Research and Statistics for Social Workers

Thomas Lawson, PhD, is Professor and Director of the International Studies Program at the Kent School of Social Work at the University of Louisville. He consults globally with scientific academies, universities, governmental agencies and international organizations with regard to social work education, and issues concerning social and health policy. He serves as a scientific reviewer for publications of the Institute for Political Science of the Hungarian Academy of Science. He holds honorary doctorates and professorships from universities in China, Russia and Hungary, is a Fellow of the University of Applied Sciences, Munich, Germany and awarded the Order of Merit Knight's Cross by the President of Hungary. Dr. Lawson teaches Comparative International Social Policy at the MSSW and BSW level, and doctoral classes in research, statistics and theory. Dr. Lawson is a retired Army Social Work Officer who developed and is the coordinator of the Military Social Work Specialization.

Anna Faul, PhD, is Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the Kent School of Social Work at the Univesity of Louisville. Dr. Faul is a Hartford Faculty Scholar, and she has published numerous articles and book chapters on various research topics over the years, ranging from child welfare, measurement issues in social work, women and diversity issues, gerontology and health disparities. During Dr. Faul's time at the University of Louisville she has received various awards, namely Outstanding Faculty Award, Provost Award for Faculty Advising and the Distinguished Educator Achievement Award from the Kentucky Association for Gerontology.

A.N. Verbist MSSW, completed his doctoral studies at the University of Louisville in the fall of 2018. His practice background is in foster care and residential treatment. His research interests are centered on child welfare; he is currently investigating the role of standardized assessments in evidence-based treatment decision-making.