Elizabeth Bowen

Elizabeth Bowen is an Associate Professor at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work, where she has been since 2014. Her research focuses on housing as a social determinant of health, examining intersections between homelessness, addiction recovery, food insecurity, and HIV/AIDS. She employs mixed methods to explore pathways linking homelessness and health conditions, with particular attention to trauma-informed policy analysis.

• PhD in Social Work (University of Illinois at Chicago, 2014)
• Master’s in Clinical Social Work (University of Chicago, 2004)
• Bachelor’s in Nonfiction Writing and Psychology (University of Pittsburgh, 2002)

Bowen's research spans five key areas: 1) Recovery capital measurement (including the Multidimensional Inventory of Recovery Capital [MIRC]), 2) Health disparities among homeless populations, 3) Trauma-informed social policy frameworks, 4) Housing First model evaluations, and 5) Interdisciplinary approaches to social change education. Her work integrates qualitative insights with quantitative rigor.

Recent publications show trends in recovery capital analysis (2025-2024), health equity for homeless populations (2024), and trauma-informed policy development (2023-2024). Studies often connect structural determinants with individual resilience factors, reflecting her dual focus on macro-level systems and micro-level recovery processes.

• 2022 Society for Social Work and Research Fellow

Bowen teaches substance use disorders, social policy, and evidence-based practice courses in MSW and DSW programs. She mentors PhD students and collaborates with local organizations including Homeless Alliance of Western New York, Compass House, and Buffalo City Mission. As UB's liaison to the National Homelessness Social Work Initiative, she co-leads the New York-New Jersey regional network.