Research
Research Fellows
▶ Academic Profile
Prof. Buttell's main research interest involves understanding the causes and consequences of family violence, with a particular emphasis on Intimate Partner Violence, and he has more than 100 peer-reviewed publications in that field. His most recent publications explore the relationship between IPV and disasters. He has been active in program development while at Tulane and has developed and administered three new degrees programs in his time there: an undergraduate program in Social Policy & Practice (in partnership with the School of Liberal Arts); a Ph.D. program in City, Community & Culture, conferring degrees in Social Work, Sociology & Urban Studies (in partnership with the Schools of Liberal Arts and Architecture); and the Doctorate in Social Work.
▶ Academic Profile
Prof. Pullen Sansfaçon is a lecturer at the School of Social Work at the Université de Montréal and holds the Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Partnership Research and Empowerment of Vulnerable Youth. She co-directs the Interdisciplinary Research Center on Intersectional Justice, Decolonization, and Equity (CRI-JaDE) and leads a multidisciplinary research team focused on transgender youth and their families in Quebec. Her research explores how social structures impact the well-being of trans and gender-diverse youth, especially those facing multiple forms of marginalization. Using anti-oppressive and gender-affirming approaches, she develops participatory methods that support empowerment and social change. Prof. Pullen Sansfaçon earned her PhD in Ethics and Social Work from De Montfort University.
▶ Academic Profile
Dr. Pascal Rudin is a multifaceted professional combining expertise in social work, particularly in child protection and social development, with engineering and IT. With over two decades of experience in both Social Work and the IT industry, he holds a PhD in Social Work, alongside degrees in International Childhood Studies, Electrical Engineering & Communication Technology, and Business Administration. His skill set enables him to advocate effectively for children’s rights at the international level, including serving as a representative to the United Nations. Dr Rudin’s advocacy focuses on critical areas such as education, family, and mental health, aiming to foster sustainable and equitable societies. In his political engagements, he provides advice to various bodies, including the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Committee on the Rights of the Child, and the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health. His contributions seek to infuse discussions with Social Work perspectives, ensuring comprehensive approaches to policymaking.
As the head of global operations at IFSW, Dr. Rudin has leveraged his passion for IT to drive social impact. During the challenging times of the 2020 pandemic, he spearheaded the design and development of IT platforms that facilitated the participation of over 20,000 individuals worldwide in the General Assembly and the World Conference. With his work, he illustrates the powerful synergy between technology and social engagement aimed at creating positive change in the world.
▶ Academic Profile
Prof. O’Donoghue has over twenty-five years of experience in Tertiary Education, having specialised in Social Work Theory and Practice and Professional Supervision. He is the Chair of the School of Social Work at Massey University, Aotearoa New Zealand. His interests include practice-based research and the evaluation of processes and outcomes in social work and professional supervision practice.
▶ Academic Profile
Prof. Peace Wong graduated with a PhD from National University of Singapore (NUS) 2014. She specializes in social work supervision, youthwork and field education. She excels in her teaching and was awarded the Faculty Teaching Excellence Awards (FTEA) yearly from 2014-2022. In addition, she was awarded Annual Teaching Excellence Award (ATEA) in 2017/18 and 2018/19 & 2022 and was placed on the Honours Roll (2023). She enjoys teaching and has joined the NUS Teaching Academy to contribute her service in education development.
Prior to joining NUS, Prof. Peace Wong worked at the government and social service sector in management, direct service, as well as research to enhance social work practice with children and youths, as well as their families. At present, she actively serves the community through her involvement in the Advisory Board and Discharge Committee & Independent Review Panel (IRP) with MSF, SHINE Children & Youth Service, Counselling & Care Centre, Singapore Association of Social Workers (SASW), Fei Yue Community Services – Advisory Committee for Research (ACR) and Student Advisory Committee with a primary school. She was awarded the Friend of MSF Award in 2019, which is presented to individual volunteers or organisations which have made significant contributions to committees or projects under the purview of MSF. She was awarded the Outstanding Social Worker Award (OSWA) in 2023, which is the highest award to social workers conferred by the President of the Republic of Singapore. It aims to recognize the outstanding contributions made by dedicated social workers in Singapore. The award acknowledges their passion and professional contributions to the improvement of the social service and healthcare sectors.
▶ Academic Profile
Prof. Rudi Roose is the Chair of the Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy at Ghent University. He is the editor in chief European Journal of Social Work together with Jochen Devlieghere. His research areas include youth care in Social Work and Social Welfare Studies.
▶ Academic Profile
Dr. Hakan Acar completed his PhD at Hacettepe University (Turkey) School of Social Work in 2006. He worked as executive member of IFSW Europe e.V. (International Federation of Social Workers, European Region) (2012-2015) and EASSW (European Association of School of Social Work) (2015-2019). His research interests include street children, child labor, child protection systems, social work values and ethics, youth policy, poverty, and social work education.
▶ Academic Profile
Prof. Ferreira is a globally recognized leader in disaster resilience, social work, and community development. As Director of Tulane University’s Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy and Executive Director of the Consortium for Emergent Disaster Resilience, he has shaped the field through visionary research, program innovation, and strategic partnerships.
A tenured Full Professor of Social Work at Tulane University in New Orleans, Prof. Ferreira has built a distinguished academic and professional career spanning more than two decades. He earned his BSW and master’s degree in Disaster Risk Management (cum laude) from the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa, and his Ph.D. in Social Work (Dean’s Citation) from the University of Louisville. Since joining Tulane’s faculty in 2013, he has been instrumental in developing and launching pioneering programs, including assisting with Tulane’s Doctor of Social Work and MS in Disaster Resilience Leadership, and a dual degree in Masters of Social Work and MS in Disaster Resilience Leadership, which have become models for interdisciplinary training in the field. Prof. Ferreira is the former Chief Editor of the American Psychological Association’s Traumatology journal, where he advanced scholarship on resilience practices among trauma-affected populations, contributing to the journal’s first impact factor of 3.2.
His research portfolio reflects a sustained commitment to addressing the complex intersections of resilience, disaster risk, climate change, and behavioral health, with fieldwork spanning Europe, Africa, North America, the Caribbean, and Asia. He has secured and led initiatives totaling over $45 million in funding from federal agencies and major foundations, advancing the practice of disaster risk reduction and resilience. Prof. Ferreira has authored more than 100 journal articles, book chapters, and abstracts, and his expertise is frequently sought by prominent media outlets, including CNN, Rolling Stone, Voice of America, TIME, HBO/VICE, The Atlantic, Fox, Fox News, NBC, NBC News, CBS, ABC, Reuters, Medscape, NPR, Futurity, ScienceDaily, USA Today, Inside Climate News, Globo, and Psychology Today. His leadership extends to service on numerous national and international advisory committees, including the National Academies of Science, the American Red Cross, and the Global Resilience Partnership.
Recognized for both his academic contributions and his commitment to mentorship, Prof. Ferreira has received multiple awards for excellence in teaching. Originally from Bloemfontein, South Africa he remains dedicated to building the next generation of leaders who will strengthen resilience worldwide.
Emeritus Professors
▶ Academic Profile
Qualifications
- BA (Social Work) [Stellenbosch University]
- MA (Social Work) [Stellenbosch University]
- PhD (Social Work) [Stellenbosch University]
Practice Experience
Social worker in child and family welfare; community worker; social work supervisor.
Fields of Research Specialisation
- Social development
- Child and family welfare services
- Child abuse and neglect, child protection; family preservation services, family support services, foster care, adoption; family counselling
- The impact of a neoliberal discourse on child and family welfare services
- Social work education: Practice education