Niagara University's Social Work Department has three full time faculty members and three part time faculty members. All of the full time faculty have both their Master's degree in social work (MSW) and a Doctorate in Social Welfare or Sociology (Ph.D.), along with many years of practice experience. All part time faculty have their MSW and many years of practice experience.

Clementine Laverman, Ph.D., A.C.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Clementine Laverman is the Department's Chairperson and Program Director.

Since the Fall of 1994, Clementine U.M. Laverman has been the Program Director of the Department of Social Work at Niagara University. She earned her Ph.D. ('86) and MSW in Social Work at Pittsburgh University ('83)and a Diploma in Social Work at the Social Academy ('73) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Her career as a social worker covers a wide variety of experiences, including administrative, research, and direct social work practice.

Her social work practice career started in the Netherlands where she worked six years in the field of child welfare, two years in industry directing an Employee Assistance Program and one year for a City Council.

In 1982 she moved to the United States to obtain her Ph.D. and to gain knowledge and work experience in the American social welfare arena. Since 1987 she has been teaching in BSW and MSW programs.  Dr. Laverman has taught a variety of social work courses.  At Niagara University she teaches research methods, history of social services, field seminar, drug and alcohol and other electives.  She really enjoys working with students on research projects, thereby giving them opportunities to co-present at state and national conferences.

Dr. Laverman is very involved in the professional community. Since the start of her professional career in the U.S. (1987), she has, and is still serving on various state boards, community boards, and university committees. Additionally, she provides in-service training and is a regular research consultant for local agencies. Her work in the community has been recognized over the years: In 1999 she received the Community Service Award from the New York State Social Work Education Association, in 2001 she received the Community Service Award from the Niagara University College of Arts and Sciences, in 2003 she received the Frances Engel Social Worker of the Year Award from the Western New York Chapter of National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and in 2003 Dr. Laverman received the Social Worker of the Year Award from the NYS Chapter of NASW. 

laverman@niagara.edu

Kevin D. Blair, Ph.D., A.C.S.W., L.C.S.W.

Dr. Blair received his MSW from the University of Chicago and has over 20 years of clinical social work experience. Dr. Blair is also a graduate of the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis. Dr. Blair's practice experience includes work as a school social worker, crisis intervention, divorce mediation, family therapy, and community organizing. His research interests include the practice of social work in schools and linkages between anthropology and social work. Dr. Blair has published several articles that examine the practice of social work in schools. Recently Dr. Blair has focused his attention on the Child Only component of the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program. He is currently engaged in a study of the strengths and stressors associated with being a kinship care giver who is involved in the TANF program.

Dr. Blair teaches the Practice Methods sequence of courses, the Introduction to Social Work course, and the course in Social Welfare Policy. He has also served the Department as the Coordinator of the Field Practicum from 1994 - 1996.

Dr. Blair continues to be active in the practice of clinical social work. He currently works with two local social service agencies, providing both consultation to staff and direct services to clients.   blairkd@niagara.edu

DR. DAVID SKIBA, Ph.D., L.C.S.W.

            Dr. Skiba is the newly appointed Coordinator of Field Practicum for the Social Work Department here at Niagara University. He received his BS in Criminal Justice from the State University College at Buffalo in 1985, his MSW in 1988, and Ph.D. from the University of Buffalo in 2003. For the last four years Dr. Skiba was on the faculty at the University of Maryland, as a full-time instructor and field liaison in the baccalaureate social work program.

            He brings to Niagara extensive research exposure, having worked in various roles on a NIAAA supported grant for six years at the Research Institute on Addictions (RIA/UB) in downtown Buffalo. During this time, as part of his doctoral dissertation, Dr. Skiba examined alcohol use by adolescents and their mothers and the resulting associations with adolescent dating behaviors and attitudes.

            His professional expertise includes nearly 15 years of clinical mental health practice with adolescents and adults; as the Assistant Director of the Martha H. Beeman Foundation in Niagara Falls; as a group therapist for alcoholic men at the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center; and as a consultant to Niagara County Family Court, where he developed court ordered custody evaluations. 

            Dr. Skiba is certified as a registered social worker (CSW-R) in New York State, as a mandated reporter of child abuse and maltreatment, and as a HIV/AIDS counselor. Professional associations include the National Association of Social workers (NASW); and The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS). He is a past member and reviewer for the American Orthopsychiatric Association, and a member of the Academic Advisory Board-Annual Editions: Social Welfare & Social Work. 

            For the future, Dr. Skiba's interests will involve the multifaceted area of human sexuality. Most recently he has focused attention on the extent and format of human sexuality content in social work curricula, with a long-term goal of enhancing the preparedness of social workers and allied professionals when working with sexuality issues or problems among clients. He has presented and participated in regional and international conferences on sexuality, and is one of a growing number of sexologists whom advocate for a more rational and open discourse on human sexuality, as an intrinsic aspect to good health and well-being.

 dskiba@niagara.edu

Karen E. Edmond, MSW, L.M.S.W

Coordinator of Field Practicum

Karen E. Edmond earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work in Child Welfare Services from the University at Buffalo. She has also earned her Bachelor of Science in Social Work and her minor in Art Therapy  from Buffalo State College, and earned her Associate of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Erie Community College.Ms. Edmond has worked in the Buffalo area for over ten years in the area of social work. She has experiences with Erie County Medical Center’s Downtown Alcoholism Clinic, Children’s Hospital Parents, and Children Together Program, Buffalo Hearing, and Speech Center, Community Services for the Developmentally Disabled, Every Person Influences Children Program, Buffalo Alternative High School, Baker Victory Services Day Treatment Program, Boys, and Girls Club of Western New York, and Kaleida Home Based Crisis Intervention Program, and Head Start. She currently works as the Family and Community Outreach Coordinator/Mental Health for the CAO Early Head Start Program.  Early Head Start provides comprehensive services to teen parents, infants and toddlers as well as pregnant teenagers in the Buffalo area..Ms. Edmond’s recognitions include, but are not limited to Dena P. Gold Memorial Award for outstanding study, field work, and other contributions related to families, women, and children; Arthur A. Schomberg Fellowship; State University College at Buffalo Certificate of Merit for being one of five finalists for the President’s Medal; Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s Scholastic Achievement Award; Association of Faculty of African Descent's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship; State University’s Chancellor’s Award of Student Excellence; and the State of New York’s Award of Merit for Community Service. Ms. Edmond has taught Diversity and Social Justice for the department, and will continue throughout the academic year.
kedmond@niagara.edu

RETIRED FACULTY & STAFF

CAROLYN M. MORELL, Ph.D, Professor of Social Work retired in May, 2006 from the Social Work Department at Niagara University.  We thank Dr. Morell for her many years of dedicated service to Niagara University and the Social Work students and wish her well in her new endeavors.

MARGE FURA, secretary of the Social Work Department since 1990 retired effective August 29, 2008.  The Social Work Department faculty and students thank Marge for her many years of service to both Niagara University as well as the department and wish her health and happiness in her retirement.