Olaf Neumann

Prof. Dr. Olaf Neumann is a Professor for Methodical Action in Social Work at the Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin (ASH Berlin) since 2015. Previously, he served as Visiting Professor for social medicine and health-oriented social work at the Catholic University of Applied Sciences for Social Work Berlin (2013-2015). His academic career is complemented by extensive practical experience in crisis intervention and psychosocial support services, including establishing and managing the Eastern Region of the Berlin Crisis Service (1999-2011) and the outpatient crisis service Berlin-Hohenschönhausen (1996-1999).

Dr. Neumann's educational background includes:

• Doctorate at the Free University of Berlin, Department of Psychology (2008)
• PSU management function (additional qualification at the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (2007))
• Licensed as a child and adolescent psychotherapist (1999)
• Permission to practice medicine in the field of psychotherapy (1998)
• Play and Theatre Pedagogue (additional studies at the Berlin University of the Arts) (1997)
• Graduate social worker (FH) (1994)

Professor Neumann's research focuses on connecting theory and practice in methodological action, with practice understood as the site of theory creation and development. His primary research interests include Intervention Research, Social Psychiatry, Community Psychology, Organizational Development, Quality Management, and Personnel Development. He approaches these areas through the lens of psychosocial crisis management, resilience building, and community-oriented interventions. His work emphasizes the importance of time in therapeutic processes, network collaboration in emergency situations, and the integration of theory and practice in social work education.

His recent publications reveal a strong focus on post-pandemic educational adaptation, psychosocial emergency response systems, and community resilience. Particularly notable is his research on network functionality in psychosocial emergency services following the 2016 Berlin Christmas Market attack. His work bridges academic theory with practical applications in crisis intervention, demonstrating how community psychology principles can be operationalized in real-world emergency contexts. He has also made significant contributions to understanding quality management in psychosocial organizations and the temporal dimensions of crisis intervention.

Professor Neumann has received recognition through his leadership roles including:

• Member of the working group "Fachberater PSU" in Berlin (2006-2012)
• Member of the Network for Participatory Health Research (since 2007)
• Member of the board of the Gesellschaft für gemeindepsychologische Forschung und Praxis (since 2009)
• Member of the board of St. Hedwig-Krankenhauses Berlin (since 2010)
• Chair of the Budget Committee (2017-2018)
• Member of the University Leadership as Vice President for Research, Cooperation, and Digitalization (2018-2023)

Currently, Professor Neumann leads significant research initiatives including the Transfer_Hub project (2023-2027), which aims to connect university organizational development with local community needs, and the EQuiP project (2024-2027) on network-oriented quality in psychosocial crisis management. He also serves as scientific lead for the KliBUp project (2025-2028) focusing on climate health resilience strategies. These projects demonstrate his commitment to bridging academic research with practical community applications, particularly in crisis situations and community development contexts.

Professor Neumann is actively involved in the Transfer_Hub project, which is part of the CampusTransferale initiative aimed at transforming ASH Berlin into a transfer campus. This work involves creating connections between the university's organizational development and local community development needs, particularly in the areas of urban development and the creation of public spaces around the Alice-Salomon-Platz. The project includes dialogical workshops with practitioners, students, and transfer-strong faculty members to facilitate knowledge exchange between the university and the broader community.