social work research News Archive

October 9, 2025 — 
Emma Cowman, recipient of the Research Manitoba Master’s Studentship Award, shares more about her research and vision for the future. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? My name is Emma Cowman (she/they) and I grew up in Treaty 4 & 7 territories, in Regina, Saskatchewan and Calgary, Alberta. I have a BA honours in Psychology, and a BA in Women & Gender Studies from the University of Regina, and I am a volunteer with the Regina Abortion Support Network, Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada, and am a board member on Action Canada’s National Youth Advisory Board. Currently, I live in Regina, with my partner, cat, and two dogs. I moved to Winnipeg to attend the University of Manitoba’s foundational MSW program. I have since completed my coursework for the foundational and advanced years and returned home to Saskatchewan, where I have been conducting my research virtually. I am deeply interested in Reproductive Justice research, specifically relating to the topics of abortion, reproductive coercion, and 2SLGBTQIA+ reproduction.

September 23, 2025 — 
AmyAnne, winner of the poster competition at the European Conference on Domestic Violence in Barcelona for her work on sexual violence among sexual minorities in Canada, shares more about her research and vision for the future. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? My name is AmyAnne and I am a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Manitoba. I am also a social worker in emergency mental health services here in Winnipeg. I am back at school in a doctoral program because I truly believe that social workers are uniquely positioned to recognize important issues impacting people's lives through the work that they do. 

July 22, 2025 — 
Congratulations to our Faculty of Social Work scholars Dr. Christine Mayor, Dr. Blessing Ojembe, and Dr. Ashley Stewart-Tufescu have been awarded Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) 2025 Insight Development Grants to support new research on ending carceral practices in helping professions, programs for Black older adults, and displaced Rohingya women.

July 10, 2025 — 
Tara Christianson recently graduated from the Master of Social Work program and received a University of Manitoba Distinguished Master’s Thesis Prize for her thesis titled: The Impact of COVID-19 on Services for Indigenous People Who Use Substances and Are Living with HIV in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The prize is given out annually to recognize the achievements of Master’s graduates who submitted groundbreaking theses in the previous academic year. The Faculty of Social Work congratulates Tara and looks forward to learning more about her experience in the program, her current research interests and her plans for the future. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? My name is Tara Christianson; I was born and raised in Treaty 1 territory and have lived in Winnipeg for the past 18 years. I am Red River Métis, citizen of the Manitoba Métis Federation and a member of the Bison Local. I also have Scottish, Irish, and English settler ancestry. I’m a mom, a partner, sister, daughter and auntie. I’m also a registered social worker that works in the mainstream health care system.