Carolyn Jacobs, M.S.W., Ph.D.
Dean and Elizabeth Marting Treuhaft Professor
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Office: Lilly Hall Rm 207 |  |
Phone: (413) 585-7977 |
Dr. Jacobs is the dean and Elizabeth Marting Treuhaft Professor and the director of the Contemplative Clinical Practice Advanced Certificate Program at the Smith College School for Social Work. She has taught primarily within the research and practice sequences. Her areas of professional interest include religion and spirituality in social work clinical practice and organizational behavior. She has written and presented extensively on the topic of spirituality in social work. In 2001 she was elected to the National Academies of Practice as a distinguished social work practitioner.
Jacobs received her B.A. from Sacramento State University, her M.S.W. from San Diego State University, her doctorate from the Heller School of Brandeis University, and her training as a spiritual director from the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation. She maintains a spiritual direction practice.
Education
Ph.D., The Heller School, Brandeis University
M.S.W., San Diego State University
B.A., Sacramento State University
Professional Interests
- Religion and spirituality in social work practice
- Social work research and statistics
Area of Current Research
- Spirituality and social work clinical practice
Professional Leadership
2011-present: Board of Trustees, Naropa University. Boulder, Colorado
2011-present: Advisory Council for Health, Fetzer Institute. Kalamazoo, Michigan
2010-present: Contemplative Mind in Society, Board of Directors, Chair
2009-2012: External Reviewer, Master's Program, University of Hong Kong. Hong Kong
2009-present: Board of Trustees, Elms College. Chicopee, Massachusetts
2007–present: Advisory Committee, Association for Contemplative Mind in Higher Education
2005–present: Board of Directors, The Lathrop Community, Inc.
Selected Recent Publications
Jacobs, C. (2010). Exploring religion and spirituality in clinical practice. Smith College Studies in Social Work, 80(2-3). New York: Taylor & Francis.
Jacobs, C. (Ed.) (2010). Smith College Studies in Social Work, 80(2-3). New York: Taylor & Francis.
Jacobs, C. (2007). "Race, ethnicity, and class: A conversation with Hilda Ryumon Gutiérrez Baldoquín, Sharon Suh, and Arinna Weisman, moderated by Carolyn Jacobs" in (Eds.) Gregory, P. N. and Mrozik, S., Women practicing Buddhism: American experiences. Somerville, MA: Wisdom Publications.
Jacobs, C. (2007). Spiritual Development. In Lesser, J. G. & Pope, D. S. (Eds.), Human Behavior in the Social Environment. Chapter 8 188-203. VT: Allyn and Bacon.
Jacobs, C. (2006). Transformation and Kaleidoscope Memories. Smith College Studies in Social Work, 76 (4).
Jacobs, C. (2004). Spirituality and end-of-life care practice for social workers. In Berzoff, J. & Silverman, P.R. (Eds.). Living with dying: a textbook on end-of-life care for social work. NY: Columbia University Press.
Jacobs, C. (February, 2004). Spiritually-centered therapy. In Dorfman, R. & Morgan, M. (Eds.), Paradigms of clinical social work: Focus on diversity (Vol. 3). NY: Taylor and Francis.
Selected Recent Presentations
May 7, 2011: Embracing vulnerability: Guidelines for a contemplative clinical practice. Meditation and Psychotherapy: Helping Our Patients, Helping Ourselves. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
April 13, 2011: Spirituality and end-of-life care. Panel member, 18th Annual Living With Grief® Program, Hospice Foundation of America, Washington, DC.
May 3-6, 2010: Thin places and professional boundaries: Exploring the intersection of spirituality and social work. Continuing education course, The Iona Community, Glasgow, Scotland.
January 15, 2009: Spirituality: Implications for transforming social work education and practice. Keynote speaker, Symposium on Spirituality and Clinical Social Work Education and Work, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
October 23, 2008: Spiritual and religious diversity and its negotiation in social work education and clinical practice. Sofia, Bulgaria.
July 18, 2008: Spirituality in social work practice: Passing fad or transformative presence? Smith College School for Social Work 90th Anniversary Celebration, Northampton, MA.
June 26, 2008: The response of schools of social work to the return of uniformed service members and their families. Workshop for Combat Stress: Understanding the Challenges, Preparing for the Return, Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, MA.
