Robin Sakina Mama, Ph.D., is dean of the School of Social Work at Monmouth University. Before entering academia, Mama was a staff member at the Philadelphia Area Project on Occupational Safety and Health, a labor organization that worked for better health and safety conditions for workers and unions in the tristate Delaware Valley area. Mama was responsible for providing technical assistance to unions on workers compensation, contract language for health and safety, and right-to-know information.

A full professor at Monmouth, Mama teaches in the International and Community Development concentration of the MSW program. Mama serves as the representative of the International Federation of Social Workers to the United Nations in New York City and is the chair of the International Committee for NASW National. She is also on the executive board of the International Organization for Women and Development – IOWD.

Education

Ph.D., Social Work and Social Research, Bryn Mawr College

Master of Social Service, Master of Law and Social Policy, Bryn Mawr College

BSW, College Misericorida

Research Interests

Areas of interest include occupational safety and health, field education, and cultural awareness and humility in social work practice, international social work and human rights.

Books

Ward, Kelly & Mama, Robin. (2005) Breaking Out of the Box: Adventure Based Field. Chicago: Lyceum Books. 3rd Edition published in 2013.

Swigonski, M., Mama, R., & Kelly Ward. (2001) From Hate Crimes to Human Rights. Haworth Press, 2001.

Book Chapters:

Mama, R.S. (2013). “Social Policy from a Global Perspective”, published in Colby, I., Dulmus, C. and Sowers, K.(eds) Social Work and Social Policy: Advancing the principles of Economic and Social Justice, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Mama, R. S. (2011). “Representing Social Work at the United Nations and other International Bodies.”   Rosemary Link and Lynne Healy (eds), Handbook on International Social Work, Oxford University Press.

Presentations/Invited Talks

“Recognizing and Supporting the Global Social Service Workforce: Challenges and Opportunities.” Sidney A. Teller Lecture at the University of Pittsburgh, March 19, 2014.

Forthcoming

Mama, R.S. (2018). “Community Gardening:  The Nexus for Community, Social Work and University Collaboration”, to be published in 2018 in Dominelli, L., Nikku, B.R. and Ku, H.B (eds.) Green Social Work: A New Director for Social Work, Routledge.

Professional Associations

Licensed Social Worker, New Jersey, #SL 13522

Council on Social Work Education

Association of Baccalaureate Program Directors

National Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work

Awards

Community Service Award, from the Long Branch Concordance, September, 2011

Humanitarian Award, Monmouth County Mental Health Association, May 11, 2010

Distinguished Teaching Award, Monmouth University, 1999-2000

Additional Information

Beginning fluency in Gujerati and French.