1 CURRICULUM VITAE Melissa Wells Associate Professor Department of Social Work 314 Pettee Hall University of New Hampshire Durham, NH 03824 (603) 862-0076 EMAIL: melissa.wells@unh.edu EDUCATION University of New Hampshire Ph.D. and Cognate in College Teaching, 2003 Dissertation: Law Enforcement Dilemmas in Investigating Internet Sex Crimes Against Minors Dissertation Chair: David Finkelhor, Ph.D. University of Minnesota Duluth M.S.W., 1995 Master s Thesis: Range Mental Health Center Children s Summer Day Treatment Program: Program Evaluation Thesis Advisor: Michael Raschick, Ph.D. University of New Hampshire B.A. Spanish/International Affairs, University Honors, cum laude, 1991 Semester in Granada, Spain 1990 GRANTS/FELLOWSHIPS/AWARDS Children s Bureau: National Child Welfare Workforce Institute University Partnerships Grant: Principal investigator on $735,000 grant to build data-driven decision making capacity within New Hampshire Division for Children, Youth, and Families. College of Health and Human Services Teaching Excellence Award (2014): Awarded in spring 2014. UNH Faculty Development Grant (2013): Grant provided support to attend the Sloan-C Online Learning Conference, with emphasis on evaluation practices in online education. Research & Engagement Academy Scholar 2012: Faculty scholar for Research & Engagement Academy at the University of New Hampshire. Carsey Institute Summer Faculty Award (Summer 2010): Award provided 30 hours per week of doctoral student research support. Carsey Institute Faculty Fellowship (Fall 2009): Fellowship provided one semester of course release to be in residence at The Carsey Institute. Council of Social Work Education Scholars Grant (2009): Grant supported a pilot research project on Best Practices in Social Work Research Education, co-authored with Tina Maschi (Fordham University) and Greta Yoder Slater (Ball State University).
2 UNH Faculty Development Grant (2008): Grant provided support to attend the Council of Social Work Education, with emphasis on best practices in social work research education. UNH College of Health and Human Services New Investigator Award (2008) UNH Graduate School Summer Faculty Fellowship (Summer 2008): Fellowship supported an analysis of NH Division for Children Youth and Families (DCYF) foster care outcome data. UNH Undesignated Gifts Fund Award (2006): Award provided support for the development of Social Work Department evaluation and assessment materials and analysis. VP for Research and Public Service Grant (2005): Grant supported outreach and research assistance with NH DCYF longitudinal data on child welfare outcomes. Cornell National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect Summer Research Institute (2005): Selected to attend an intensive child abuse and neglect research institute. UNH Faculty Development Grant (2004): Grant supported attendance at the Child Welfare League of American Conference in Washington, DC. RECENT PROGRAM EVALUATION Department of Social Work, Department Evaluator, University of New Hampshire January 2004 to present Principal Investigator: Conduct annual evaluations of UNH graduate (Durham and Manchester) and undergraduate programs. Conduct alumni surveys at regular intervals with initial funding from UNH Undesignated Gifts Fund. New Hampshire Division for Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), Readiness for Change Evaluator, January 2012 to present Evaluator: Analyze data from annual survey of culture and climate at DCYF. Present findings to Management and leadership staff annually. NH Division for Children, Youth & Families/Department of Social Work, Title IV-E Evaluation, University of New Hampshire January 2004 to present. Principal Investigator: Conduct evaluation of UNH/NH Department of Children, Youth & Families Child Welfare Educational Partnership. Institute on Disability, Working Together Project, University of New Hampshire, January 2005 to May 2006. Evaluator: Evaluator on project aimed at fostering domestic violence/disability cross-training in domestic violence shelters and disability resource agencies in New Hampshire. Funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Family Research Laboratory, Research Partnership with NH Division for Children, Youth & Families, University of New Hampshire, September 2004 to August 2006. Co-Investigator: Develop Child Welfare research partnerships and evaluation plan as a component of Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention funded project.
