Ginneh L. Akbar, MSW, DSW, LSW
Program Director, Department Chair, Associate Professor
Anderson Hall 403a
610-738-0353
gakbar@wcupa.edu
Curriculum Vitae
Degrees
- BA, Social Work: University of Maryland, Baltimore County
- MSW: Temple University
- DSW: University of Pennsylvania
Main areas of interest
- Child welfare social work
- Social work and social media
Inspiration
I come from a very human services-oriented family. My parents had a professional commitment to service and social justice. Their professional values carried over into our home, which had open doors for anyone in need. From friends in transition, to family members down on their luck, to long-lost cousins in town for college, there were always people living with us. Because of the spirit of acceptance and support I was accustomed to at home, a career in social work was a natural fit for me.
My commitment to my education and the profession was challenged when my brother was tragically killed during my senior year of college. If it had not been for the amazing and supportive group of professors around me, I would not have made it through. With the support of the staff and faculty at my undergraduate institution, I was able to complete school and apply to an MSW program. If it were not for the people who rallied around me, it’s likely that I would not be here today.
Because of my experiences, it’s my charge to make my personal and professional time relevant and significant. West Chester is a good place for that because the school's values align well with my teaching philosophy. WCU genuinely cares, and it comes through in every facet of student interaction. I truly believe that you never know what you’re capable of until you’re in it, and my life experiences are just one example of that. As a faculty member in the MSW Program, I'm honored to teach and support WCU students as they go through their own personal journeys.
Child welfare social work
I am committed to improving the welfare of children in metropolitan areas. My clinical practice experience has been primarily with children and families, and my doctoral dissertation focused on ethics in child welfare social work.
Presentation
- Akbar, G. (2015, November). Child welfare social work and client self-determination. Paper presented at WCU Research Day, West Chester, PA.
Publications
- Akbar, G. Child abuse and neglect: Issues in child welfare. Manuscript in progress.
- Akbar, G. Child welfare social work and the promotion of client self-determination. Manuscript in progress.
Social work and social media
One of social work's core values and primary ethical principles is social justice. Social media create low-cost opportunities to disseminate massive amounts of information and organize large audiences. I developed an elective course, Social Media and Social Movements, to highlight how social media can impact social change.
Presentations
- Akbar, G. (2016, November). Using social media to pique student interest in social movements. Paper presented at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Atlanta, GA.
- Ezell, A., & Akbar, G. (2016, October). Social work, social media, and social movements. Presentation at the meeting of the National Association of Social Workers-Pennsylvania Chapter, King of Prussia, PA.
- Akbar, G. (2016, April). Using social media to pique student interest in social justice and social policy. Paper presented at the meeting of the Pennsylvania Chapter - National Association for Multicultural Education, West Chester, PA.
- Akbar, G., & Ezell, A. (2016, February). Using social media to pique student interest in social justice and social policy. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Association of African American Studies, Baton Rouge, LA.
Publication
- Akbar, G., & Mendez, N. Friend request? Social media and the therapeutic relationship. Manuscript in progress.
Additional areas of research
Presentation
- Holbrook, A.M., & Akbar, G. (2016, November). Incorporating environmental justice into social work education: A theoretical framework and application. Interactive workshop presented at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Atlanta, GA.