Maria V. Wathen, PhD

About

Maria V. Wathen received her Joint PhD in Social Work & Sociology, Master of Social Work, and Master in Sociology degrees from the University of Michigan.  She also holds an M.A. in English from Northern Illinois University and a B.A. in Sociology from Wheaton College. Her research focuses on the emergence of grassroots NGOs and their effect on policy and service provision. In addition, she explores issues of poverty and resulting child and family outcomes, as well as public policy and its impact on both public and private programs. Maria has a range of experience in education, clinical social work practice, nonprofits, and business in both the United States and internationally. She lived in Russia for 11 years and has taught seminars in multiple countries of Eastern Europe and Eurasia.

Degrees

PhD in Social Work & Sociology, University of Michigan, 2016

MA in Sociology, University of Michigan, 2012

MSW, University of Michigan, 2010

MA in English, Northern Illinois University, 1996

BA in Sociology, Wheaton College, IL, 1987

Program Areas

• Practice with individuals and families
• Poverty and policy
• Nonprofit leadership & nonprofit development
• Mental health interventions
• Research methods & statistics
• International issues in social work

Research Interests

• Social service NGOs/nonprofits in emerging democracies
• Poverty and policy
• Civil society
• Global comparative social policy and service
• Policy and NGO service provision

Professional & Community Affiliations

• American Sociological Society
• Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA)
• 2016– present  : Treasurer, ARNOVA Emerging Scholars Section
• Council on Social Work Education
• International Society for Third-Sector Research
• Society for Social Work and Research 

Courses Taught

Undergraduate Courses

Graduate Courses

Awards

• Penn Social Impact Summer Doctoral Fellows Program, The Center for Social Impact Strategy, Nonprofit Leadership Program, University of Pennsylvania. 2016.
• Irene & William Gambrill Fellowship, School of Social Work, University of Michigan. 2015.
• Fulbright IIE Grant, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, for 9 months of research in Russia. 2013-2014.                             
• Individual Advanced Research Opportunities Award, International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX), sponsored by the Title VIII program through the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR), U.S. Department of State. (declined-cannot hold simultaneously with Fulbright). 2013-2014.
• Rackham International Research Award, University of Michigan. 2013-2014
• W.K. Kellogg Family Fellow in Children and Families, University of Michigan. 2012-2013.
• Margaret Dow Towsley Scholar, Center for the Education of Women, University of Michigan. 2011-2012.
• International Institute Individual Fellowship, International Institute. 2011.
• Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS, US/ED Title VI), Center for Russia, East European, &
• Eurasian Studies, University of Michigan. 2010-2011.
• Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS, US/ED Title VI), Center for Russia, East European, & Eurasian Studies, University of Michigan. 2009-2010.

Selected Publications

Wathen, Maria V., Allard, S.W.  (2014). “Local Nonprofit Welfare Provision: The United States and Russia.” Public Administration Issues, n. Special, pp. 7-28. http://vgmu.hse.ru/en/2014--5/152186643.html

Wathen, Maria V. (2014). “Understanding Changes in Board and Director Roles in a Nonprofit Organization: the Need for Paradigm Synthesis and Elaboration.” Journal of Community Practice, 22:4, 472-490, DOI: 10.1080/1075422.2014.959148.

Allard, S., Wathen, Maria V., & Danziger, S.K. (2015). “Bundling Public and Charitable Supports to Cope with the Effects of the Great Recession.”  Social Science Quarterly DOI 10.1111/ssqu.12226

Allard, S.W., Wathen, M.V., Danziger, S.K., & Shaefer, H.L. Spring/Summer 2015. “Finding Food Assistance and Food Retailers in Detroit.” Focus 32:1, Institute for Research on Poverty, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Allard, S., Danziger, S.K., & Wathen, M. April 2014.  “Food Assistance During and After the Great Recession in Metropolitan Detroit.” IRP Discussion Paper No. 1420-14. Institute for Research on Poverty, University of Wisconsin-Madison: http://www.irp.wisc.edu/publications/dps/pdfs/dp142014.pdf.

Danziger, S.K., Allard, S., Wathen, M., Burgard, S., Seefeldt, K., Rodems, R., & Cohen, A. 2014. “Food Insecurity in the Detroit Metropolitan Area Following the Great Recession,” National Poverty Center Policy Brief, University of Michigan, Policy Brief #39.

Allard, S., Danziger, S.K., & Wathen, M. 2012. “The Receipt of Public Benefits and Private Charity among Low Income Households Following the Great Recession.” National Poverty Center, University of Michigan, Policy Brief #34.

Burgard, S., Danziger, S., Seefeldt, K., Allard, S., Danziger, S.K., Engler, T., Gould-Werth, A., Kalousova, L., Pelak, S., Wathen, M. 2012. “Persisting Hardships in Southeast Michigan after the Great Recession.” National Poverty Center, University of Michigan, Policy Brief #33.

Allard, S., Danziger, S.K., and Wathen, M. 2012. “Receipt of Public Benefits and Private Support among Low-income Households with Children after the Great Recession.” National Poverty Center, University of Michigan, Policy Brief #31.