Emily Dakin

Emily Dakin is a Professor in the Department of Social Work at Appalachian State University (AppState), where she has been since 2014. Previously, she served in the social work faculty at Colorado State University. Her research focuses on gerontology, social work curriculum design, and human behavior in the social environment, with a particular emphasis on aging populations and LGBTQ+ elderly communities. She teaches courses on gerontological social work, human behavior, and death/dying studies.

Her current research includes a textbook content analysis with Mike Howell and a study on pet ownership's impact on older adults' quality of life (collaborating with Kelly Williams and Maureen MacNamara). She actively serves on AppState's faculty senate, the UNC system’s faculty assembly, and as a reviewer for aging-focused journals. Emily values AppState’s balance of teaching/research, student-centric culture, sustainability efforts, and flexibility for scholarly exploration. Personal interests include nature, the arts, and family life with her 6-year-old son.

Her scholarship spans topics like rural LGBTQ+ aging, equine-assisted therapy, HIV case management, and photovoice methodologies in global health. While no formal awards are listed, her work reflects sustained engagement with ethical dilemmas, cross-cultural studies, and innovative pedagogy in social work education.

Advising and grant activities are not explicitly detailed, though her collaborations suggest active involvement in interdisciplinary research. She advocates for 'identifying your dream and following it' in mentoring.