Dr. Pamela Criss
Associate Professor of Social Work
Email Professor Criss

BA in sociology/social work, Florida Southern College
MSW in social work, University of South Florida
PhD, University of South Florida
LCSW (licensed clinical social worker)

Biography
Dr. Pam Criss brings to Southeastern over 30 years of experience as a social worker, predominantly in the field of child welfare. She has worked in adoption, foster care, residential group child care, and the care of those with developmental disabilities. She is a licensed clinical social worker and has been an outpatient mental health therapist since 1993.

At Southeastern, Dr. Criss worked with Marleen Milner to lay the foundation for the Social Work Program, helping to write the accreditation documents. She has also been recognized for her work in the classroom, and her PhD dissertation focused on client violence towards social work students. Dr. Criss is excited to have the opportunity at Southeastern to prepare competent social workers who love the Lord and are able to extend His love to wounded people and communities. She says that at Southeastern, students truly have the chance to find out how to exercise their faith while professionally serving some of the deepest needs of people.

Dr. Criss teaches the following courses: Human Behavior in the Social Environment I, Human Behavior in the Social Environment II, Child and Adolescent Issues, Family Violence, Preparation for Field, and Field Seminar. Dr. Criss has research interests in the areas of child sexual abuse, adoption, and the dynamics of blended families. She also continues to research the effects of safety training and social support on social work students.

Brief Highlights:

• Co-wrote accreditation documents that culminated in Council on Social Work Education accreditation of the Social Work Program at Southeastern in February, 2006.
• Named to Who's Who Among America's Teachers in 2005, 2007.
• Named Social Worker of the Year in 2003 by the Heartland Unit of National Association of Social Workers.