Rani Varghese | Faculty Profiles

Diplomas/Degrees

Ed.D., University of Massachusetts Amherst (2013)

Graduate Feminist Certificate, University of Massachusetts Amherst (2013)

M.S.W., Smith College School for Social Work (1999)

B.A., University of Cincinnati (1995)

Personal Statement

Having been trained in the fields of Social Work, Social Justice Education and Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies, I bring an interdisciplinary approach to both my teaching and research. I apply a social justice framework, attention to multi-level analysis, intersectionality, positionality and power, to social work practice, research and teaching.

Recent Courses

Bsw Practice I: The Process Of Generalist Social Work

Field Instruction I

Field Instruction II

Field Instruction II Extended

Field Instruction III

Field Instruction IV

Foundations Of Social Work Practice I

Intergroup Dialogue: Facilitating Social Justice Conversation

Social Work Practice With Individuals: Theory And Research

Specialization/Interests

I view teaching as a political endeavor and believe classrooms can be transformative spaces where students should be encouraged to actively engage with the course content, with me as the professor and with each other. I am interested in teaching courses in the area of social work practice and human behavior/social environment.

Research Interests

My research links social justice concepts, theories and approaches to social work education. My last study examined the ways clinical social work faculty conceptualize and incorporate issues of race and racism in the teaching of social work practice. I am also interested in utilizing intergroup dialogue approaches in social work education. I was involved in a national longitudinal study examining the effects of race and gender intergroup dialogue courses across nine campuses.

Chapters

Funk, M., Varghese, R., Zúñiga, X. (2018). Racism. In M. Adams, L. Bell, D. Goodman & K. Joshi (Eds.). Teachings for diversity and social justice (3^rd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.

Varghese, R., Matta, A., & Kang, HK (2018). The ladies salon: Building intellectual and personal collectives(s). In. M. Runell & K. Smith (Eds.). Uncommon bonds. New York: Peter Lang.

Bell, L., Goodman, D., & Varghese, R. (2016). Critical self-knowledge for social justice educators. In L. Bell, D. Goodman, K. Joshi & M. Adams (Eds.). Teachings for diversity and social justice. New York, NY: Routledge.

Zúñiga, X., Mildred, J., Varghese, R., DeJong, K., & Keehn, M., (2014). “Engaged Listening in Race/Ethnicity and Gender Intergroup Dialogue Courses.” In X. Zúñiga, G. Lopez & K.A. Ford (Eds). Intergroup dialogue: Engaging difference, social identities and social justice. New York, NY: Routledge.

Zuniga, X., Mildred, J., Varghese, R., DeJong, K., & Keehn, M. (2014). Engaged listening in race/ethnicity and gender intergroup dialogue courses. In X. Zuniga, G. Lopez & K.A. Ford (Eds.). Intergroup dialogue: Engaging difference, social identities and social justice. New York, NY: Routledge.

Stassen, M. L. A., Zúñiga, X., Keehn, M., Mildred, J., DeJong, K., & Varghese, R. (2013) Engagement in intergroup dialogue: Listening, speaking, and active thinking. In P. Gurin, B. Nagda & X. Zúñiga. Dialogue Across Difference: Practice Theory, and Research on Intergroup Dialogue. New York, NY: Russell Sage Foundation.

Articles

Kelly, D. & Varghese, R. (2018). Four Contexts of Institutional Oppression: Examining the Experiences of Blacks in Education, Criminal Justice and Child Welfare. Journal for Human Behavior in the Social Environment.

Varghese, R., Quiros, L., & Berger, R. (2018). Reflective practices for engaging in trauma informed culturally competent supervision. Smith Studies in Social Work.

Varghese, R. (2016). Teaching to transform?: Addressing race and racism in the teaching of clinical social work practice. Journal for Social Work Education.

Zúñiga, X., Mildred, J., Varghese, R., DeJong, K., & Keehn, M. (2012). Engaged listening in race/ethnicity and gender intergroup dialogue courses. Equity & Excellence, Amherst, MA.

Conference Presentations

Varghese, R. (2017). Psychosocial supports for U.S. South Asian women with gynecologic & breast cancer. Poster Presentation at Annual Program Meeting, Council for Social Work Education.

Zúñiga, X., Varghese, R., Tissi Gassoway, N., Boyd, A., Lee, E.Y., Syldor-Severino, W.A. (2017) Training and supporting Intergroup dialogue graduate student facilitators: Practice methods and post-graduation impact. Paper presentation at the Northeastern Intergroup Dialogue Conference, Cornell University.

Varghese, R. (2016). Teaching without being taught: Examining the ways clinical social work faculty conceptualize teaching and learning. Paper Presentation at Annual Program Meeting, Council for Social Work Education.

Varghese, R. (2016). Essential knowledge for clinical social work: Social work perspectives. Paper Presentation at Annual Program Meeting, Council for Social Work Education.

Adams, M., Griffin, P., Funk, M., Goodman, D., & Varghese, R. (2016). A Classic Book Takes a New Turn: Highlights from the New Edition of Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice/Engaging New Approaches from Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice. Panel Presentation at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education (NCORE).

Varghese, R. (2016). Praxis Makes Perfect: Addressing Race and Racism in the Teaching of Clinical Social Work Practice. Paper Presentation at Annual Program Meeting, Society for Social Work and Research.

Zúñiga, X., Mildred, J., Varghese, R., & Keehn, M. (2015). What does participant engagement and disengagement look like and what contributes to disengagement in race/ethnicity and gender intergroup dialogues?: Implications for research and practice. Paper presentation at Northeastern Intergroup Dialogue Conference, Skidmore College.

Invited Presentations

Varghese, R. & Funk, M. (2017). Bridging Theory & Practice (key note speakers), Social Justice Education Mini-Symposium, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Varghese, R. (2017 & 2016). Cultural Competency. Training for Central Nassau Guidance and Counseling Center, NY.

Varghese, R. & Funk, M. (2015). Inclusive Leadership: Building Capacity for Public Service. Training for The City Council, City of Holyoke, MA.

Quiros, L. & Varghese, R. (2015). Working from a Trauma-Informed-Social Justice Lens: Creating Safe Spaces in Supervision. Workshop for Long Island Field Directors Networking Breakfast.