Laura Gale

Laura Gale is an Associate Professor at the University of Southern California's Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, where she has taught MSW policy and clinical courses since 2011. She currently leads the Grant Writing and Program Evaluation course while specializing in social innovation and mental health systems.

Her academic credentials include:

• EdD from University of Southern California (2019)
• MSW from University of Illinois at Chicago (1997)
• BSW from San Diego State University (1994)

Professor Gale's research critically examines social change mechanisms and mental health service delivery across lifespan stages. Her expertise spans child welfare systems, nonprofit management, and healthy aging interventions, informed by direct clinical experience in social services. This dual policy-practice perspective shapes her innovative curriculum development.

Through her Grant Writing leadership, she trains students in federal/state funding acquisition and program evaluation methodologies. Her professional influence extends to California's Mental Health Loan Assumption Program selection committee and The Social Work Reference Center as clinical consultant, directly impacting workforce development and service accessibility.

Her industry background in social services and education infrastructure provides real-world context for classroom instruction, particularly regarding nonprofit sustainability and intergenerational mental health challenges.