(in alphabetical order)
Barry Ackerson, BA, MSW, PhD University of Alabama, LCSW, Associate Professor, Associate Dean and MSW Program Director, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. With over 20 years experience as a clinician and administrator in the mental health field, Professor Ackerson's current research interest is the impact of psychiatric disability upon parenting. He also has current emphasis on minorities' outcomes from community mental health agencies in rural areas and organizational climate's effects on mental health service outcomes. Professor Ackerson is ably assisted in his work for The Foundation by Christie Avgar, MSW, Dean of Student Affairs.
Steven G. Anderson, BSW, MSW, University of Illinois; MA, PhD, University of Michigan. Associate Professor; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Director of the PhD Program, Chair of Advocacy, Leadership and Social Change MSW Specialization. Before returning to academia in 1998, Professor Anderson served for 10 years with the Michigan House (of Representatives) Fiscal Agency, starting as fiscal analyst and finishing as Associate Director for Human Services. Professor Anderson concentrates on poverty and inequality issues and training MSW community practitioners. Emeritus, 2010; moved to Arizona State University School of Social Work, as its Director.
Michael P. Dentato, Ph.D., Loyola University Chicago, 2011, Assistant Professor, Loyola University Chicago. Dentato, an Assistant Professor, has been a member of Loyola's School of Social Work faculty since 2011. His areas of interest include addiction disorders, sexual minority health-risk behaviors and effective interventions, public-health policy, university-community based collaborations and non-profit leadership. Dentato's professional and community affiliations include: The Council on Social Work Education: Council on Sexual Orientation & Gender Expression; Society for Social Work & Research; Test Positive Aware Network: Board of Directors; and Faculty Research Affiliate: The Center for Health, Identity, Behavior & Prevention Studies, New York University, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development.
Kristin M. Ferguson, BA, University of Virginia; MSW, University of Michigan; PhD, University of Texas at Arlington. Assistant Professor, University of Southern California School of Social Work. U.S. Peace Corps and Crisis Corps Volunteer in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Her research interests include reduction of commercial sexual exploitation of children and prevention of the health, mental health and social deterioration of homeless and street-living young adults. Emerita, 2009.
Seth Kurzban, BA, University of Pittsburgh, M.A. Social Work, Columbia University, M.A. Philosophy, Columbia University, Ph.D., Columbia University, Assistant Professor, University of Southern California School of Social Work. Westat research services for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Institute of Mental Health evaluation coordinator for the Hartford Geriatric Faculty Scholars Program. His research interests include adapting a group intervention model for women with mental illness who are re-integrating into the community upon release from detention and development and testing the Community Awareness Psychoeducation (CAPE) intervention to improve self-care and wellness, reduce social isolation associated with mental illness and improve the ability to live in community.
Dottie Lamm, MSW, University of Denver. Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Denver Leo Block Professorship (Ret.), taught in the Graduate School of Social Work's community practice track. Credits include: Columnist for the Denver Post newspaper, Delegate to the U.N. Conference on Population and Development and to the Fourth World Conference on Women. Emerita, 2009.
Joel L. Rubin, MSW, Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Executive Director of the Illinois Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, Adjunct Professor, Jane Addams College of Social Work.
Marcia K. Spira, PhD, University of Chicago, Associate Professor, School of Social Work, Loyola University, Chicago. Areas of academic interest include service to families of children with chronic fatal diseases and of parents / grandparents in declining health. Social work clinician with adolescents and adults, providing psychotherapy for individuals, couples, and groups. She teaches courses in both the M.S.W. and Ph.D. programs, in the methods and HBSE (human behavior in the social environment) sequences. Dr. Spira's research and writing focus on older adults and intergenerational families, as well as women's health, and the impact of health concerns on family relationships. Emerita, 2012.
Diane Zosky, PhD, Loyola University, Chicago. Assistant Professor, Illinois State University, Director, BSW Program. Areas of interest include domestic violence and social work practice. Emerita, 2009.
Advisors Lamm and Zosky both personally knew Gabe as a social work student and had a significant impact on Gabe’s development as a social worker. All of our advisors are uniquely situated to identify and recommend meritorious individuals, projects and institutions worthy of the Foundation’s support. They have graciously volunteered to serve as the Gabe W. Miller Memorial Foundation’s Advisory Committee.