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Felicia Mitchell
Senior Global Futures Scholar
Faculty, DTPHX Campus, Mailcode 3920
Assistant Professor
Faculty, DTPHX Campus, Mailcode 3920
Biography:
Felicia M. Mitchell joined the School of Social Work at Arizona State University in August 2016. Mitchell is committed to social justice for all oppressed, marginalized, and minoritized peoples. She advocates for the advancement of environmental and health equity in Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities. Her primary research interests focus on social determinants of health (which include ecological determinants) and their impact on Indigenous health and well-being. In support of Social Work's Grand Challenge to Create Social Responses to a Changing Environment, Mitchell's work seeks to promote public and policy responsiveness to the social and anthropological dimensions of environmental change and environmental racism. Mitchell uses Photovoice, a community-based participatory research method, to partner with communities and organizations around group-identified health and ecological concerns.
Mitchell's secondary line of scholarship focuses on advancing social work education through critical reflection and engagement that seeks to dismantle anti-Black sentiments and settler-colonial standards in academia. Using a critical lens, she examines teaching and curriculum standards to increase accurate representations of historically excluded populations in the classroom and advocates for the eradication of oppressive social work education and research practices.
Mitchell's article, "Engaging in Indigenous CBPR within Academia: A Critical Narrative," was selected as the winner of the 2018 Affilia Award for Distinguished Feminist Scholarship and Praxis in Social Work.
Education:
- Ph.D. Social Welfare, University of Kansas
- M.S.W. Social Work, Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis
- B.S.W. Social Welfare, University of Kansas
Research Website URL:
Google Scholar URL:
Research Interests:
- Environmental and Health Equity for Black, Indigenous, Communities of Color (BIPOC)
- Environmental Change Impacts on Health; Chronic Health Inequities
- Relational (Non-Material) Aspects of Water; Water Insecurity in Indigenous Communities
- Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR); Photovoice
- Racial & Ethnic Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Social Work Education and Research
Research Group:
Faculty Affiliate, Office of American Indian Projects, ASU SSW
Faculty Affiliate, Center for Biodiversity Outcomes, ASU
Faculty Fellow, PLuS Alliance, ASU
Faculty Research Affiliate, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center, ASU SSW
Senior Sustainability Scholar, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability, ASU
Publications:
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
(Order of authorship represents relative contributions; *denotes graduate student co-author)
Jackson, K. R., Mitchell, F. M., Ogbonnaya, I., *Mackey, C., Chudrup, C., & *Carver, A. (2022). Taking back the narrative: Gendered anti-Blackness in predominantly white schools of social work. Affilia: Feminist Inquiry in Social Work. DOI: 10.1177/08861099221099322
Lechuga- Peña, S., Mitchell, F. M., *Poola, C., *Gutierrez, M., & *Rivera, L. (2022). Incorporating Photovoice into a community-based intervention with Latinx families: Lessons learned from Your Family, Your Neighborhood. Advances in Social Work, 21(4), 1124-1140, DOI: 10.18060/24385
*Maglalang, D., Sangalang, C., Mitchell, F. M, Lechuga-Peña, S., & Nakaoka, S. (2021). The movement for ethnic studies: A tool of resistance and self-determination for social work education. Journal of Social Work Education, 1-14, https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2021.1963895
Mitchell, F. M. (2020). American Indian water insecurity in the era of COVID-19. Journal of Indigenous Social Development, 9(3), 67-75, https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/jisd/article/view/71067
Mitchell, F. M., Sangalang, C., Lechuga-Peña, S., Lopez, K., & Beccera, D. (2020). Health Inequities in Historical Context: A Critical Race Theory analysis of diabetes among African Americans and American Indians. Race and Social Problems,12(4), 289-299, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12552-020-09301-4
