Mary L. Ohmer

Mary L. Ohmer is the COSA Chair and Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. She holds a PhD with Distinction, MSW, and MPIA from the University of Pittsburgh, along with a BSW from Gannon University. With over 30 years of experience in community organizing and development, she has worked internationally in Japan, Hong Kong, Ghana, and Costa Rica.

• PhD, University of Pittsburgh
• MSW, MPIA, University of Pittsburgh
• BSW, Gannon University

Her research focuses on community organizing, violence prevention, equitable development, and Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR). Recent projects include the Equitable Development Playbook for Homewood and violence prevention initiatives in Pittsburgh neighborhoods. She emphasizes collective efficacy, civic engagement, and resilience-building.

Her recent publications span violence prevention frameworks, community capacity building, and evaluation methodologies. Awards include the Partnerships of Distinction Award from the University of Pittsburgh, Fellow at the Society for Social Work and Research, and the Emerging Scholar Award from the Association for Community Organization and Social Administration.

• Senior Vice Chancellor for Engagement’s Partnerships of Distinction Award
• Fellow, Society for Social Work and Research
• Emerging Scholar Award, ACOSA
• Interdisciplinary Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh

Current grants include funding from Americorps, NIMHD, and the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations for projects on equitable development, youth violence prevention, and leveraging technology for marginalized communities. She serves on advisory boards for The Pittsburgh Study and the Community Engagement Center Initiative.