Stephen E. Kauffman

Stephen E. Kauffman, PhD, MSW

  • Professor

Affiliated Programs

Education

  • PhD, Social Work (1991)
    Bryn Mawr College (PA)
  • MSW, Social Work (1987)
    Washington University in St. Louis (MO)
  • BA, Religious Studies (1982)
    Sewanee--University of the South (TN)

About Me

I have taught community practice, program evaluation, research, and policy at Widener since 1991. I earned my PhD from Bryn Mawr College and my MSW from Washington University in St. Louis. I have more than 20 years of research and program evaluation experience. I have developed and implemented a large number of evaluations, including two federal HOPE VI programs, Century 21 school performance studies in the Chester-Upland School District, teenage pregnancy prevention program, mental health services, and a lead abatement program.

The programs (and evaluations) have received funding from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the state of Pennsylvania, and several private foundations. My specific research skills include evaluation design, project oversight, and the use of advanced statistical methods, including multi-variate modeling using both linear and nonlinear techniques. My research areas include community change strategies and the social impacts of environmental degradation.

Research Interests

My research areas include community change strategies and the social impacts of environmental degradation. More specifically, I am working on a model to enhance citizen involvement in community change efforts. I also am examining ways that citizens can work together to address community problems such as crime.

Media Expertise

  • Poverty
  • Environmental racism and impacts on communities
  • Social welfare history and policy
  • Ideology, religion and effects on policy
  • Civic-engagement by universities
  • Volunteering
  • Environmental and community development issues
  • Poverty 
  • Environmental racism and impacts on communities
  • Social welfare history and policy
  • Ideology, religion and effects on policy

Publications

  • Greene, R., Goldberg-Glen, R.S., Kauffman, S., & Stein, E. (2021).
    Older Adult Resilience in the Face of the COVID 19 pandemic:
    Teaching social work curriculum through research.
    Journal of Social Work Education. DC: CSWE. (Submitted).

  • Kauffman, S. (2020). Policy practice: How policy is made.. Chapter 11 of  Poulin, J., (Ed.), Social Work Practice: A Competency-Based Approach. Pacific  Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole, an imprint of  Wadsworth Group, a division of  Thompson Learning, Inc. 

  • Kauffman, S. (2020). Policy practice: How to conduct policy practice. Chapter 12 of  Poulin, J., (Ed.), Social Work Practice: A Competency-Based Approach. Pacific  Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole, an imprint of Wadsworth Group, a division of  Thompson Learning, Inc. 

  • Kauffman, S. & Barnett, M. (2019).  Intervening with Clients; Organizations and  Communities. Chapter in Poulin, Matis & Witt The Social Work Field Placement:  A Competency Based Approach. New York: Springer. 

  • Kauffman, S., & Barnett, M. (2018). Mezzo assessment: Organizations and communities. In J. Poulin, S. Matis & H. Witt, The Social Work Field Placement: A Competency-Based Approach (pp-259-284). New York: Springer Publishing. 

  • Kauffman, S., & Barnett, M. (2018). Mezzo interventions: Organizations and communities. In J. Poulin, S. Matis & H. Witt, The Social Work Field Placement: A Competency-Based Poulin, S. Matis & H. Witt, The Social Work Field Placement: A Competency-Based Approach (pp305-330-). New York: Springer Publishing. Approach (pp305-330-). New York: Springer Publishing. 

  • Gilin, B., & Kauffman, S. (in press). Strategies for teaching about trauma to social work students. Journal of Teaching in Social Work.

  • Kauffman, S. (2012). Using Web 2.0 for tracking and assessing the impacts of civic engagement activities. Metropolitan Universities, 23(2), 107–128.

  • Poulin, J., Silver, P., & Kauffman, S. (2006). Field notes: Serving the community and training social workers: Service outputs and student outcomes. Journal of Social Work Education, 42(1), 171–184.

Awards

  • Teagle Foundation Scholar (2012)
  • Academic Service-Learning Faculty Development Program Fellow (2010)
  • Phi Alpha Honor Society (2007)

In the Media

Noteworthy

  • Widener Commends Faculty at 2023 Awards Event

    Widener honored faculty members for their high distinction in areas of civic engagement, institutional leadership, research, as well as innovative and distinguished teaching. Various faculty were awarded at the ceremony, held Thursday, October 19 in Lathem Hall.

    “The professors who were honored at our annual awards ceremony continuously display commitment to teaching, civic engagement, meaningful research, remarkable leadership, and cutting-edge innovation. They are highly valued colleagues and represent core values for which Widener stands," said Provost Andrew Workman. 

    The awards included:

    • The Distinguished University Professor Award honors faculty members of high distinction at the University who also demonstrate the institution is committed to recognizing excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service throughout faculty members’ careers. This year's recipients were College of Health and Human Services Professor, Stephen E. Kauffman as well as College of Arts and Sciences Professor, Alexis A. Nagengast.
    • College of Arts and Sciences Professor Dana Olanoff was awarded with the Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award. This award is given to a faculty member who has exemplified a history of teaching at the highest level of distinction. It is endowed by the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation, a Philadelphia-based foundation that provides grants to institutions of higher education for the promotion of excellence in teaching.
    • The Faculty Award for Civic Engagement serves to recognize the outstanding contributions that faculty members have made in accordance with Widener’s civic engagement mission, as well as solidifying Widener students’ understanding of their social responsibilities, and the impact of their disciplinary learning. This year's recipients included faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences: Associate Professor Angela M. Corbo, Professor J. Wesley Leckrone, and Associate Dean of Social Science and Professor James E. Vike.
    • College of Arts and Sciences Associate Professor Michael Toneff was awarded the Outstanding Researcher Award. This award gives recognition to a faculty member who has participated in research and scholarship nationally or internationally, and made a significant contribution through their research, while advancing their profession or discipline as well as the university’s mission and vision.
    • The Fitz Dixon Innovation in Teaching Award highlights an individual who has designed, implemented, and assessed an innovative or experimental teaching and learning project. This award was presented to College of Arts and Sciences Associate Professor Janice Krumm.
    • The Faculty Institutional Leadership Award recognizes a record of leading initiatives that further the university’s vision, mission, and strategic objectives. This year’s award recipients were College of Health and Human Services Associate Professor Marina Barnett, who is also interim assistant provost for civic engagement, and College of Arts and Sciences Associate Professor Bretton Alvare.

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