Faculty Directory
Joanne Thompson, Ph.D., Director, Professor
Dr. Thompson holds a Ph.D. from Rutgers University, her MSW from the University of Arkansas, and Bachelor of Arts from LaGrange College, LaGrange, Ga. Prior to joining UNLV, she was professor and director of the School of Social Work, University of New England, Portland, Maine. She was also a member of the Social Work faculty at the University of Tennessee and the University of Georgia. She served as a member of the Tennessee Board of Social Work Certification and Licensure and was the director of the Office of Policy Analysis, Tennessee Department of Human Services. Dr. Thompson has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, including Social Work, Journal of Progressive Human Services, Affilia, Journal of Social Work Education, and Administration in Social Work.
Office: Greenspun Hall, Room 3144
E-mail: joanne.thompson@unlv.edu
Phone: 702-895-0521
Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
Vicky Albert, Ph.D., Associate Professor
At UNLV since 1998, Dr. Albert's current interests include social policy, income-maintenance policies and programs, program evaluation, and policy analysis.
Office: Greenspun Hall, Room 3158
E-mail: vicky.albert@unlv.edu
Phone: 702-895-4289
Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
Kathleen Ja Sook Bergquist, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Dr. Bergquist completed her MSW at Norfolk State University and her Ph.D. in counselor education at the College of William and Mary in Virginia. She taught previously in the School of Social Work at Illinois State University for four years and currently teaches undergraduate and graduate practice and HBSE course at UNLV. Her research focus is on international adoption, more specifically Korean and Chinese adoption, considering the implications of placing children in the Diaspora as a child welfare practice.
Office: Greenspun Hall, Room 3136
E-mail: kathleen.bergquist@unlv.edu
Phone: 702-895-2449
Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
Ramona Denby Brinson, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Dr. Brinson's teaching interests are direct practice, human behavior, child welfare, and culturally specific practice. Brinson conducts research in the areas of child welfare, children's mental health, juvenile delinquency, and culturally specific service delivery.
Office: Greenspun Hall, Room 3133
E-mail: ramona.denby@unlv.edu
Phone: 702-895-1336
Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
Adrienne Ekas-Mueting, MSW, LCSW, Assistant to the Director, BSW Coordinator/Field Associate
As BSW coordinator, Professor Ekas assists in the supervision and instruction of the school's field practicum courses and student practicums.
Office: Greenspun Hall, Room 3140
E-mail: adrienne.ekas@unlv.edu
Phone: 702-895-4336
Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
William M. Epstein, DSW, Professor
Dr. Epstein has been at UNLV since 1992. His interests include social welfare, welfare reform, children's services, psychotherapy, social services, community organization, and administration.
Office: Greenspun Hall, Room 3122
E-mail: william.epstein@unlv.edu
Phone: 702-895-4348
Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
Stacey Hardy-Desmond, Ph.D., J.D., LCSW, Associate Professor/Field Director
Dr. Hardy-Desmond combines her education and experience in clinical psychology, law, and social work by focusing on forensic social work practice and multicultural issues, including organizational culture. Other teaching and writing interests include applied clinical assessment and practice, experiential learning through field instruction, and supervision.
Office: Greenspun Hall, Room 3142
E-mail: stacey.hardy-desmond@unlv.edu
Phone: 702-895-3313
Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
Laurie Lytel, Visiting Instructor
Ms. Lytel teaches in the areas of Direct Practice, Children, and Families. She received her degrees from the University of Michigan School of Social Work and Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, N.Y.
Office: Greenspun Hall, Room 3161
E-mail: laurie.lytel@unlv.edu
Phone: 702-895-5142
Margaret Oakes, Ph.D., Associate Professor
A member of the Social Work faculty since 1997, Dr. Oakes' research interests include Latin and Central America, trauma (particularly in war), immigration, and mental health.
Office: Greenspun Hall, Room 3132
E-mail: margaret.oakes@unlv.edu
Phone: 702-895-1222
Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
MaryAnn Overcamp-Martini, Ph.D., Graduate Program Coordinator
Dr. Martini's primary interests are in mental health and disabilities, macro practice, legal issues, and social work education. She joined the faculty in 2002 and currently teaches courses in human behavior in the social environment and management and community practice.
Office: Greenspun Hall, Room 3137
E-mail: mao.martini@unlv.edu
Phone: 702-895-4603
Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
Sandra Owens-Kane, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Dr. Owens-Kane joined the school in 2000. Dr. Owens-Kane's teaching interests include gerontological social work education, cross-cultural practice, and human behavior in the social environment. Dr. Owens-Kane conducts research in the areas of minority mental health, formal and informal care giving of the elderly, organizational culture and change, and child welfare.
Office: Greenspun Hall, Room 3134
E-mail: sandra.owens@unlv.edu
Phone: 702-895-2898
Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
Leroy H. Pelton, Ph.D., Professor
Dr. Pelton's research and teaching interests include child abuse and neglect, child welfare, and social welfare policy. He has been a faculty member in the school since 1997.
Office: Greenspun Hall, Room 3121
E-mail: leroy.pelton@unlv.edu
Phone: 702-895-1329
Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
Satish Sharma, Ph.D., Professor
At UNLV since 1982, Dr. Sharma's areas of expertise include research methods and statistics; foundations of social work and welfare; multicultural, international, and minority social work practice; social development and community organization; and Gandhian welfare thought.
Office: Greenspun Hall, Room 3159
E-mail: satish.sharma@unlv.edu
Phone: 702-895-1038
Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
An-Pyng Sun, Ph.D., Associate Professor
At UNLV since 1997, Dr. Sun's research and teaching interests include substance abuse, multicultural practice, international social work, and social work education.
Office: Greenspun Hall, Room 3160
E-mail: an-pyng.sun@unlv.edu
Phone: 702-895-4349
Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
