Dr. Mary Ohmer, COSA Chair and Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work, has been a longtime champion for the integration of collaborative research into the foundation of social work practice and education. As Vice President and Chair of the 29th Annual Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Conference, set to take place January 15-19 in Seattle, Washington (see https://sswr.org/2025-conference-home/), Ohmer has played a key role in creating positive change and growth within SSWR through collaborative principles. This year’s conference theme, “Strengthening Social Impact through Collaborative Research,” was developed under Dr. Ohmer’s guidance and reflects her strong belief in the power of collaboration and partnerships to advance social change.
Central to Dr. Ohmer’s efforts is a recognition of Pitt’s role as a leader in community engagement and collaborative research. “Our university is an anchor institution and was awarded the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification in 2020,” she explains, pointing to Pitt’s Community Engagement Centers and its historical commitment to working with residents in neighborhoods like Homewood, Hazelwood and the Hill District. Our School of Social Work has played a key role in the university’s community engagement efforts. For example, Dr. Ohmer’s community-based participatory research class helped inform the university’s collaborative approach by conducting interviews with residents and community leaders in Homewood and the Hill District; and their feedback was incorporated into strategies for Pitt faculty to build authentic and respectful partnerships with the community. Community-based research principles continue to guide her work as she connects our school and the university’s strengths to the broader mission of the SSWR conference.
New Award Highlighting Community Partnership
One of Dr. Ohmer’s most exciting contributions for SSWR is the creation of a new Community-Research Partnership Award, sponsored by Cognella Publications. “Kassie Graves [at Cognella Publications] is the person I've worked work with on this award. I have known her for a long time through her support of the books I’ve published on community organizing, practice and research. She's very supportive of collaborative community research, so this was a great opportunity to create this new award sponsored by Cognella” Ohmer emphasizes. This award, launching at the upcoming conference, celebrates collaborative research partnerships between social work researchers and community partners working together to address complex social issues. This marks the first time a non-university entity has sponsored an award for SSWR, paving the way for more external partnerships in the future. Dr. Ohmer formed a task force to develop the award, including Pitt Social Work faculty members Dr. Katie Greeno and Dr. Jamie Booth, along with contributors from other schools and SSWR’s conference committee. The task force received overwhelming support, with 44 nominations submitted for the inaugural award, far exceeding the typical 10 to 15 for new awards. And, most exciting of all is that Dr. Sara Goodkind, Social of Work Professor, and her community partner, Dr. Kathi Elliott, Director of Gwen’s Girls, are the inaugural award winners! This illustrates how both the University of Pittsburgh and our own School of Social Work truly illustrate community engaged collaborative research.
A New Nomination Process for SSWR Leadership
There are 28 thematic Clusters that SSWR members can submit abstracts to for the conference. These are led by Cluster Co-Chairs, who play a significant role in the abstract review process and the development of the abstract-based program content for the SSWR annual conference. One of the Conference Chair responsibilities is working with and supporting the Cluster-Co Chairs in this role. Recognizing the lack of clarity and efficiency in the SSWR nomination process for Cluster Co-Chair positions, Dr. Ohmer led the effort to create a more transparent and comprehensive solution based on her prior role a Co-Chair for the Community and Neighborhood Research Cluster. Dr. Ohmer collaborated with the conference committee to develop a nomination form for open Cluster Co-Chair positions, which will be implemented via SurveyMonkey for the 2026 conference. This form asks thoughtful questions, such as why the nominee believes they are a good fit for the role and what contributions they can make. The clearer process not only improves candidate selection but also ensures that more voices are represented. “People feel more of a part of the organization, so making these changes is really important” Dr. Ohmer emphasizes.
Flash Talks: Engaging and Innovating Through Research Presentations
The conference committee also faced another positive challenge this year, an increase of almost 15% in total abstract submissions. To keep the acceptance rate the same as the 2024 conference, Dr. Ohmer worked with the SSWR conference committee and board to approve an increase in electronic posters and the creation of flash talks to address this issue. Board members Dr. Kirk Foster, Dr. Justin Harty, and Doctoral student representative Fatima Mabrouk developed a video tutorial for SSWR members, and Dr. Ohmer and Dr. Harty held an information session on this new presentation format. Flash talks allow researchers to succinctly convey their work in language accessible to diverse audiences, including community members and policymakers. They provide an opportunity for researchers to present their findings and communicate their impact in just a few minutes. This is a skill increasingly necessary in interdisciplinary and public settings.