3 PUBLICATIONS IN PRINT Mitchell, K.J., Wells, M., Priebe, G., & Ybarra, M. (in press-accepted 9/22/14). Exposure to websites that encourage self-harm and suicide: Prevalence rates and association with actual thoughts of self-harm and suicide ideation. Journal of Adolescence. Marx, J. & Wells, M. (2013). Administering University-State Child Welfare Training Partnerships: Implications for Best Practice. Administrative Sciences, 3 (4), 221-236. Mitchell, K., Jones, L. & Wells, M. (2013). Testing the Index of Problematic Online Experiences (I-POE) with a National Sample of Youth. Journal of Adolescence, 36, 1153-1163. Wells, M. & Mitchell, K. (Appeared in Online First April 2013). Youth receiving special education services and youth with physical disabilities: Patterns of internet use and risk for online interpersonal victimization. Journal of Special Education. Wells, M. & Correia, M. (2012). Reentry into out-of-home care: Implications of child welfare workers assessments of risk and safety. Social Work Research, 36 (3), 181-198. Wells, M., Mitchell, K. & Ji, K. (2012). Exploring the role of the internet in juvenile prostitution cases coming to the attention of law enforcement. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 21 (3), 327-342. Maschi, T, Wells, M, & Yoder Slater, G. (2012). Social work students research-related anxiety and selfefficacy: Research instructors perceptions and teaching innovations. Social Work Education: The International Journal, 31 (3), 331-346. Wells, M.; Maschi, T.; & Yoder Slater, G. (April 2012). Integration of research and practice: Innovations and challenges in social work programs. Social Work Education: The International Journal, 31 (3), 331-346. Wells, M. & Correia, M. (2010). Assessments of safety and risk: Implications for reunification from outof-home care. Protecting Children, 25 (3), 90-108. Mitchell, K., Sabina C., Finkelhor, D. & Wells, M. (2009). Index of Problematic Online Experiences: Item Characteristics and Correlation with Trauma Symptomatology. CyberPsychology and Behavior, 12 (6), 707-711. Wells, M. & Zunz, S. (2009). Chafee Educational and Training Voucher programs: System coordination in rural New England. Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 26(2), 103-120. Wells, M. & Zunz, S. (2009). Challenges and strengths among Chafee Education and Training Voucher eligible youth: The rural service providers perspective. Children and Youth Services Review, 31 (1), 235-242. Wells, M. & Mitchell, K. (2008). How do high risk youth use the Internet? Characteristics and implications for prevention. Child Maltreatment, 13 (3), 227.234. Dawson, J. & Wells, M. (2007). Crimes involving child victims: Law enforcement reporting to child protective services in rural communities. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 1 (4), 43-65.
4 Wells, M., Mitchell, K., Finkelhor, D. & Becker-Blease, K. (2007). Online mental health treatment: Concerns and considerations. CyberPsychology and Behavior, 10 (3), 460-463. Mitchell, K. & Wells, M. (2007). Problematic Internet experiences: Primary or secondary presenting problems in persons seeking mental health care? Social Science and Medicine 65, 1136-1141. Wells, M. & Mitchell, K. (2007). Youth sexual exploitation on the Internet: DSM-IV diagnoses and gender differences in co-occurring mental health problems. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal 24(3), 235-260. Wells, M; Finkelhor, D; Wolak, J & Mitchell, K. (2007). Defining child pornography: Law enforcement dilemmas in the investigation of Internet child pornography possession. Police Practice & Research 8(3), 269-282. Wells, M (2006). Internet problems coming to the attention of school social workers. Children & Schools 28 (4), 237-242. Wells, M (2006). Making statistics real for social work students. Journal of Social Work Education 42 (2), 371-378. Wells, M., Mitchell, K., Finkelhor, D., & Becker-Blease, K. (2006). Mental health professionals exposure to clients with problematic Internet experiences. Journal of Technology in the Human Services 24 (4), 35-52. Potter, S. & Wells, M. (2006). Service-learning pedagogy: New directions for mentoring and collaboration between faculty and graduate students. Journal of Graduate Student Development 10 (1), 7-16. Potter, S. & Wells, M. (2004). Sociology 601: Methods of social research syllabus. In S. Marullo & K.J. Strand (Eds.) Community-Based Research: ASA Resource Materials for Teaching. (pp. 96-102). Washington, DC: American Sociological Association. Wells, M; Finkelhor, D; Wolak, J & Mitchell, K. (July 2004). Offender identification: Law enforcement challenges in Internet child pornography crimes. Sex Offender Law Report 4(5), 41-42, 49. Finkelhor, D. & Wells, M. (2003). Improving data systems about juvenile victimization in the United States. Child Abuse & Neglect 27(1): 77-102. CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS Wells, M., Vanyukevych, N., Levesque, S. (October 2014). Engaging Parents: Results from On-Site Review Instruments. Presented at Council on Social Work Education, Tampa, Florida. Levesque, S., Bartlett, L., & Wells, M. (May 2013). Culture and Climate in Child Welfare. Presented at 20 th Annual NH Division for Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) Conference. Marx, J. & Wells, M. (November 2012). Administering University-State Child Welfare Training Partnerships: Implications for Best Practice. Presented at Council on Social Work Education, Washington, D.C.