Mitchell, F. M., Billiot, S., & Lechuga- Peña, S. (2020). Utilizing Photovoice to support Indigenous accounts of environmental change and injustice. Genealogy, 4(2), 51, https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy4020051
Lechuga-Peña, S., Brown, S., Mitchell, F. M., Becerra, D., & Brisson, D. (2020). Improving parent-child bonds: Effects of the Your Family, Your Neighborhood intervention. Children and Youth Services Review, 119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105690
Jackson, K. F., Mitchell, F. M., Snyder, C. R., & Samuels, G. E. M. (2020). Salience of Ethnic Minority Grandparents in the Ethnic-Racial Socialization and Identity Development of Multiracial Grandchildren. Identity, 20(2), 73-91, https://doi.org/10.1080/15283488.2020.1728535
Billiot, S., Beltran, R., *Brown, D., Mitchell, F. M., & *Fernandez, A. (2019). Indigenous perspectives for strengthening social responses to global environmental changes: A response to the social work Grand Challenge on Environmental Change. Journal of Community Practice, 27(3-4), 296-316, 10.1080/10705422.2019.1658677
Billiot, S., & Mitchell, F. M. (2019). Conceptual interdisciplinary model of exposure to environmental changes to address Indigenous health and well-being. Public Health, 176, 142-148, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2018.08.011
Lechuga-Peña, S., Becerra, D., Mitchell, F.M., Lopez, K., & Sangalang, C (2019). Subsidized housing and low-income mother's school-based parent involvement: Findings from the Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study wave five. Children Youth Care Forum, 48, 323-338, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-018-9481-y
Mitchell, F. M. (2019). Water (in)security and American Indian health: Social and environmental justice implications for research, policy, and practice. Public Health, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2018.10.010
Sangalang, C., Becerra, D., Mitchell, F. M., Lechuga-Peña, S., Lopez, K., & Kim, I. (2019). Trauma, migration status, and mental health: A comparative analysis of refugees and immigrants in the United States. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 21, 909-919, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-018-0826-2
+Mitchell, F. M. (2018). Engaging in Indigenous CBPR within academia: A critical narrative. Affilia, 33(3), 379–394, https://doi.org/10.1177/0886109918762570
+Winner of 2018 Affilia Award for Distinguished Feminist Scholarship and Praxis in Social Work
Mitchell, F. M. (2018). “Water is Life”: Using Photovoice to document American Indian perspectives of water and health. Social Work Research, 42(2), 277-289, https://doi.org/10.1093/swr/svy025
Mitchell, F. M. (2016). Creating space for the ‘uncomfortable’: Discussions about race and police brutality in a BSW classroom. Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping, 21(3), 4-9.
Mitchell, F. M. (2016). Water is life: A community-based participatory study of the significance of water and its relationship to the health and well-being of the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (Order No. 10240244)
Mitchell, F. M. (2015). Racial and ethnic health disparities in an era of health care reform. Health & Social Work, 40(3), e66-e74, https://doi.org/10.1093/hsw/hlv038
Johnson-Motoyama, M., Petr, C. G., & Mitchell, F. M. (2014). Factors associated with success in doctoral social work education. Journal of Social Work Education, 50(3), 548-558, https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2014.916955
Mitchell, F. M. (2012). Reframing diabetes in American Indian communities: A social determinants of health perspective. Health & Social Work, 37(2), 71-79, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/hsw/hls013
BOOK CHAPTERS/EDITED VOLUMES
(Order of authorship represents relative contributions; *denotes graduate student co-author)
Mitchell, F., *Castillo, C., Matsuoka, M., & Raphael, C. (Forthcoming). Transforming academia for community-engaged research. In C. Raphael & Martha Matsuoka, Community-engaged research for environmental justice. Berkeley, CA: University of California - Luminos Press.
Forbes, R., Krings, A., Minnick, D., Mitchell, F. M., Teixeira, S., & Billiot, S. (in press). Creating social responses to a changing environment. In Spencer, M., and Teasley, M.L. (Eds.), Eliminating Racism: The 13th Grand Challenge for Social Work. Oxford University Press.
