Tom Felke

Dr. Tom Felke serves as the Associate Dean for Academics in the Marieb College of Health & Human Services and holds the academic rank of Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work at Florida Gulf coast University (FGCU). He also directs the Shady Rest Institute on Positive Aging. His expertise spans macro social work, with a focus on policy analysis, GIS technologies for spatial analysis, and addressing issues like affordable housing, food insecurity, and senior needs.

Education:

• B.A. in Elementary & Special Education, Providence College
• MSW in Social Work (Administration, Policy, International Issues), University of Connecticut
• Ph.D. in Social Work, University of Connecticut (dissertation on Armenian refugees in Nagorno-Karabakh)

Research & Teaching: Dr. Felke integrates GIS and mixed-methods research into social work practice, emphasizing spatial analysis of community needs. He has published on GIS applications in social work and co-authored a book chapter on internationalizing social work education through technology.

Grants & Leadership:

• Principal Investigator: Lee County Gaps Analysis ($100k, 2018–2019)
• Co-Principal Investigator: Community Housing & Transportation Assessment ($20k, 2014–2015)
• Project Manager: Journey of Hope Program Implementation ($200k, 2018–2019)

Affiliations: Active member of NASW, Council on Social Work Education, and Society for Social Work and Research. Serves on national and regional boards focusing on social work and aging.