5 Wells, M. & Mitchell, K. (November 2012). Perpetration and Victimization Online: The Importance of Considering Cumulative Offline Problem Behavior. Presented at Council on Social Work Education, Washington, D.C. Delaney Lutz, A., Wells, M. & Hutchings, J. (July 2012). Youth leaving foster care: The impact of polyvictimization experiences on depressive status. Presented at International Family Violence Research Conference, Portsmouth, NH. Wells, M. & Mitchell, K. (November 2011). Youth with special needs and the internet: Patterns of use and assessment of risk for online interpersonal victimization. Presented at Ending Domestic & Sexual Violence: Innovations in Practice & Research Conference, Portsmouth, NH. Delaney Lutz, A. & Wells, M. (November, 2010). Youth leaving foster care: The impact of dual victimization experiences on depressive status. Presented at New England Sociological Association, Durham, NH. Maschi, T., Wells, M., Yoder Slater, G. (October 2010). Perceptions of student anxiety and confidence in research methods courses. Presented at Council of Social Work Education, Portland, OR. Shannon, P., Kinsey, J. & Wells, M. (July, 2010). Re-entry rates for children with disabilities in child welfare. Presented at International Family Violence Research Conference, Portsmouth, NH. Wells, M., Mitchell, K. & Ji, K. (July, 2010). Exploring the role of the internet in juvenile prostitution cases coming to the attention of law enforcement. Presented at International Family Violence Research Conference, Portsmouth, NH. Wells, M. & Mitchell, K. (March, 2010). High risk youth on the Internet: Characteristics and online behavior. Presented symposium at Society for Research on Adolescence, Philadelphia, PA. Wells, M., Maschi, T., & Slater, G. (January 2010). Promising practices in social work research education: Findings, innovations, and live demonstrations. Society for Social Work Research, San Francisco, CA. Maschi, T., Wells, M. & Slater, G. (November 2009). Best practices in social work research education: Findings and innovations. Council of Social Work Education APM, San Antonio, TX. Wells, M. & Correia, M. (2009, July). Child welfare workers; assessments of risk and safety: Implications for reentry into out-of-home care. Presented at National Research Conference on Child and Family Programs and Policy, Bridgewater, MA. Correia, M. & Wells, M. (2009, January). Developmental patterns in foster care reentry: A longitudinal analysis. Presented at Society for Social Work and Research, New Orleans, LA. Wells, M. & Correia, M. (2008, January). Placement patterns for adolescents in foster care: A longitudinal analysis of New Hampshire AFCARS data. Presented at Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, DC. Zunz, S. & Wells, M. (2007, October). Foster care youth and Chafee ETV programs: Can we do better? Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
6 Wells, M. (2007, July). How do high risk youth use the Internet? Characteristics and implications for prevention. Paper presented at International Family Violence and Child Victimization Conference, Portsmouth, NH. Wells, M. (2006, October). Internet-related problems coming to the attention of school social workers. Roundtable presentation at the 24 th Annual Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors Conference, Los Angeles, CA. Wells, M. & Correia, M. (2006, July). Placement patterns among adolescents in foster care. Paper presented at Child Welfare League of America Data and Technology Conference, Washington, DC. Wells, M. & Correia, M. (2006, July). Adolescents length of stay in foster care. Paper presented at International Family Violence and Child Victimization Conference, Portsmouth, NH. Wells, M. (2005, July). Child maltreatment reports: Child protective services notification of law enforcement. Paper presented at Victimization of Children and Youth Conference, Portsmouth, NH. Wells, M. (2005, July). Child maltreatment reports: Child protective services notification of law enforcement. Paper was accepted as a paper at the Eastern Sociological Society Annual Meeting in Boston, MA (February 2006). Kaufman Kantor, G., Correia, M. & Wells, M. (July 2005). Research Partnership to Improve NH State Data on Abused and Neglected Children: NH PARCS. Paper presented at Child Welfare League of America Data Conference, Washington, DC. Wells, M. (2004, July). Internet sexual communications: Law enforcement challenges and innovations. Paper presented at Victimization of Children and Youth Conference, Portsmouth, NH. Dawson, J. & Wells, M. (2004, July). Crimes with child victims: Child protective services and law enforcement agency cross-reporting. Paper presented at Victimization of Children and Youth Conference, Portsmouth, NH. Wells, M (2004, April). Making statistics Real for social work students. Paper presented at Northeast Regional Campus Compact Annual Meeting, Worcester, MA. Wells, M (2003, November). Law enforcement dilemmas in Internet sex crimes against minors. Paper presented at American Society of Criminology, Denver, CO. Wells, M (2003, July). Law enforcement dilemmas in Internet sex crimes against minors. Paper presented at 8 th Annual Family Violence Conference, Portsmouth, NH. Wells, M (2003, May). The Internet: Pulling families together or pulling them apart? Paper presented at Sage Day School, NJ. Wells, M. & Potter, S. (2003, April). Service-learning pedagogy: New directions for mentoring graduate students. Paper presented at St. Anselem College Student Service Learning Conference, Goffstown, NH. Wells, M. (2003, March). Online child sex crimes: A new social problem? Paper presented at the Eastern Sociological Society Conference, Philadelphia, PA.
