Areas of Practice

Kelsey’s research aims to subvert social work education and practice through lenses of queer irreverence and mess. What does that mean? She is still learning the answer to that too and looks forward to learning together with her students. However, in essence, to Kelsey, this means bringing a critical lens to anything institutionalized (especially the things we are taught in social work school--which is taking place in an institution deeply tied to legacies of settler colonialism and white supremacy) and getting used to a long, messy, and engaged experience that centers community process and accountability over individual product and power gain. This process requires intentionality and prioritization, and yet the demands of MSW programs often interrupt or even inhibit this process. A parallel process forms between social work classrooms and social work settings, and therefore, if we hope to share liberatory spaces in the field, Kelsey believes it is the responsibility of instructors to share liberatory spaces in the classroom. Through guest lecturing, teaching associateships, and serving as a lead instructor, Kelsey looks forward to being on this road with each one of her students.

Kelsey has guest lectured at Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service, Columbia University School of Social Work, and NYU Silver School of Social Work. Throughout her doctoral program, she has prioritized honing teaching skills through the Advanced Track of Columbia’s Teaching Development Program (TDP), fellowships within Columbia’s Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), and TAships and Instructor of Record positions within Columbia School of Social Work Master’s-level courses (each listed below).

Teaching & Diversity Statements available upon request.

Teaching Portfolio

Password to e-portfolio shared upon request.

Teaching Awards

Teaching Appointments

Columbia University, School of Social Work

Direct Practice with Individuals, Families, & Groups - Spring 2025
Teaching Fellow (Instructor of Record) for 24 students
First-Year Master of Social Work Required Course for all Students

• Managed all grading and lesson plan design

• Held office hours to support students with concept comprehension, assignments, and case consultation

Advanced Clinical Practice - Fall 2024
Teaching Fellow (Instructor of Record) for 25 students
Second-Year Master of Social Work Required Course for all Clinical Track Students

• Designed syllabus and course assessments based on set course objectives and session themes

• Managed all grading and lesson plan design

• Held office hours to support students with concept comprehension, assignments, and case consultation

Independent Study Instruction

Columbia University, School of Social Work

Conceptualizing & Queering Care - Fall 2024
Teaching Fellow (Instructor of Record) for 1 student
Second-Year Master of Social Work Elective Independent Study

Transgender and Gender Expansive Course Development Through a Transformative Social Work Pedagogical Approach - Spring 2024
Co-Instructor for 1 Student (with Elwin Wu, PhD)
Second-Year Master of Social Work Elective Independent Study

Rigor, PROP*, and Social Work Pedagogy - Spring 2023
Co-Instructor for 1 Student (with Elwin Wu, PhD)
First-Year Master of Social Work Elective Independent Study
(*PROP = power, race, oppression, and privilege)

Teaching Associateships

Columbia University, School of Social Work

Human Behavior in the Social Environment (HBSE) A - Fall 2022
Teaching Associate (TA) for 35 Students (with Dr. Amy Kapadia, PhD)
First-Year Master of Social Work Required Course for all Students

• Graded 20 students in three-part semester-wide assignment

• Held office hours to support students with concept comprehension and assignments

• Facilitated in-class small group discussions

• Lectured a course session on “Gendered Beginnings: The Birth of Gender & Being Gendered Upon Birth”
  (Teaching Observation Report available upon request)

Social Work Research - Fall 2022
Teaching Associate (TA) for 35 Students (with Dr. Craig Schwalbe, PhD)
First-Year Master of Social Work Required Course for all Students

• Graded all student assignments leading to final

• Held office hours to support students with concept comprehension and assignments

• Facilitated in-class small group discussions

• Lectured a course session on “Queering the Pandemic via Photovoice: Experiences of Crisis Counselors in Quarantine”

Research Mentorship

Columbia University, School of Social Work

Conceptualizing & Queering Care within and outside of (Social Work) Institutions (Fall 2024 - Present)
PhD Candidate & Research Mentor for 3 Students
Working with Master of Social Work Students

• Mentoring students through qualitative critical participatory action research (CPAR) process for my dissertation study

Consultation

Teaching Consultant (2024 - Present)
Columbia University Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL)
Working with doctoral and masters students across Columbia University
38 Consultation Sessions & Counting

• Provide structured, confidential, and formative (1) teaching observations, (2) mid-course reviews, and (3) practice teaching sessions

• Conduct teaching-related (4) consultations (for teaching and diversity statements, syllabi, lesson plans, classroom dynamics or challenges, or Teaching Development Program [see below] completion support) for doctoral candidates across all Columbia University departments

Writing Consultant (2024 - Present)
Columbia University School of Social Work (CSSW) Writing Center
Working with doctoral and masters students within CSSW
144 Consultation Sessions Per Year (on average)

• Provide writing consultations for CSSW students through individual or group synchronous sessions or asynchronous written feedback sessions

• Work with CSSW students on individual or group writing projects for coursework, practicum learning, applications, and more, aiming to bolster confidence and skills in writing while helping students improve their drafts

Teaching Fellowships

Pedagogical Training

CTL Advisory Committee, Graduate Student Member (2023 - Present)
Columbia University, Center for Teaching and Learning

Teaching Development Program, Advanced Track (2020 - Present)
Columbia University, Center for Teaching and Learning