WNMU School of Social Work

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WNMU School of Social Work Faculty



	Beth Walker Interim Dean, College of Health and Human Services Professor and Chair, Social Work College of Health and Human Services Western New Mexico University P.O. Box 680 Silver City, NM 88062 Email me! Cell 575-590-4583 Office 575-538-6323
	Leslie Cook, PsyD (ABD), LMSW Assistant Professor School of Social Work Director of Field Experience College of Health and Human Services Western New Mexico University P.O. Box 680 Silver City, NM 88062 Email me! Office 575-538-6324 Education MSW- New Mexico State University BSW- Western New Mexico University Teaching and Research Interests Social Welfare Policy Diversity Human Behavior School social work Medical social work Fields of Study Parental relationships and their effects on the development of personality disorders. Practice Experience My practice experience is fairly diverse. I worked in a long- term care facility as the Director of Social Services right after graduating from WNMU with my BSW, and then moved into hospital social work for eight years. I have supervised numerous interns from the social work and nursing departments, and I love teaching others how to be the very best at what they do. I then became a school social worker. During this time, I honed my advocacy skills to assist students in the special education system. During my five years in the public school system, I found that I have a deep love for educating others. I began my doctoral program and have been slaving away at it for over a year now. I love Silver City and feel that it is a small slice of heaven. I love teaching at WNMU, and enhancing my student’s learning experiences.
	Curtis Proctor-Artz MSW, LMSW, PhD Associate Professor of Social Work PO Box 640 Phelps-Dodge Bldg, Room 222 Silver City, NM 88062 (575) 538-6410 Email me! Education: Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Math, Pre-Med ~ University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK Bachelor of Fine Arts Coursework (BFA) in Theatre ~ Wichita State University, Wichita, KS Master of Social Work (MSW) ~ University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA Doctorate in Philosophy (PhD) in Social Work ~ Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH Teaching Interests: Research Methods, Program Evaluation, and Implementation Human Development (Individual, Messo, and Macro levels) Child Welfare Family Therapy Social Work Practice (Advanced Generalist) Managed Care Measures and Outcomes Research Interest and Fields of Study: Practice within the Indian Child Welfare Act GLBT Youth and Family Functioning Attachment Outcomes Native American Theatre (cross-discipline) Senior Citizen Activity in Performing Arts HEDIS Measures (Mental Health) Major Research Projects: Best Practices between Tribal/State Child Welfare Workers Mental Health Efficacies of Aggression Replacement Training Developing Attachment Measures (regarding the CBCL) Social Work and Performing Arts (cross-discipline) Practice Experience: Dr. Proctor-Artz (the hyphenation is a personal convention) teaches or has taught practice, human development, cultural diversity/competency, research methods, family therapy, child welfare, graduate field seminar, and evaluation/implementation courses throughout his academic career. He has also provided service to social service agencies as an evaluative consultant. Dr. Proctor-Artz has also served as a field liaison for the School of Social Work. His research areas include developing “best practice” for both tribal and state agency collaborations for compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act, attachment difficulties among adopted children, GLBTQ youth mental health and resiliency, youth aggression management, managed care behavioral health measures, and the use of the performing arts for senior citizens’ successful aging. Per the last area, he, too, also enjoys being an avid stage and vocal performer.
	Sarah SJ Guck, LISW Assistant Professor, School of Social Work BSW Program Coordinator College of Health and Human Services Western New Mexico University P.O. Box 680 Silver City, NM 88062 Email me! Office 575-538-6421 Education 1989 BSW from New York University 1990 – MSW from New York University (completed in one year because I enrolled in the advanced standing program!) Practice Experience Lived for one year in Port au Prince, Haiti, after graduation. Since then I have worked with Deaf Families and Children, I co-founded a transitional shelter on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, worked with sexual assault and other trauma survivors, responded to crisis using CISD and working with first responders. I have worked in Washington D.C with homeless youth, and doing outreach to sex workers. I have had a private practice, worked with the dying and their families. I feel called mostly to respond to trauma, the dying, and students! Teaching philosophy You can take a horse to water…NO, no, not that. Everyone can learn, and everyone learns differently. My classes incorporate discussion, examples, and other media to help each person learn his/her way.
	Robert (Bob) Rickle, PhD, QCSW, ACSW, LCSW Associate Professor, School of Social Work College of Health and Human Services Western New Mexico University P.O. Box 680 Silver City, NM 88062 Email me! Office 575-538-6632
	Jeanine Jones, MS, MSW, LCSW Assistant Professor School of Social Work College of Health and Human Services Western New Mexico University P.O. Box 680 Silver City, NM 88062 Email me! Office 575-538-6224 Education Indiana University for undergrad and grad, Capella University Doctoral Studies. Teaching and Research Interests Practice, HBSE, Diversity, Gerontology, Child Welfare, Interviewing Skills. Historical trauma specific to Native Americans, forensic social work and adoption issues. Fields of Study Family and children, distance education for social work, hospice, effect of historical trauma on Native Americans. Major Research Projects Social Work interventions for special needs adoptees and their families. Practice Experience Work with teen parents, adolescent residential care, foster care coordination, adoptive home studies, facilitation of adoption searches, executive director of an adoption/foster care agency, home-based services, corrections and hospice.

	Patti West-Okiri, MSW Assistant Professor, School of Social Work College of Health and Human Services Western New Mexico University P.O. Box 680 Silver City, NM 88062 Email me! Office 575-538-6421 Education: MSW- Western New Mexico University BSW- Western New Mexico University BA- New Mexico State University Teaching and Research Interests: Disability rights/advocacy School social work Rural practice & collaboration Policy-informed practice Fields of Study Autism assessment, diagnosis & intervention Policy advocacy & research Special education law Practice Experience I fell into social work as a non-traditional student, returning to school after having already found success in the field of advertising. I became a social worker as a result of discovering that there were limited resources for one of my children, who has autism. My practice of social work has since centered on working with children with disabilities in the public schools. In addition to my work in the schools, I have served on the New Mexico Autism Task Force (sometimes referred to as The Governor’s Autism Work Group) and have been a member of local, regional and state panels and workgroups focused on improving healthcare, opportunity, education and service delivery to children with disabilities and their families. I am a long-time member of NASW, a member of the School Social Work Alliance, and am currently serving as the Western Program Unit chair for NASW. I am currently planning to transition into macro practice through my doctoral studies in leadership so that I can expand my advocacy through leadership roles. I am looking forward to sharing my passion for social work and drive to make a difference in the lives of others with students at Western New Mexico University!
	Lisa Jimenez, Administrative Secretary College of Health and Human Services Western New Mexico University P.O. Box 680 Silver City, NM 88062 Office: (575) 538-6855 email me! Lisa came to us with years of experience at WNMU in a variety of roles, and we are so grateful to have her. She navigates all of WNMU's systems for us, allowing us to serve our students the best way we know how. Thanks, Lisa!
2013 Graduate Assistants & Workstudies Amber Zaade Jeremiah Bianca Cleophas