VCU School of Social Work

Going beyond the classroom

“I’ve always loved teaching. It invigorates me. It’s the students’ willingness to learn that drives me. I feed off their energy as well as learn from them.

“I like to bring my practice experiences into the classroom in order to turn concepts and theories into reality. Bridging the two brings it all to life and creates a great active learning experience.

“My job as a professor goes beyond the walls of the classroom. I love the interactions with the students but also believe in furthering their goals as social workers. Their internal resolve to help others and make this world a better place motivates me more than anything.”

Education

• Ph.D. – University of Houston, Houston, TX
• M.S.W. – University of Houston, Houston, TX

• B.A. – University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX

Research interests

• Immigrant mental health and acculturation/assimilation dynamics
• Parenting styles and parent-child relationship issues
• Social work education and social justice

Courses taught

• Social Work and Social Justice
• Social Work Practice

Selected publications

• Nguyen, P.V. (2009). Children and Mental Health. In V. Vandiver (Ed.) Best Practices in Mental Health: A Pocket Guide. New York, NY: Oxford University Press (Manuscript submitted for publication).

• Nguyen, P.V. (forthcoming). My seven (dog) month itch. Journal of Reflections.

• Nguyen, P.V. (in press). Perceptions of Vietnamese fathers’ acculturation levels, parenting styles, and mental health outcomes of Vietnamese American adolescent immigrants. Social Work, 53, 337–346.

• Nguyen, P.V. (Spring, 2008). My journey to Social Work. Journal of Reflections, 14(2), 40-46.

• Kodwo-Nyameazea, Y. & Nguyen, P. (2008). Immigrants and long-distance elder care: An exploratory study. Ageing International. doi: 10.1007/s12126-008-9013-4.

Professional affiliations

• Council of Social Work Education