Director/Research Assistant Professor
Social Research Institute/University of Utah
Chad McDonald, Ph.D., LCSW, is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Utah, College of Social Work, and the Director of the Social Research Institute (SRI). With over 20 years of experience in child welfare, including roles as a trainer and administrator for the Division of Child & Family Services (DCFS) in Utah, Chad focuses on workforce development within child welfare, specializing in skills development through enhanced teaching/learning methods and competency assessment.
As Principal Investigator (PI) for the Title IV-E Training and Education grants, Chad has been at the forefront of pioneering efforts to strengthen the child welfare workforce by integrating innovative technologies grounded in evidence-based learning theories, including Deliberate Practice, Cognitive Load, and Multimedia Learning Theory. He co-leads the development of the Virtual Social Work Trainer (VSWT) project, a transformative training tool designed to enhance social workers' skills and preparedness through immersive, theory-driven learning experiences. His expertise and dedication have attracted over $35 million in federal and state grants and contracts, aimed at improving workforce effectiveness and competence in child welfare.
In addition to his work at the University of Utah, Chad serves as the Vice-Chair of the National Staff Development and Training Association (NSDTA) Executive Advisory Council (EAC), where he collaborates with national leaders to advance training standards and support best practices in social work education and workforce development across the U.S.
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