Lisa L. Hosack

Lisa L. Hosack serves as Assistant Dean of the Calderwood School of Arts & Letters and Professor of Social Work at Grove City College, where she bridges academic leadership with direct teaching responsibilities in the Department of Social Work. Her role encompasses curriculum development, faculty mentorship, and strategic direction for the school.

Dr. Hosack's educational foundation includes:

• Ph.D. in Social Work from Michigan State University (dissertation: Examining the Effects of Religiosity on College Students with Borderline Personality Disorder)
• M.S.W. from University of Illinois-Chicago (Mental Health concentration)
• B.A. in International Studies from Moody Bible Institute

Her research critically examines intersections between mental health, Christian faith, and social work practice. Key foci include borderline personality disorder's relationship with religiosity, vulnerable narcissism mediated by maladaptive perfectionism, and gratitude's role in self-compassion. She pioneers Christian perspectives on social justice, challenging secular frameworks while advocating for family-based community solutions. Her scholarship consistently integrates theological reflection with evidence-based practice, particularly in vulnerable populations like at-risk youth and cross-cultural contexts.

Analysis of her publications (2014-2019) reveals escalating focus on psychological mechanisms within faith contexts—shifting from broad social justice critiques toward nuanced studies of narcissism, self-compassion, and religiosity's protective effects. Her work increasingly employs mixed methodologies, combining quantitative analysis of personality disorders with qualitative exploration of spiritual coping strategies, primarily published in Social Work and Christianity and Comment Magazine.

With over 20 years of pre-academic social work practice, Dr. Hosack mentors students through capstone projects and graduate seminars, emphasizing self-awareness as professional bedrock. Her grant expertise manifests in the Kuyper College Feasibility Study (2017) and the Administration in Social Work course, which trains students in nonprofit funding acquisition. She actively collaborates with organizations like the North American Association of Christians in Social Work and Project on Rural Ministry.