Our Faculty - Social Work

Kathy Bailey, PhD, MSW is a full-time Associate Professor who has been on the faculty of Bridgewater State University since 2009. Dr. Bailey’s academic degrees include a PhD in Social Work from Arizona State University School of Social Work; an MSW from Arizona State University School of Social Work and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Frostburg State University. Her teaching is concentrated in the areas of direct practice, policy, grief and bereavement, and macro social work in both the Master of Social Work and Bachelors of Social Work programs. Dr. Bailey has twenty-five years of social work practice experience that includes case management, elder care, crisis intervention, medical social work and quality improvement. Dr. Bailey has published book chapters as well as presented at international, national and regional conferences. Her research interests include strategies of teaching and learning, mentorship, and most recently, college student bereavement. 

Dr. Denise Howley grew up in Brussels, Belgium - an experience that enabled her to travel all over Europe and be aware of the world outside of the United States. As an undergraduate student at Allegheny College, she knew she wanted to work in a field that focused on social justice but wasn't aware of social work as a profession. Post-graduation she moved to California to work with the United Farm Worker Union. She earned her first master’s degree in religious education from Fordham University and became a high school teacher, designing courses on liberation and feminist theology. Years later, after working in the peace movement, she became interested in social work and earned her MSW at Boston University and PhD at Simmons College. Peace witnesses in Washington DC, Haiti and Honduras followed. Later she became passionate with tying together the impact of trauma with education and on the benefits of mindfulness practices in addressing trauma. Since 2015 she has taught the trauma certificate post-graduate course at BSU and has also taught in the BSU School of Social Work since 2017. She loves to hike, ski and spend her time both on the beaches in Massachusetts and in the mountains of Maine. She is also a certified yoga instructor.

Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, Jonghyun Lee came to the United States to pursue his social work career. His name Jonghyun means "Black Bell". Koreans believe that the darker the bell, the more resonating sound it has. The name was given by his mother as she wanted him to become a compassionate person who could resonate with the lives of others. 

Dr. Lee earned his master’s degree and PhD in social work at Simmons College. He has had rewarding experiences working with people from diverse backgrounds including those with severe mental illness, immigrants, children and sexual minority groups. 

Employing both quantitative and qualitative methods, Dr. Lee examines cross-cultural variations of mental illness and the coping behaviors among racially and ethnically diverse groups. His scholarship in the areas of culture-bound syndromes, migration, history of social welfare, spirituality, older adults, women and LGBT issues is disseminated through publications and professional presentations. 

Dr. Lee is committed to teaching! He began teaching at Bridgewater State University in 2010. Since then, his classes are filled with students from all walks of life. Following the professional mission of social work, Dr. Lee integrates social justice and human diversity in all aspects of his teaching to empower social work students to grow as aspiring professionals. 

Becoming a social worker was never part of Kathleen McAleer's life-plan. But then, as a recent art school graduate, she was offered a position teaching at a secondary school for girls in Kingston, Jamaica. In Jamaica she taught, painted and volunteered in two programs: a prison for men serving life-sentences and a “home for the destitute,” housing hundreds of developmentally disabled and medically fragile adults and children. She learned about colonialism, poverty, race, injustice and trauma but she also gained insight into the ways culture, resilience, community, faith, joy and passion can be powerful forces for change and survival. After two years, she decided this work was for her and she returned to Boston. Professor McAleer spent the next several years working with at-risk teens and earning her MSW. After graduation, she moved again, this time to the Washington, DC area where she was hired as a hospice AIDS social worker. She loved hospice work and when she moved one last time, back to Massachusetts, she continued working in the field running both pediatric palliative care and bereavement programs. During her 25-year hospice career, Professor McAleer supervised many BSU social work interns and when she was offered the opportunity to teach part-time as a field instructor she leapt at the chance. Now, as a full-time member of the faculty, she can think of no place she'd rather be. 

As an athlete (a catcher from Babe Ruth leagues to D-I softball), a resident assistant in college and the sixth child of seven, Dr. Leslie Sattler is the product of group membership and great mentors. She learned the importance of observing, listening, identifying priorities and teamwork. Because of these experiences, it is only natural that she became a social worker interested in how people and environments influence one’s growth. Her undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees are all in social work, and she focused her career on adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system. Before coming to BSU, Dr. Sattler worked for 25 years in residential treatment centers and held many positions from clinician to agency president; her most exciting role involved providing adventure and wilderness-based therapy. Dissatisfied with limiting her work to the individual, she focused her doctoral studies towards understanding how social justice-related structural issues of the community interact with one’s genes to influence the development of violent behavior. Now, as a social work educator, Dr. Sattler integrates these life experiences into her teaching. Committed to giving back, she works hard to help students incorporate what they are learning into their practice. To do this, she uses experiential teaching methods designed for hands-on learning and mentor students whenever the opportunity arises.

Growing up in a single parent household, Pamela Szczygiel had early lessons in resiliency. We all need help. For Dr. Szczygiel, this came in the form of a close bond with her mother and brother, weekly visits from her feisty South Philadelphian Italian grandparents, a house filled with furry companions, and, of course, many plates of pasta! Career paths soon emerged: philosopher, chef or social worker? The philosophy path was short, yet continues to inform her strong interest in social work theory. While deliberating on a culinary career, social workers entered her path, pointing her in yet another direction - a creative and inspiring career in healing, empowerment and change. 

Dr. Szczygiel's formal social work journey began in 2001 and, after a few years of incredible community work, she took a leap into clinical practice. Her clients have been her greatest teachers, always reminding her to stay humble and continuously pointing her back to their relationship as a main catalyst for change. She identifies as a relationally-informed clinician, teacher and scholar. Along the way Dr. Szczygiel also picked up certifications in health coaching, yoga and other mind-body practices. Each step on her journey continues to influence her current position in the School of Social Work at BSU. It is her greatest honor to teach and learn alongside her students. 

Judith Willison grew up in a white, Jewish, family of teachers who were civil rights activists. When her mother came out as a lesbian in Dr. Willison's childhood, she became acutely aware of marginalization based on sexual orientation. After earning her MSW and working in the criminal justice system, Dr. Willison more fully understood systemic racism and the criminalization of poverty and mental illness. Her commitment to social justice and to using her privilege in the service of allyship grew. After 22 years of practice within the criminal and juvenile justice systems as a clinician, supervisor, administrator, advocate and trainer, Dr. Willison returned to school for a PhD while working full time. In 2011 she joined the faculty in BSU's School of Social Work and focused her scholarship on criminalized behavior within systems of social inequity. To target the implications of institutionalized white supremacy and its effects on individuals entangled in the justice systems, her feminist participatory action research contextualizes women’s experiences of multiple oppressions interlinked to race, class and gender, highlighting social injustice in women’s incarceration. Dr. Willison is committed to community advocacy with formerly incarcerated people in efforts to stem mass incarceration. She is committed to culturally-inclusive social work education that empowers students, elevates their voices and prepares them to work toward social justice.