James Scherrer

James Scherrer serves as Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Social Work at Dominican University since 2009, leveraging over 49 years of specialized experience in child welfare services for impoverished urban youth across diverse institutional contexts.

His educational foundation includes a PhD and MSW from the University of Illinois at Chicago, establishing his academic credentials in social work practice and policy development.

Research centers on transformative child welfare frameworks including implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, community-based family-centered models developed internationally (notably in Ethiopia), and evidence-based interventions for foster care, residential treatment, and family engagement. His work bridges systemic policy reform with frontline practice through extensive workshop leadership.

As Principal Investigator of a 4-year federal grant, he directs training initiatives for social work students serving minoritized children in underserved communities. Leadership roles include Chair of the International Social Work Exchange (facilitating cross-continental professional exchanges) and former Chair of both the Illinois Child Welfare Employee Licensure Board and NASW's Child Welfare Network for four consecutive years.