Rachel Casey, PhD, MSW

SHE | HER | HERS

  • Assistant Professor of Social Work
  • MSW Program Coordinator
207-780-4123

G26 Masterton Hall, Portland campus

Office Hours for Fall 2022:

  • Tuesday, 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Territory/Specialty

Social work

Education

  • Ph.D., Virginia Commonwealth University, 2018
  • M.S.W., Virginia Commonwealth University, 2012

Current Courses

  • SWO502 Critical Thinking about Human Behavior in the Social Environment I
  • SWO552 Critical Thinking about Human Behavior in the Social Environment II
  • SWO605 Social Work Research II
  • SWO599/SWO399/WGS265 Race, Gender, and Criminal Justice
  • SWO695 Graduate Thesis
  •  

Research Interests

  • socially just responses to the experiences of marginalized populations, including restorative justice, decarceration and prison abolition
  • the social, political, and psychological influence of Disney as a cultural and corporate entity

Rachel earned her MSW and PhD from the School of Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University. Rachel conducts research across methodologies to illuminate the unique experiences of incarcerated women, aiming to improve the responsiveness of mental health programs in correctional settings. Rachel is also passionate about teaching and has taught courses in research methods, human behavior in the social environment, and social justice. Regardless of subject matter, Rachel strives to engage students in dynamic learning experiences which help them develop a critical perspective and acquire essential knowledge and skills for competent, reflexive social work practice.

Expertise

  • criminal justice
  • antiracist practices
  • cultural criticism

Selected Publications

  • Westin, E.M., & Casey, R.C. Deconstructing Disney [Audio podcast]. Simplecast. https://deconstructing-disney.simplecast.com/
  • Casey, R. C., Bentley, K. J., & McDonald, S. E. (2020). Mental health difficulties of incarcerated women: The influence of violence perpetration and victimization. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health. doi: 10.1080/14999013.2020.1713258
  • Wabanaki REACH & Casey, R.C. (2020). Healing circles in Maine prisons: Connecting Native people with community and culture. https://www.wabanakireach.org/healing_circles_in_maine_prisons
  • Casey, R. C., & Bentley, K. J. (2019). Individual factors associated with women’s use of mental health services during incarceration: Anticipating programmatic needs. Corrections: Policy, Practice and Research. doi: 10.1080/23774657.2019.1623134
  • Casey, R. C., & Bentley, K. J. (2019). Psychotropic medication experiences of incarcerated women: A qualitative inquiry into conundrums of access and identity. Women & Criminal Justice, 29(1), 1-13. doi: 10.1080/08974454.2017.1389331
207-780-4123

G26 Masterton Hall, Portland campus

Office Hours for Fall 2022:

  • Tuesday, 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Territory/Specialty

Social work

Education

  • Ph.D., Virginia Commonwealth University, 2018
  • M.S.W., Virginia Commonwealth University, 2012

Current Courses

  • SWO502 Critical Thinking about Human Behavior in the Social Environment I
  • SWO552 Critical Thinking about Human Behavior in the Social Environment II
  • SWO605 Social Work Research II
  • SWO599/SWO399/WGS265 Race, Gender, and Criminal Justice
  • SWO695 Graduate Thesis
  •  

Research Interests

  • socially just responses to the experiences of marginalized populations, including restorative justice, decarceration and prison abolition
  • the social, political, and psychological influence of Disney as a cultural and corporate entity