thesis Coordinator for the master’s thesis project, teaches the Introduction to Research Methods course and is a research advisor for master’s and doctoral students. Dr. LaTerz will be co-teaching a new course with Anthony Hill, MSW entitled: “Social Work and the Schools: Making the Marriage Work.” Taking this course and other related electives plus a field placement in an educational setting may lead to state certification as a school social worker. Dr. LaTerz is also a co-investigator with Dr. Kathryn Basham for the Post Deployment Transition Project that will provide couples therapy to veterans who are diagnosed with combat-related PTSD and their partners.
Dr. LaTerz retired from the Boston Public School system where her last position was Senior Curriculum Coordinator in the Office of High School Renewal. During her 35 years working in the Boston Public Schools, Dr. LaTerz taught at the elementary level, was a guidance advisor and an administrator in a substantially separate program for middle and high school adolescents, worked as a team leader for special needs students and was a school social worker at the elementary, middle and high school levels. She holds an M.S. Ed.D. and CAGS in counseling education from Suffolk University. Dr. LaTerz received her Ed.D. from Northeastern University, Boston, MA and her MSW from Smith College School for Social Work.
Adjunct Associate Professor and Coordinator of Community Practice
Fred Newdom coordinates the Community Practice Project as well as the foundation Social Policy and Agency and Community Practice course at the Smith College School for Social Work. He also serves as a research advisor, working with students whose thesis topics relate to anti-racism, social policy, and/or social justice. He teaches the foundation social policy course as well as electives on Grant Writing and Lobbying and Clinical Work and Social Action. With his late Smith colleague, Jerry Sachs, he is author of Clinical Work and Social Action: An Integrative Approach (Haworth Press).
His work outside of Smith is based in Albany, New York, where for over 20 years he has maintained a consulting practice focused on work with advocacy groups. His roles include lobbyist, trainer, organizer, writer and researcher. Prior to coming to Smith he was executive director of the New York State Chapter of NASW for ten years. Earlier in his career, he worked in a settlement house as a community organizer and in residential services for children.
His volunteer work in the profession includes terms as chair of NASW's Committee on Peace and Social Justice and its National Committee on Nominations and Leadership Identification. He also served on NASW's national Government Relations Committee and chaired the same committee for the New York State chapter, where he also chaired its Political Action Committee. In addition, he was national chair of the Social Welfare Action Alliance for ten years and still serves on its steering committee. Professor Newdom is also a consulting editor for the Journal of Poverty and the Journal of Progressive Human Services. In the broader community, he has served on numerous boards, including that of Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice New York (which he chaired for five years), the Saratoga Foundation for Women Worldwide, and Music Mobile, an Albany-based organization dedicated to building peaceful communities through music (whose board he currently chairs.)
Last updated 2/18/09. |
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