Marcus Crawford

Dr. Marcus Crawford is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work at California State University, Fresno. He holds a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington, and prior degrees from Wichita State University and Ashford University. His expertise focuses on child welfare systems, juvenile justice, and immigration systems, with a particular interest in foster care and crossover youth. Dr. Crawford teaches courses in research methods, social welfare policies, and thesis/project guidance. He actively involves students in his research and chairs the research sequence and human subjects committee in the Department of Social Work Education. His work bridges academic research with real-world practice, informed by over a decade in Kansas' privatized child welfare system and experience as a foster parent.

Education:

• Doctor of Philosophy (2018), Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington
• Master of Social Work (2014), Wichita State University
• Bachelor of Social Work (2012), Wichita State University
• Bachelor of Arts (2010), Criminal and Social Justice, Ashford University

Research Interests:

• Critical analysis of foster care and juvenile justice systems
• Immigration systems and family dynamics
• Systems of care integration across social services
• Quantitative and qualitative methodologies

His publications explore topics like runaway youth needs, crossover youth predictors, and ecological systems theory applications. Recent work addresses transportation accessibility for low-income seniors and adoption counseling practices.

Advising and Grants: Dr. Crawford mentors students through thesis/project courses and emphasizes collaborative research. Though no grants are explicitly listed, his role in institutional committees suggests active engagement in research governance.

Professional Engagement: He maintains a focus on bridging academic research with frontline practice, leveraging his field experience to inform pedagogy and policy advocacy.