Andrew Irish

Andrew Irish is an Assistant Professor at the West Virginia University (WVU) School of Social Work since 2022. His expertise bridges social work, public health, and policy analysis, focusing on economic inequality's impact on health outcomes and substance use recovery. A graduate of Roberts Wesleyan College (MSW) and the University at Buffalo (PhD in Social Welfare), he combines clinical practice experience with rigorous interdisciplinary research.

• Education:
  • BA in Sociology, Houghton College
  • MSW in Mental Health, Roberts Wesleyan College
  • PhD in Social Welfare, University at Buffalo

Dr. Irish’s research centers on:

• Macro-Social Work/Policy: Investigating how population-level economic inequality affects physical and behavioral health outcomes, including validation of the income inequality hypothesis at the U.S. state level.
• Substance Use Recovery: Leading policy mapping studies on the opioid epidemic, developing recovery capital metrics via the NIH-NIAAA-funded Multidimensional Inventory of Recovery Capital (MIRC), and conducting mixed-methods research on recovery pathways.
• Mental Health & Suicidality: Quantitative analyses of mental health disparities and their social determinants.

His academic interests span sociology, economics, political science, and philosophy, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration. Dr. Irish teaches social policy analysis, social stratification, and research methods, advocating for systemic equity in behavioral health systems.

Scientific Awards

• Presidential Fellowship, University at Buffalo
• Graduate Award for Research, Scholarship, and Creativity, University at Buffalo

As part of the NIH-NIAAA grant team, he contributes to recovery capital measurement innovation. His clinical background includes outpatient behavioral health roles across rural, suburban, and urban settings, with a commitment to social justice, equity, and policy reform.