School of Health and Social Services

Dr. Jay Gabbard, a proud Samoan American, is a Professor of Social Work at Western Kentucky University. He holds a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Alabama, an MSW from the University of South Carolina, and a BA in Anthropology and Sociology from Washington and Lee University. His research background is in the areas of homelessness, mental health, forensic social work, cultural competency, and diversity pedagogy. He is a Former SAMHSA Minority Research Fellow with the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and a former member of the CSWE Council on Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Diversity. He currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of Phi Alpha Social Work Honor Society International and on the CSWE Global Commission.  He has published numerous articles in prestigious social work/science journals and both conducted and presented research in the United States, Bangladesh, Korea, Mexico, Uganda, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Effective Teaching Practices

Forensic Social Work

Homelessness

Diversity Pedagogy and Cultural Competency

Social Work with Samoan and Pacific Islander Clients

Cultural Competency & Diversity

Research Methods & Applied Research

HBSE

Statistics

Community Organization

Macro Social Work