Jessica Aldrich Strassman

Jessica Aldrich Strassman (DSW, LCSW) is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work at Samuel Merritt University. She previously taught at the University of Nevada, Reno and maintains a private clinical practice in San Rafael, California, focusing on adolescent and young adult mental health.

• Education: Doctor of Social Work (DSW) from University of Pennsylvania (2024), MSW from Catholic University of America, and pursuing MA in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration Studies from University of London.

Her research prioritizes marginalized populations, particularly those affected by forced displacement and religious discrimination. Using qualitative and mixed-methods approaches, she explores intergenerational trauma, socio-political contexts of WWII migration, and contemporary crises like Ukraine. Current projects examine mental health disparities in forcibly displaced communities.

Recent publications highlight her focus on humanitarian policy, historical trauma analysis, and global conflict impacts. Themes span forced migration, trauma transmission, and systemic inequities in mental health care.

• Scientific Recognition: Published in Harvard/FXB Center for Health & Human Rights (2024), 2024 DSW graduate at UPenn.

She has received funding from the Jews of Color Initiative for her 2022 study on resilience in marginalized communities. Active in professional societies (NASW, CSWE, SSWR), she contributes to editorial work on antisemitism in social work education and engages with immigrant rights organizations.