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Michele D. Hanna

Michele D. Hanna

Professor; Assoc Dean for DEI; Coordinator of Accreditation

michele.hanna@du.edu

303-871-3444 (Office)

Craig Hall, 2148 South High St. Denver, CO 80208

What I do

We have the potential to learn something new every day if we are willing to open ourselves to the world around us - we learn new facts, we learn different perspectives, we learn about each other, and, most importantly, we learn about ourselves. As a result, we grow, we change and we have impact.

Specialization(s)

child welfare, Foster Care, Adoption, culturally responsive practice, Racial & Ethnic Disproportionality & Disparities, higher education, race and ethnicity, Racial (in)justice, social justice

Professional Biography

Professor Michele Hanna joined the faculty at the University of Denver, Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) in 2005 where she has served as the Associate Dean for DEI (2021-2025) as well as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (2014-2018). Currently, Dr. Hanna is the Editor in Chief of the Journal on Social Work Education. Dr. Hanna's research focuses on child welfare, foster care, and adoption as well as issues related to diversity equity, and inclusion.

Since 2017, Dr. Hanna has been the Principal Investigator for the CLIMB Stipend Programs, federally funded (HRSA) training grants that provide stipends to students pursuing a career in Integrated Behavioral Health or OUD/SUD prevention, treatment, or recovery, seeking to expand the healthcare workforce in Colorado and the Four Corners region, focusing on medically underserved communities. Dr. Hanna teaches social work courses on cultural and linguistic competency, power, privilege, and oppression, systemic disproportionality and disparities and critical race theory. Dr. Hanna is the first editor and contributing author to the 2021 child welfare test book entitled Introduction to Child Welfare: Building a Culturally Responsive, Multisystemic, Evidence-Based Approach (Cognella Publishing).

Degree(s)

  • Ph.D., Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin, 2005
  • MSW, University of Oklahoma, 1999
  • BSW, Social Work, Catawba College, 1982

Licensure / Accreditations

  • Qualified Administrator

Professional Affiliations

  • Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
  • Society for Social Work Research (SSWR)

Media Sources

Key Projects

  • CLIMB@DU
  • Denver's Village: Wrapping Families with Community Support

Featured Publications

Hanna, M. D., Fong, R., Rolock, N., & McRoy, R. (Eds.). (2020). Introduction to child welfare: Building a culturally responsive, multisystemic, evidence-based approach. San Diego, CA: Cognella Academic.
Hanna, M. D., Tokarski, K., Matera, D. R., & Fong, R. (2011). Happily ever after? The journey from foster care to adoption. Adoption Quarterly, 14(2), 107-131.
Hanna, M. D., & McRoy, R. G. (2011). Innovative practice approaches to matching in adoption. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 5(1), 107-131.

Presentations

Hanna, M. D., Yang, J. L., & Fong, R. (2016). In whose best interest? Examining counter narratives of race embedded in adoption policy. . The Ninth Biennial Adoption Initiative Conference. Montclair NJ: St. John's University.
Hanna, M. D., Tokarski, K., Matera, D., & Fong, R. (2010). Happily ever after? The journey from foster care to adoptio. The Many Faces of Adoption in Today's World. Third International Conference on Adoption Research (ICAR3). Leiden, the Netherlands.
Hanna, M. D., Boyce, E. R., & Mulligan, D. (2013). Residential Treatment and Adoption: The Adoptive Parent Perspective. 2013 International Conference on Adoption Research: ICAR4. Bilbao Spain.
Hanna, M. D., & Potter, C. (2012). MOR to less. Courts catalyzing change benchcard training. Colorado History Center: Denver, CO.
Hanna, M. D. (2011). Privilege monopoly: An innovative teaching tool. Pedagogy of Privilege: Transformational Education, Learning, Research, & Practice . Denver, CO.

Awards

  • Excellence in Teaching Award, Graduate School of Social Work
  • Kay M. Stevenson Faculty Citizenship Award, Graduate School of Social Work