Brandi Armstrong
Brandi has nearly 20 years of professional experience in a variety of settings providing services to individuals and families. She is a LMSW in the State of Missouri. Her clinical experiences include recovery treatment, serious mental illness (inpatient and outpatient), and supervision of case managers in a community-based program.
Teaching experience
- General Sociology (undergrad)
- General Psychology (undergrad)
- Lifespan Development (undergrad)
- Generalist Practice with Groups and Families (MSW course)
- Practice III: Advanced Generalist Practice with Groups (MSW course)
- Advanced Policy and Social Justice (MSW course)
- Advanced Social Work Field Practicum and Seminar II (MSW course – served as a field liaison)
Research interests
Her research interests and experience include social network methodology and analysis; dissemination and adoption of harm reduction philosophy and services in the U.S. – related to both substance use recovery and firearm violence; collaboration with indigenous communities to utilize these methods and promote the health and well-being of indigenous communities.
Caitlin Bartley
Caitlin Bartley is an MSW with a passion for intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) research. During undergrad at Lincoln University, Caitlin double majored in psychology and social work. She completed psychology internships with the Special Learning Center and the Boys & Girls Club of the Capital City. Her BSW practicum was with Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, where she assisted with policy research to increase the quality of services to local domestic violence agencies and their clients. Caitlin graduated from Lincoln University with a BSW and a B.S. in Psychology in 2015. Caitlin began the MSW program at the MU School of Social Work in 2016, concentrating on Policy, Planning, and Administration. She completed her MSW practicum with the Missouri Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), where she worked in the Federal Programs Unit. Since completing the MSW program in 2017, Caitlin has worked in DDD’s Quality Enhancement Unit as the National Core Indicators (NCI) Project Coordinator. Caitlin is pursuing her Ph.D. to gain research skills and experience. She is interested in researching how to support the quality of life of individuals with IDD, specifically in relation to independence and choice.
MacKenzie Dallenbach
MacKenzie is a current MSW/PhD graduate student. During her time at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), MacKenzie double majored in social work and psychology, with a certificate in conflict resolution. MacKenzie’s primary research focus is in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal behaviors. MacKenzie is currently interested in social and environmental factors of NSSI. In the future, MacKenzie plans to shift her research to studying intervention and programming for NSSI in educational settings.
Kasey Hammock
Kasey Hammock owns a nonprofit consulting firm, Partner for Better. She has experience working in nonprofit leadership, early childhood education, and with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She has a BSW and MPA from Mizzou. Her research interests include: early childhood education, child welfare, social service organizational outcomes, organizational decision making, and employee wellbeing.
Odongo Attoh Douglas
Odongo Attoh Douglas is currently a PhD candidate at the School of Social Work, University of Missouri, Columbia—USA. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, and an MPhil. in Sociology from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. His research interest is in addressing marginalization for vulnerable groups, especially in urban centers. He has publications on intellectual disabilities and healthcare, urban streets and education, and still working on others.
Melanie Ramos-Green
Education
- MA in Clinical Psychology, University of Missouri, 2009
- BS in Psychology, Wayne State University, 2003
- Hon BSc in Neuroscience, University of Toronto, 1999
Research interests
- Treatment and program efficacy for ethnic or transgender/gender minority individuals
- Adherence to Trauma-Informed Care protocol
- DBT treatment adaptations
Rebekah Stanfast
Rebekah E. Stanfast (MSW, LCSW) is a PhD student with University of Missouri School of Social Work. She is currently a parttime student in her third year of study. Her research interests include Substance Use Disorders, Healthcare Systems and Health Disparities, and Hospital Readmission Rates. Specific theoretical frameworks include Ecological Systems Theory and Transtheoretical Model. Given her interests in the field of healthcare many of Rebekah’s courses have been with the School of Nursing and School of Public Health providing a wide range of perspectives and opportunities for learning during her time as a PhD student. She currently serves as the Doctoral Program Committee Student Representative.
Rebekah graduated from University of Missouri with her BSW in 2011 and MSW in 2013. She completed her LCSW certification in 2015 and is now a Clinical Supervisor able to provide clinical supervision for LMSWs. She has practice experience working with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and groups as a mental health and substance use counselor in an outpatient, inpatient, and telehealth basis. Currently, she works fulltime at University of Missouri Hospital as a Behavioral Health Social Worker. Rebekah has experience in teaching and lecturing both as a student and in her professional life. Teaching and leadership experience include serving on multiple committees and quality improvement projects developing curriculum for students, staff, and employees to best meet the needs of the population served within the agency.
Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor is a doctoral student in the MSW/Ph.D. joint degree program within the Mizzou School of Social Work. Her broad research interests include criminal and juvenile justice, treatment for co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders within corrections, specialized treatment courts, trauma-informed care, and evidenced-based social policy. She is currently working as a graduate research assistant for the Prison Research and Innovation Network (PRIN) and is completing an advanced practicum with the Division of Offender Rehabilitative Services within the Missouri Department of Corrections. Originally from Texas, Elizabeth earned a Bachelor’s in Sociology with a minor in society and health from the University of Mississippi and a Master’s in Sociology from the University of Missouri. She currently serves on the board of the Columbia Foster and Adoption Project and is a member of Phi Alpha, Phi Beta Kappa, and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Societies.