Sharon E. Milligan

Sharon E. Milligan, PhD, MSW, MPH, serves as the Grace Longwell Coyle Associate Professor in Social Work and Vice Dean of Academic Affairs and Student Services at Case Western Reserve University's Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences. With over three decades of academic service since tenure in 1988, she bridges leadership, research, and global engagement to address systemic inequities.

Her educational foundation includes:

• Doctor of Philosophy, University of Pittsburgh
• Master of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh
• Master of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago
• Bachelor of Arts, Spelman College (Historically Black College and University)

Dr. Milligan's research integrates four critical domains: mitigating pandemic impacts on social work systems, chronic illness experiences among marginalized populations, asset-based community development in Black neighborhoods, and inclusive clinical trial participation. Her methodology emphasizes resident-centered approaches, viewing communities as active partners rather than subjects—evident in her work across Cleveland's low-income neighborhoods and international contexts.

Administrative leadership defines her career trajectory, particularly her 13-year tenure as co-director of the Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development. Her global perspective, forged through technical assistance in Kenya, Ghana, Cuba, and Jamaica, culminated in chairing International Partners in Mission (IPM), where she advanced women's programs across three continents. This international experience directly informs her U.S.-based research on cultural competence in health interventions.