Innovation Matters
A Message from the Dean
Here in the West, we have seen record high temperatures and raging wildfires, displaced
and divided communities, and spikes in COVID cases as the Delta variant spreads.
The challenges we are facing are varied and demanding, and over the last year, we’ve
all been forced to think differently about the world and our place within it. This
issue contains stories of my University of Utah colleagues who are continuing to do
just that. I invite you to join them; to continue to trouble and evolve your own
views; to come together and collaborate—with those within and outside our profession—to
address our most pressing issues.
— Martell Teasley, PhD, MSW
Dean & Professor
Innovation Now
Experiencing Nature Virtually Anywhere
Two professors explore the intersection of technology, nature connectedness, and advocacy.
A Curious Look into the Futures
Using a futurist framework, Dr. Jaehee Yi and the first cohort of the Social Work Health Futures Lab consider possible futures (plural) for the profession.
Tailoring a Better Fit for Justice-Involved Girls
University and community partners work together to create sustainable program improvements for a responsive-support youth program.