Shelly Tucker

Shelly Tucker serves as an Assistant Professor of Social Work and the MSW Program Director at Ferris State University within the College of Arts, Sciences and Education, demonstrating leadership in social work education and program administration.

Her academic foundation includes:

• PhD in Social Work from Wayne State University
• MSW in Macro Social Work from California State University, Sacramento
• MA in Hispanic Studies (Spanish Literature and Spanish Linguistics) from University of Pennsylvania
• BA in Spanish and Mathematics from Occidental College

Dr. Tucker's research centers on human rights and social/economic justice with emphasis on systems-level injustice, integrating nonprofit leadership, immigration services, bilingual social work, school systems, and criminal justice reform. Her work bridges academic theory with practical interventions to address structural inequities across multiple service domains.

As MSW Program Director, she shapes curriculum development and accreditation standards while advocating for social justice principles in professional training. Her expertise in Spanish/bilingual services enhances culturally responsive practice frameworks within educational and community settings.