7 Wells, M. (2002, August). Improving data systems about juvenile victimization in the United States. Paper presented at the Victimization of Children and Youth Research Conference, Portsmouth, NH. Wolak, J., Mitchell, K., and Wells, M. (2002, August). Impact of the Internet on crimes involving child sexual assault and exploitation. Paper presented at the Victimization of Children and Youth Research Conference, Portsmouth, NH. Jacobi, T., and Wells, M. (2002, May). Community-based action research in a methods of social research course. Presented class project with undergraduate student enrolled in the course at the Partnership for Social Action Poster Session, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH. Wells, M (2002, April). Parental use of impulsive discipline and corporal punishment. Poster presented at the University of New Hampshire Graduate School Poster Session, Durham, NH. Wells, M (2002, March). Parental use of impulsive discipline and corporal punishment. Paper presented at the Eastern Sociological Society Conference, Boston, MA. TEACHING EXPERIENCE Associate Professor, January 2004-present (tenured and promoted July 2010), Department of Social Work, University of New Hampshire, Durham and Manchester, NH Teach courses in Statistics, Research Methods, Program Evaluation, and School Social Work in graduate and undergraduate program. Use service-learning and community-based research projects as key components of courses, providing evaluation assistance to an average of 10 agencies each year. Adjunct Instructor, June 2001-December 2003, Department of Social Work, University of New Hampshire, Durham and Manchester, NH Instructed Research Methods and Statistics courses in Durham BSW and MSW program. Graduate Assistant Instructor, Spring 2002, Department of Sociology, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH Taught service-learning based Research Methods course in undergraduate program. Teaching Assistant, September 2000-December 2001, Department of Sociology, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH Assisted in undergraduate Honors Statistics, Internship, and Class, Status, and Power course. Adjunct Instructor, Fall 1999, Vermilion Community College, Ely, Minnesota Instructed large (99 students) Introduction to Sociology course. Ely, MN Adjunct Instructor, Winter Quarter 1998, University of Minnesota Duluth, MN Developed Interactive Television (ITV) curriculum for Social Welfare Policies and Issues course in graduate Social Work program. Community Education Instructor, 1997-1998, Vermilion Community College, Ely, MN Created curriculum and taught Conversational Spanish to adult learners at Community College and United States Steel Education Site. Graduate Assistant Instructor, Fall 1994-Spring 1995, University of Minnesota Duluth, MN Taught six sections of Interpersonal Communication (quarter system).
8 DIRECT PRACTICE EXPERIENCE School-based Social Worker, 1998-2000, St. Louis County Social Service Department, Virginia, MN Provided school-based, preventative services to children in two rural schools. Offered in-home, supportive services to families and communities. Collaborated with local agencies and resources to meet needs of families. Intake Social Worker, 1998-2000, St. Louis County Social Service Department Virginia, MN Responded immediately to situations where children were in danger or separated from their families. Provided screening and evaluation for service needs and referral services to appropriate resources. Counseled families in crisis situations. Project Coordinator/Youth Worker, 1995-1997, Ely Community Resource Ely, MN Counseled elementary and high school aged youth in group and individual sessions. Coordinated Peer Mediation, Peer Helper, and service learning programs in school system. Children s Day Treatment, Summer 1994 and Summer 1996, Range Mental Health Center Virginia, MN Worked with Center staff in developing and coordinating summer day treatment program using adventure-based, activity-oriented approach. Assisted with evaluation of day treatment program. Facilitated day treatment groups and developed treatment plans for children in program. Family Support Worker-Spanish Coordinator, 1992-1993, Child Health Services Manchester, NH Provided clinical and social services to children and their families including assessment, parent education, advocacy, and community outreach. Acted as interpreter/advocate/community liaison for Spanish speaking families. SELECTED SERVICE Institutional Review Board Member, University of New Hampshire, January 2004-present. Carsey Institute Faculty Fellow, University of New Hampshire, January 2010-present. Advisory Board, International Journal of School Social Work, August 2014-present. Editorial Board, Journal of Social Work Education, May 2008-present. New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice, Disaster Behavioral Health Team member, February 2004-June 2014. Graduate Coordinator, University of New Hampshire Department of Social Work, September 2010- August 2013. New Hampshire Chapter of National Association of Social Workers, Children s Issues Committee Member, September 2003-May 2009. Teaching Excellence Committee, University of New Hampshire, August 2004-May 2007.