Kemp, S., Palinkas, L. A., Mason, L. R., Billiot, S., Mitchell, F. M., & Krings, A. (2022). Creating social responses to a changing environment. In Barth, R. P., Messing, J. T., Shanks, T. R. & Williams, J. H. (Eds.), Grand Challenges for Social Work and Society: Milestones Achieved and Opportunities Ahead (2nd edition). Oxford University Press.
Mitchell, F. M. (2019). Racial and ethnic health disparities in an era of health care reform (Invited reprint). In Bent-Goodley, T.B., Williams, J.H., Teasley, M.L., and Gorin, S. (Eds.), Grand Challenges for Society: Evidence-Based Social Work Practice. NASW Press.
Research Activity:
FELLOWSHIPS (selected)
2021 Resilience Fellow, Knowledge Exchange for Resilience (KER) Fellowship, ASU
2019- PLuS Faculty Fellow, PLuS Alliance Faculty Fellowship, ASU
2013-2016 MFP Fellow, Minority Fellowship Program (MFP), Council on Social Work Education
| Spring 2022 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| SWG 533 | Diversity/Oppression/Soc Work |
| Fall 2021 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| SWG 533 | Diversity/Oppression/Soc Work |
| Spring 2021 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| SWG 585 | Macro Social Work Practice |
| Fall 2020 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| SWG 533 | Diversity/Oppression/Soc Work |
| Spring 2020 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| SWG 585 | Macro Social Work Practice |
| Fall 2019 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| SWG 533 | Diversity/Oppression/Soc Work |
| Spring 2019 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| SWG 585 | Macro Social Work Practice |
| Fall 2018 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| SWG 533 | Diversity/Oppression/Soc Work |
| Spring 2018 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| SWG 585 | Macro Social Work Practice |
| Fall 2017 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| SWU 411 | Social Work Practice III |
Presentations:
PEER-REVIEWED PRESENTATIONS (*denotes graduate student co-presenter)
Wutich, A., Brewis, A., Jepson, W., Roque, A., Radonic, L. & Mitchell, F. M. (2021, February). Household Water Insecurity in the Global North. Contributor to roundtable presentation at the American Association's annual meeting for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Phoenix, AZ.
Lechuga-Peña, S., * Villagrana, K., Mitchell, F. M., & *Marroquín, M. (2021, January). Incorporating Photovoice into an Existing Latinx Bilingual Community-Based Intervention: Lessons Learned from Your Family, Your Neighborhood. Poster presentation presented at the annual conference of the Society for Social Work Research, Virtual Conference.
*Gutierrez, M., *Poola, C., Lechuga- Peña, S., & Mitchell, F. M. (2020, November). Mentorship for women of color doctoral students and faculty using critical theory. Panel presentation presented at the annual program meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Virtual Conference.
Teixeira, S., *Rao, S., Billiot, S., Mitchell, F. M., & *Luce, C. (2020, January). The Green New Deal and Its Social Work Implications: A Critical Examination and Discussion. Roundtable presentation presented at the annual conference of the Society for Social Work Research, Washington, DC.
Mitchell, F. M. & Meyer, L. (2019, June). Dialogue and development: Building the first fully online international Indigenous health course. Oral presentation presented at the Lowitja Institute International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference, Darwin, Australia.
Lechuga-Peña, S., Becerra, D., Mitchell, F. M., Lopez, K., & Sangalang, C. (2019, January). Low-income mother's school-based parent involvement and the role of subsidized housing: Findings from the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study Wave Five. Oral presentation to be presented at the annual conference of the Society for Social Work Research, San Francisco, CA.
Sangalang, C., Lechuga-Peña, S., Mitchell, F. M., Maglalang, D., & Nakaoka, S. (2019, January). Back to the future: Reflecting on 50 years of ethnic studies to inform new directions for social work research, policy, and practice. Roundtable presentation to be presented at the annual conference of the Society for Social Work Research, San Francisco, CA.
