Associate Professor and MSW Program Coordinator
University of Vermont
Dr. Kelly Melekis is an Associate Professor and the MSW Program Coordinator at the University of Vermont. She has taught courses on social work practice, research methods, and death, dying and bereavement for over 20 years. She practiced as a clinical social worker in geriatric mental health and substance use, and taught social work practice, policy and research at Boston University, University of Hawaii, and Skidmore College. A U.S. Fulbright Scholar, she recently explored cultural variations in end-of-life care at Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania.
As a gerontological social worker, her scholarship focuses on 1) the health and well-being of vulnerable and oppressed older adults, particularly in terms of housing and social environment, and 2) the education and training of social workers, especially in terms of interprofessional practice in health and aging. Underlying the substantive content of her research are methodological considerations rooted in social justice and a commitment to including the voices and perspectives of marginalized groups. Related, her scholarship reflects a commitment to collaborative research with underserved populations, community partners, and students. Reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of her scholarship, her work has been published mostly in social work, sociology, gerontology, health, and public health journals, and published at related local, national, and international conferences. She has over 50 publications and has made over 100 academic or professional presentations.
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