Ellen Smith

Ellen Smith, PhD, serves as an Associate Professor in Residence at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work. She co-chairs the Individuals, Groups, and Families concentration and teaches foundational courses including Human Behavior in the Social Environment alongside advanced clinical practice with individuals, groups, and families. Dr. Smith provides academic and field advising to master’s level students, shaping future social work professionals through direct mentorship.

Her research critically examines intersections of health, gender, and trauma with particular focus on:

• HIV/AIDS
• Mental health and psychosocial issues related to women’s health
• Postpartum mental health
• Trauma
• Feminist theory
• Integration of theory and practice

Dr. Smith’s scholarship applies feminist theoretical frameworks to address systemic inequities in mental healthcare, emphasizing trauma-informed approaches for women’s health across the lifespan. Her work bridges clinical social work practice with theoretical rigor, particularly in postpartum mental health contexts where biological and sociocultural factors converge. This research trajectory demonstrates sustained commitment to vulnerable populations through both scholarly inquiry and pedagogical innovation.

As academic advisor, she cultivates student development through dual supervision of classroom learning and field placements, embedding her research expertise into practical training for clinical social work practitioners.