CEU: PhD Evening of Scholarship

This signature annual event showcases the innovative research and scholarly pursuits of select doctoral candidates in Widener University's PhD Program in Social Work. Designed to foster intellectual exchange and professional growth, the forum highlights emerging inquiries in social work practice, policy, and education. Each presentation offers a unique lens into the candidate’s evolving research, with an emphasis on its relevance to contemporary social work challenges.

Recognizing the rich diversity of the audience—which includes fellow doctoral students, Widener faculty, alumni, and field instructors—presenters are encouraged to explore the practical implications of their work across micro, mezzo, and macro levels of practice. The event culminates in a dynamic discussion that bridges academic inquiry with real-world application, promoting dialogue around the future directions of the profession.

Event Details:

• Open to: Students, faculty, and current Widener field instructors
• When: January 20, 6 pm - 8 pm
• Where: Online, in-person location TBD
• Registration: Registration coming soon!

CEU events and CEUs are free for current Widener students, faculty, and field instructors. Widener alumni need to pay $10; everyone else, $25. Payment will be collected at the end of the event. After the event, you will be emailed your certificate.

About the presenters: 
Dr. Margo Campbell, PhD, MSS, MLSP is an Associate Professor of Social Work and Director of PhD Social Work Education at Widener University. She received her Masters of Social Service (Social Work) and Masters of Law and Social Policy (MLSP) along with her Ph.D. from Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research. She has extensive research and evaluation experience with several national and community-based initiatives, and her current practice focuses on bridging the macro and micro elements of social work, concentrating on the impact of social welfare and other policies on people’s daily lives to guide future social work practice and policy.

Featured PHD Students: 

Maureen Bell, MSW, LSW 
Title: Imagining Beyond the Present: Using Foresight Tools in Anti-Racist Social Work Practice 

Maureen Bell, MSW, LSW, is the Coordinator of the Center for Engagement at Valley Youth House, where she supports belonging and organizational development initiatives and leads the agency’s Trauma Response Team. She has more than 15 years of experience in direct mental health services, street outreach, clinical research, program evaluation, and data analysis. Her professional background includes roles as a Clinical Team Lead at Community Research Foundation, an Outcomes Specialist at Valley Youth House, and a Research Coordinator at the University of Pennsylvania. Maureen holds both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work, having earned her MSW from West Chester University in 2021. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Social Work at Widener University. Her research interests include critical futures thinking and the use of foresight practices within social justice movements and social work education. 

Lanelle Quzack, MSW 
Title: Exploring Researchers' Perspectives on Integrating Decolonial Approaches in Community-Engaged Research Methodologies 

Lanelle Quzack, MSW, is a PhD Candidate in Social Work at Widener University, where her dissertation focuses on the intersection of community-engaged and decolonial research methods within social work research. She earned her Master of Social Work from West Chester University and her bachelor's degree in psychology from Millersville University. She brings experience in public health and health equity through her work at PolicyLab and Qualitative Research Core at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. In this role, she contributes to a range of projects with a strong policy and systems lens, supporting qualitative design, data collection, and analysis across initiatives aimed at improving community well-being. She finds the most fascinating projects are those that engage and empower community members, allowing their voices to shape the research process. 

Maura Farrell, MSS, LCSW, CAADC 
Title: The Application of Equine-Assisted Therapy with Families Impacted by Addiction 

Maura Farrell, MSS, LCSW, CAADC is a clinician, educator, and PhD Candidate at the Center for Social Work Education at Widener University. She received her Masters of Social Service (Social Work) from Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research. She has more than two decades of experience in trauma-informed care, addiction and recovery treatment, and holistic therapeutic approaches including Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy. In her private practice, she specializes in substance use disorder recovery, trauma, and grief and loss. Her current work centers on advancing SUD treatment through practice, program development, and research on the clinical applications of equine-assisted therapy. 

Miyah Campbell, MSW, LSW 
Title: Drill Music as a Lens: How Urban Youth Make Sense of Their Lived Realities. 

Miyah Campbell, MSW, LSW, is a medical social worker with Fresenius Medical Care. Miyah brings ten years of experience in social work, including work in inner-city school settings, inpatient psychiatric care, and medical social work. They are currently a PhD candidate at Widener University, where their research examines the intersection of music, violence, and identity among urban youth. Miyah integrates clinical practice and community-based experience into their research on youth violence prevention.