Claudia Steckelberg

Claudia Steckelberg is a Professor of Social Work at the Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences, where she has held a professorship since 2013. She previously served as Professor of Theories and Methods of Social Work at the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University in Stuttgart and was a visiting professor at Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences in Berlin. She is actively contributing to the academic and professional advancement of social work in Germany.

Her educational background includes a degree in social work from the University of Kassel and a doctorate in educational science from the University of Osnabrück, funded by the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

Claudia Steckelberg's research centers on user and professional perspectives in social work, with a strong emphasis on qualitative reconstructive research methods and gender studies. Her work explores the lifeworlds of target groups and methodological practices in applied social contexts.

She is a long-standing member of the German Social Work Association (DGSA), where she serves on the Community Work Section, the Doctoral Support Group, and the Academic Advisory Board for 'Doctoral Studies in Social Work.' Since 2024, she has been one of the two co-chairs of the DGSA, reflecting her leadership in the national academic community.

She has extensive practical experience in homeless assistance, drug counseling, youth work, and community work in both Germany and Great Britain, including roles in client counseling, fundraising, and public relations.

Her academic contributions are supported by active engagement in professional organizations and academic governance. She advises on doctoral training and promotes methodological rigor in social work research.

Claudia Steckelberg is involved in leading national academic initiatives through her role in the DGSA. She contributes to shaping research agendas, supporting early-career researchers, and advancing community-based social work practices.