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Marcia Harrigan

Marcia P. Harrigan

Senior Associate Dean for Student and Academic Affairs, and Associate Professor
Phone: (804) 828-0408
E-mail: mpharrig@vcu.edu

On teaching, research and community
“Our philosophy at the school, and that which I am totally wedded to, is that those three pieces of the academic stool must be there and work together. The most sturdy stool is one that has all three legs. And they can’t work independently of each other. Students see the results of this belief system in the classroom. They find the classroom more vibrant when a faculty member can talk about the dynamics of working with a particular agency because they’re involved as a board member or their research has formed course content or has the potential to form content.

“The greatest strength of this school is its quest of excellence. It’s culture of collaboration and collegiality. It sets the platform for inquiry and that inquiry is considered important and a contribution. There’s a tremendous amount of collaboration that goes on among our faculty. It’s what we’re known for, and the preparation of our students for practice.

“I really like to think that first of all we’re a leader in social work education. As leaders in the social work profession, we must be able to promote leadership in our students. I look to our students as carrying out that vision in their own practice – whether that might be entering the profession through graduate school, academia or practice.”

Education

  • Ph.D. – Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va.
  • M.S.W. – Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va.
  • B.A. – Muskingum College, New Concord, OH

Research interests

  • Family assessment with a focus on non-traditional family structures
  • Family caregiving; human behavior

Courses taught

  • SWKF 898: Dissertation Research
  • SLWK 791: Integrating seminar M.S.W. and MACE/Mdiv.
  • Field liaison for B.S.W. and M.S.W. students
  • SWKD 792: Doctoral Independent Study

Selected publications

  • Vandsberger, E., Harrigan, M.P., & Biggerstaff, M. (2008, in press). In Spite of It All: Themes of Stress and Resiliency as Told by Women in Families Living in Poverty. Journal of Family Social Work. 11(1).

  • Koerin, B., Harrigan, M., & Secret, M. (2008). Eldercare and Employed Caregivers: A Public/Private Responsibility? Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 51(1/2), 143-161.

  • Harrigan, M.P. & Baldwin, S. (2008). Conception, pregnancy and birth. In E.D. Hutchison (Ed.) Dimensions of human behavior: The changing life course (Vol. II), (3rd Ed.) pp. 39-94. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

  • Hutchison, E.D. Matto, H. Harrigan, M., Charlesworth, L., & Viggiani, P. (2007). Challenges of Living. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

  • Harrigan, M.P., & Koerin, B.B. (2007). Long-distance caregiving: Personal realities and practice implications. Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping. 13(2), 5-16.

  • Walsh, J. & Harrigan, M. (2003). The Termination Stage in Bowen’s Family System Theory. Clinical Social Work Journal, 31(4), 383-S394.

Professional affiliations

  • National Association of Social Workers
  • Council on Social Work Education