The 2014 Excellence in Teaching Award, Standing Faculty: Malitta Engstrom

Malitta Engstrom is the recipient of the 2014 Excellence in Teaching Award, standing faculty, School of Social Policy & Practice. She received her PhD with distinction, master of philosophy and master of science in social work from Columbia University; she received her bachelor of arts in women’s studies and educational studies (with honors) from Brown University. Dr. Engstrom’s research focuses on problematic substance use and its co-occurrence with victimization, HIV, incarceration and mental health concerns, particularly in relation to women and families and multigenerational social work practice with families. Her work has been funded by the Penn Center for AIDS Research, the National Institutes of Health, the John A. Hartford Foundation, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and other institutional sources. Dr. Engstrom has taught courses in social work practice that emphasize the pursuit of social work excellence in action for more than a decade.  She continues to be inspired by the students, colleagues and others with whom she works and is grateful to numerous students, colleagues, mentors, individuals and families who have contributed to and enriched her teaching, research and direct practice experiences.

The 2014 Excellence in Teaching Award, Non-standing Faculty: Cynthia Closs

Cynthia Closs is the recipient of the 2014 Excellence in Teaching Award, non-standing faculty, School of Social Policy & Practice. Dr. Closs earned her bachelor’s degree from Temple University, her master’s degree from Bryn Mawr College and graduated with the first DSW cohort at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Closs has taught courses on mental health diagnostics, human behavior and the social environment and anxiety and depression, and she has given a number of lectures and presentations on best clinical practices when working with folks of trans* experience. For the past 16 years, she has worked with the queer, trans* and HIV communities and, in addition to teaching and non-profit work, she is the sexual assault counseling and education coordinator at Temple University.