CHRISTIANA BRATIOTIS RECEIVES TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD

Christiana Bratiotis, postdoctoral fellow and adjunct professor of clinical practice, has been awarded the 2010 School of Social Work Teaching Excellence Award. An Adjunct Lecturer in Social Welfare Policy, Mental Health Policy and Clinical Practice at the School’s Charles River, Fall River and Cape Cod campuses, she will receive her award at the School’s commencement ceremony on Friday, May 14.

“I am humbled and honored to receive this teaching recognition,” Bratiotis said. “I’m proud of being a social worker and I treasure the opportunity to be in the classroom with developing professionals – helping them learn the theory that drives their practice, develop skills and think critically.” There is little reward greater than watching a student grow into their professional identity or wrestle with issues of self-reflection and ethical practice. It is total joy for me!”

Bratiotis was nominated by the School of Social Work student body, where students were asked to rate instructors on the degree to which they felt inspired.

Dr. Bratiotis earned her doctoral degree in the interdisciplinary social work and sociology program from the School of Social Work in May 2009. Her doctoral studies focused her research and clinical work on adults with compulsive hoarding, and she was awarded a one year pre-dissertation fellowship from the Charles H. Farnsworth Trust of Boston to study community responses to public cases of compulsive hoarding in 2006. She has presented over 70 invited community lectures and agency clinical trainings on treatment of compulsive and authored “Compulsive Hoarding in Older Adults,” a computer-based social work training program.

Bratiotis received her bachelor’s of arts in social psychology and her master’s degree in social work from the University of Nevada Reno. Her professional and academic experience includes four years of macro practice work as executive director of two non-profit agencies in Reno and a post-master’s clinical fellowship in at the Yale University School of Medicine’s Child Study Center. She is now a postdoctoral fellow at BUSSW and

Bratiotis is proud of the work and vision of the School’s off-campus program, where she primarily lectures.

“The administration of this program is incredible,” she said. “Their vision, understanding and tireless work makes graduate education a reality for students who might not otherwise be able to avail themselves It builds capacity within communities throughout the state, assuring that our most vulnerable citizens have access to the services and skills of trained social work professionals.”