Social Work Department

William Gilbert has been a social worker for over 25 years as a clinician, administrator, and educator. He received his MSW from Boston College and his Ph.D. in social work from the University of Connecticut. He has worked at several social service agencies in Connecticut serving in both administrative and clinical positions, including 15 years in the addictions field. He also currently works at Griffin Counseling LLC as a private practice therapist. His dissertation was titled “Correlates of Recovery from Substance Use Disorders.” His primary research interest is the investigation of factors affecting recovery from substance use disorders. He is married with three adult children and three dogs.

Professor Hartblay’s experience includes work in community and program planning, public welfare, community centers, mental health centers, psychiatric hospitals, and school social work. His interests include social work history, genocide studies, issues of oppression and discrimination, civil rights, social justice issues, government and public policy, and the development of values and ethics in social work students. Professor Hartblay believes in the importance of a strong liberal arts base in the education of social work students. His courses feature literature, art, and film as part of the teaching and learning process. He is interested in international social work, and, in addition to many years of teaching at Elms College, has taught in Poland, Lithuania, and Northern Ireland. Professor Hartblay has presented at international social work conferences, and leads students on educational trips to Ireland and Poland.

Maureen Holland’s social work practice experience is in the areas of administration, child welfare, maternal child health, and disabilities. She is interested in making higher education accessible to traditionally underserved communities. She serves in an administrative role at New North Citizens’ Council, Inc., a community-based agency in the North End of Springfield. Her research interests center around Hispanic families, maternal child health, and disparities. Maureen is a doctoral student at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work, where she focuses on infant feeding decisions.

Danielle Maurice ’00, Ph.D., will serve as an assistant professor of psychology. Maurice holds a Ph.D. in social and developmental psychology, as well as a master’s in psychology, from Brandeis University and has worked as an instructor at Assumption College, George Washington University, and Elms College, as well as a special education teacher at Sabis International Charter School in Springfield, MA, and Chicopee Public Schools. She also has experience as a human services agency policy analyst with Hornby Zeller Associates in Maine and as a research consultant, working with state agencies on public health program research and evaluation.