Professional Programs Social Work

Associate Professor & MSW Program Chair

Dr. Akakpo's teaching experience varies from teaching undergraduate courses in public relations and business ethics to master's level social work courses in settings from a small, private university to a large, public university. He is well-versed, with a full range of educational courses in public and social welfare policy as well as social work practice. His work experience is in the... Read more »

MSW Field Coordinator/Assistant Teaching Professor

Sara Greenwood joined the UW-Green Bay social work faculty in summer 2020 as Lecturer and MSW Field Coordinator. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a BA in psychology and earned her MSW from the University of Michigan School of Social Work with concentrations in interpersonal practice and management of human services. Sara currently holds a LMSW- Clinical and Macro practice... Read more »

Associate Professor & Social Work Department Chair

Dr. Groessl serves students primarily in the graduate social work program. Her social work practice experience included twenty years in county mental health services, supervision, and administration. She has serves as consultant and provides a range of trainings for human services professionals.

Joan currently serves as chair of the Continuing Education Committee and is a former... Read more »

Ph.D (Emeritus)

Education

Dr. Higgins is an Associate Professor of Social Work at UW-Green Bay. She received a PhD in Social Welfare from the University of Kansas, an MSW from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a BSW from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Dr. Higgins’ retired from the Social Work Department in 2020 and was granted emeritus status the following year. She... Read more »

Assistant Teaching Professor

Emily Jahnke joined the UW Green Bay Social Work faculty in August of 2022. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin Green Bay with a BSW in 2008, and is beyond excited to be back working in the program that made her into the professional she is today. She went on to get her MSW from UW Milwaukee, and graduated in 2011. There she took the specialized School Social Work track and has been... Read more »

Assistant Teaching Professor & Child Welfare Coordinator

Heather Lawrence joined the UW-Green Bay social work faculty in summer 2019 as a Lecturer and Child Welfare Coordinator. Heather is a University of Wisconsin-Green Bay alumni, earning both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Social Work Professional Programs.

Previously, Heather worked in public child welfare, holding positions in both... Read more »

Assistant Teaching Professor

Associate Professor

Research Interests

Stephanie Rhee is assistant professor of Social Work and teaches graduate social work courses. Her research interests include gerontology, immigrant acculturation on Korean immigrant elders, and social work education.  She completed her Ph. D. in the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky in 2013.  Her dissertation title is... Read more »

Associate Professor & BSW Program Chair

Jolanda joined the faculty in the fall, 2004. 

Jolanda completed her Ph.D. in social welfare at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her dissertation examines the lived experiences of women who have exchanged sex for money, drugs, or other material goods and their perceptions of what is helpful or not when receiving services.

Jolanda has been actively involved... Read more »

Associate Teaching Professor and BSW Field Coordinator

Jen Schanen joined the social work faculty in the fall of 2015 as BSW field coordinator and lecturer.  Jen is an APSW (Advanced Practice Social Worker-Wisconsin), and received both her Masters and Bachelors of Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Previously, Jen worked at a grassroots nonprofit, serving primarily Native American children and families.... Read more »

Assistant Teaching Professor

Justine Terzinski is a licensed clinical social worker who has experience in both case management and clinical mental health therapy. She also has a strong professional background in substance use treatment as well as working closely with community resources and grant funded opportunities. She began her journey with UWGB as an Assistant Teaching Professor during the summer of 2022 and will be... Read more »

Ph.D (Emeritus)

Gail has over twenty years of direct practice experience in various medical social work settings including public health, long term care, acute care crisis intervention, and hospice. Gail's background includes direct practice, administration, and supervision in each of those settings. Gail's areas of expertise include older adults, end-of-life, grief and loss, ethics and boundaries, and... Read more »

Assistant Professor

Dr. Cary Waubanascum joined the faculty in the fall, 2021 and teaches in both the MSW and BSW programs. She is a proud member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, Wakeny^ta (Turtle Clan), with ancestral roots in the Menominee, Forest County Potawatomi, and Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Nations of Wisconsin. Cary and her husband Lance have built an amazing family including a son, daughter and... Read more »