Lechuga-Peña, S., & Mitchell, F. M. (2018, November). Research in action: Using photovoice with diverse communities. Oral presentation in the Research and Program Evaluation Track presented at the annual program meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Orlando, FL.
Sangalang, C., Becerra, D., Mitchell, F. M., Lechuga-Peña, S., Lopez, K., & Kim, I. (2018, November). Trauma, post-migration stress, and mental health: A comparative analysis of refugees and immigrants in the United States. Paper accepted for the annual program meeting of the American Public Health Association, San Diego, CA.
Mason, L. R., Palinkas, L. A., Mitchell, F. M., & Billiot, S. (2017, October). Teaching Transdisciplinary and Translational Science Skills for Addressing the Grand Challenges. Grand Challenges Teaching Institute to be presented at the annual program meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Dallas, TX.
Mitchell, F. M. (2017, January). A community-based participatory study of the significance of water and its relationship to health and well-being in an American Indian community. E-poster session presented at the annual conference of the Society for Social Work Research, New Orleans, LA.
Billiot, S., Beltran, R., Fernandez, A., Brown, D., & Mitchell, F. M. (2017, January). Strengthening social responses to global environmental changes Grand Challenge: An Indigenous approach. Roundtable presented at the annual conference of the Society for Social Work Research, New Orleans, LA.
Mitchell, F. M. (2016, November). The relationship among water, health, and well-being in a Midwestern Tribal community. Interactive poster presentation presented at the annual program meeting of the Governor’s Conference on the Future of Water in Kansas, Manhattan, KS.
Billiot, S., & Mitchell, F. M. (2016, November). Reframing Indigenous mental health through an Indigenist model of ecological change. Interactive poster session presented at the annual program meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Atlanta, GA.
Mitchell, F. M. (2016, November). The relationship among water, health, and well-being in a Midwestern Tribal community. Oral presentation presented at the annual program meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Atlanta, GA.
Mitchell, F. M. (2015, November). Promoting CBPR in Tribal communities: Building trust, sustaining relationships, and moving forward. Oral presentation presented at the annual program meeting of the American Public Health Association, Chicago, IL.
Mitchell, F. M. (2015, October). Promoting CBPR in Tribal communities: Building trust, sustaining relationships, and moving forward. Interactive poster session presented at the annual program meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Denver, CO.
Honors / Awards:
2021-2023 NIH Loan Repayment Program (LRP) award from the Health Disparities through the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD).
2018 Affilia Award for Distinguished Feminist Scholarship and Praxis in Social Work
Editorships:
Consulting Editor, Health & Social Work
Professional Associations:
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Council on Social Work Education Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) Alumna
Indigenous and Tribal Social Work Educators’ Association (ITSWEA)
National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Society of Social Work Researchers (SSWR)
Graduate Faculties / Mentoring History:
Selected Mentoring History
2021- Member, Dissertation Committee for Nidia Hernandez (ASU SSW)
2018-2020 Co-Chair, Dissertation Committee for Charlene Poola (ASU SSW)
- Student graduated in fall 2020; faculty mentor since 2016
- Dissertation - A Journey: American Indian Behavioral Health Programs Building Culturally Competent Clinical Skills and Adapting Evidence-Based Treatments
- Student was the recipient of the Heard Museum Eagle Spirit Dissertation Award
- Media spotlight - https://socialwork.asu.edu/content/eagle-spirit-award-recipient-honored-hard-work-dedication-toward-enhancing-lives-indigenous
Service:
Selected Service
2021-2024 Invited Co-chair, Society for Social Work Research (SSWR) Research Cluster, Sustainable Development, Urbanization, and Environmental Justice
2021- Invited Member, Indigenous Determinants of Health Advisory Committee, Seven Directions, Center for Indigenous Public Health at the University of Washington
2020- Invited Member, Grand Challenges for Social Work National Advisory Council, Create Social Responses to a Changing Environment