Associate Professor, MSW Program Director
University Hall 3150
(205) 996-5145
Research and Teaching Interests: Social determinants of health, diversity and social justice, international social work, research methods, and program evaluation
Office Hours: M 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Education:
- BS, Central Michigan University, Social Work & Psychology
- MSW, Michigan State University, Social Work
- PhD, Washington University in St. Louis, Social Work
Colleen Fisher’s research focuses on health disparities, both domestic and in the Global South, examining the individual, cultural, and structural factors that promote or hinder health and wellbeing among marginalized populations. Her current studies investigate victimization and minority stress experienced by sexual- and gender-minority individuals; pathways to wellbeing for HIV-positive single mothers living in extreme poverty in Kenya; and the development of participant-driven interventions. Her methodological work explores the use of participatory and capacity-building evaluation approaches, innovative measurement strategies to enhance retrospective data quality, and translation and dissemination of health disparity research findings to the non-academic public.
Dr. Fisher has taught at the graduate and undergraduate levels, including courses on research methods, program evaluation, practice with diverse populations, social justice, and study abroad. Her teaching scholarship focuses on innovative pedagogy and emerging practices to engage students and enhance learning both in and out of the classroom, including learning abroad, service-learning, and education on evidence-based practice.
Currently, Dr. Fisher serves on the board of the International Consortium for Social Development, the editorial board for the Journal of LGBT Youth, and CSWE’s Macro Practice Task Force. She has served as Chair of the Board of Managers for Social Development Issues journal since 2015.
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Recent Courses
- Health and Community-Driven Development in Guatemala
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Select Publications
- Fisher, C., Woodford, M., Gartner, R., Sterzing, P. & Victor, B. (2018). Advancing Research on LGBTQ Microaggressions: A Psychometric Scoping Review of Measures. Journal of Homosexuality. DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2018.1539581
- Sterzing, P., Gartner, R., Woodford, M. & Fisher, C. (2017). Sexual orientation, gender, and gender identity microaggressions: Toward an intersectional framework for social work research. Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 26(1-2), 81-94. DOI: 10.1080/15313204.2016.1263819
- Fisher, C. & Grettenberger, S. (2015). Community-based participatory study abroad: A model for Social Work education. Journal of Social Work Education, 51(3), 566-582. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2015.1046342
- Burton, V., Fisher, C., Jonson, C.L. & Cullen, F. (2014). Confronting the collateral consequences of a criminal conviction: A special challenge for social work with offenders. Journal of Forensic Social Work, 4(2), 80-103. DOI: 10.1080/1936928X.2014.940565
- Fisher, C., Lee, M., Chung, C. & Center, B. (2014). Adolescent HIV risk: Within- and between-person patterns over time. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 5(1), 79-105. doi: 10.1086/675849
- Fisher, C., Lee, M. & Boudreau, M. (2014). Using mixed-method assessment to advance adolescent HIV prevention. Clinical Nursing Research, 23(5), 490-513. doi: 10.1177/1054773813503968
- Fisher, C., Simmelink, J., Dimock, P., & Rohovit, J. (2014). Provider preparedness for treatment of co-occurring disorders: Comparison of social workers and alcohol and drug counselors. Social Work Education, 33(5), 626-641. DOI: 10.1080/02615479.2014.919074
- Fisher, C. & Lee, M. (2014). Comparison of adolescents' reports of sexual behavior on a survey and Sexual Health History Calendar. The Journal of Sex Research, 51(7), 777-787. DOI:10.1080/00224499.2013.782482
- Fisher, C. & Boudreau, M. (2014). Assessing Recent Adolescent Sexual Risk Using a Sexual Heath History Calendar: Results from a Mixed Method Feasibility Study. Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, 25(3), 269-275. DOI: 10.1016/j.jana.2012.06.011
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Academic Distinctions and Professional Societies
- International Consortium for Social Development, Board Member
- Society for Social Work and Research, Fellow
- Council on Social Work Education
- Association for Community Organization and Social Administration
- International Association of Schools of Social Work
- International Federation of Social Workers
- American Evaluation Association
- Global Institute of Social Work