Carrie W. Rishel

Carrie W. Rishel is a Professor and PhD Program Director at the West Virginia University School of Social Work, where she has served since 2004. She also leads the Rural Integrated Behavioral Health Training (RIBHT) Program within the MSW program, focusing on integrated care for underserved populations. Her affiliations include the Eberly College Graduate Directors Group and administrative roles in the School of Social Work.

• PhD in Social Work from University of Pittsburgh (2004)
• MSW from University of Pittsburgh (1999)
• BA from Haverford College (1997)

Her research centers on child and adolescent behavioral health, with a focus on trauma-informed practices, prevention strategies, and integrated service delivery models. She examines systemic barriers to mental health prevention and trains MSW students in rural hybrid models to address provider shortages. Teaching interests include generalist social work, child mental health, and integrated behavioral healthcare.

Analysis of her publications (2014–2024) reveals a trajectory in trauma-informed interventions for youth, rural behavioral health workforce development, and school-based prevention programs, often using qualitative or mixed-methods research. Her work emphasizes community engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration to strengthen service delivery.

She actively partners with state and community organizations to improve behavioral health services and directs federally funded programs under the US Department of Health and Human Services. Her professional service includes roles on the PhD Committee and the Administrative Team at WVU School of Social Work.