“It's a good experience for people to learn how to present their research in layman's language” Ohmer explains. “Sometimes you're talking about your research in a community meeting or other external audiences where you have 5 minutes to explain your research. You have to be able to say: Here's my research, this is what I'm doing, this is why it's important, here's some initial results.” Dr. Ohmer said that the conference committee will be getting feedback from members on this new format and incorporating their ideas for next year’s conference.
Incorporating Faculty Feedback
Dr. Ohmer has also created spaces for faculty feedback to shape the conference agenda, including the selection of the plenary speaker. Associate Dean for Research and Associate Professor at Pitt’s School of Social Work, Dr. Jamie Booth, along with members of the SSWR Board and Conference Committee, recommended Dr. Desmond Patton as this year’s plenary speaker for the conference. Dr. Patton, a pioneer in the interdisciplinary fusion of social work, communications, and data science, is the Brian and Randi Schwartz University Professor, with joint appointments in the School of Social Policy & Practice and the Annenberg School for Communication along with a secondary appointment in the department of psychiatry in the Perelman School of Medicine. Dr. Patton will be speaking about the collaborative nature of his own research during the SSWR conference.
Symposia and Pitt’s Presence at SSWR
Dr. Ohmer’s commitment to advancing collaborative research extends beyond her leadership role as she aimed to actively connect Pitt faculty to opportunities she was leading as Conference Chair at SSWR. She actively sought out ideas and speakers for the invited symposia she was responsible for. For example, she recommended Dr. Kyaien Conner, Director of the Center on Race and Social Problems at Pitt’s School of Social Work, for a symposium titled Strengthening Social Work Science and Collaboration Amid Anti-DEI and Anti-Democratic Initiatives, organized by Justin Harty. Additionally, she invited Dr. Sara Goodkind to moderate a panel for a symposium Dr. Ohmer organized titled Funding Collaborative Partnered Research: A Discussion with Funders and Researchers, further elevating Pitt’s presence at the conference. This panel will include funders from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and AmeriCorps, Dr. Liz Miller from the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine and Community Partners. After Sara won the new award, Ohmer commented that “we also invited Dr. Kathi Elliott to participate on this panel.” Dr. Ohmer is excited to identify and leverage “intangible ways” to connect Pitt’s expertise to leading forums such as SSWR.
Collaboration is Key
Ohmer is excited about the future of SSWR, as they are continuing to advance their new Strategic Plan (see https://sswr.org/about-sswr/strategic-plan/). One program they are working on launching includes the Travel Fund for Community Partners, modeled after the Doctoral Student Travel Fund, to support community collaborators in attending the conference.
Collaborative research is embedded in Dr. Ohmer’s teaching as well. In her classes, she emphasizes how social workers can evaluate their work in the field and engage those affected by social challenges in program development. Pitt’s MSW program, particularly its Community, Organization and Social Action (COSA) specialization, continues to produce graduates who carry this collaborative mindset into the social work research field. Dr. Ohmer’s personal journey highlights the impact of Pitt’s approach to social work education. “I wouldn’t be the kind of researcher I am today without my MSW and the grounding I received in Pitt’s COSA program,” she reflects. Initially uncertain about pursuing a PhD after many years working as a community organizer, Dr. Ohmer credits her experience in the field and the support of Pitt’s faculty for inspiring her to take this path. She now sees this same potential in Pitt’s students and faculty. “Our faculty bring their field experience into the classroom and their research,” she notes. “They’re making change, and they’re inspiring our students to do the same.”
As SSWR continues to grow, Dr. Ohmer ensures that Pitt’s School of Social Work remains a central figure in shaping the future of the field, showcasing how collaborative research can strengthen not only social work but the communities it serves.