Diane L. Griffiths

Diane L. Griffiths serves as a Senior Lecturer and Social Work Program Director in the Department of Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology at Christopher Newport University, with affiliation to the Center for Crime, Equity, and Justice Research and Policy.

Her educational credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Social Policy from Brandeis University
• MSS in Social Work from Bryn Mawr College
• BS in Community and Family Studies from the University of Delaware

Dr. Griffiths' research centers on systemic vulnerabilities in caregiving systems, disability support structures, and poverty-alleviation frameworks for marginalized communities. Her work critically examines how macro-level social policies impact at-risk populations through intersectional lenses, with particular emphasis on adapting social work methodologies during crisis scenarios like pandemics and refugee resettlement.

Her recent publications reveal evolving scholarly focus from refugee community integration toward pandemic-era transformations in social work education, highlighting emergent themes in professional identity formation and remote practice adaptation under extreme societal disruption.

Recognition includes:

• Faculty Development Award from Christopher Newport University (2019)

As Program Director, she shapes curriculum development and accreditation compliance while mentoring students in social work practice. Her leadership bridges academic training with real-world justice initiatives through the Center for Crime, Equity, and Justice Research and Policy.

She actively contributes to interdisciplinary justice research through institutional collaborations focused on equity-centered community interventions.