Kareen Tonsing

Kareen Tonsing is an Associate Professor of Social Work at Oakland University's Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work and Criminal Justice. Her research focuses on immigration, mental health, and domestic violence, particularly among marginalized populations such as refugees and South Asian communities in Hong Kong and the U.S. She holds a terminal degree in Social Work and has authored over 20 peer-reviewed articles since 2010.

Her work emphasizes culturally competent mental health interventions, refugee resettlement challenges, and sociocultural barriers to help-seeking behaviors. Notable projects include studies on Burmese refugees' psychological well-being in the U.S., South Asian women's experiences of domestic violence in Hong Kong, and savings behaviors in Singaporean youth.

Tonsing teaches core social work courses including Human Behavior in the Social Environment, Social Work Practice, and Research Methods. She actively engages in community outreach through departmental advising, scholarships administration, and supporting student clubs. Her research methodologies blend quantitative psychometric analyses with qualitative ethnographic approaches.