Faculty Bios

Karen Waters

waterskr@udmercy.edu
313-993-1103

Associate Professor of Social Work, spent more than 20 years as a practicing social worker, including five years as executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Her most recent research is in the area of Black student attrition and retention in higher education. Waters received a B.A. in Social Work from Michigan State University and a M.S.W. from the University of Michigan. She is presently pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Wayne State University. Waters taught at Wayne State University before joining UDM in 1995.

Ronald Koenig

koenigrp@udmercy.edu
313-993-3394

Associate Professor of Social Work, teaches human behavior and development, social welfare policy and social justice, counseling, philosophy and strategies, and professional social work. He wrote papers on the effects of terminal illness, death. He has held a joint appointment as assistant professor of Social Work and Medicine at Wayne State University. He works to develop a community organization project to bring resources to the community of Highland Park, Michigan to rebuild deteriorating neighborhoods. He earned a B.A. at Central Michigan University, a M.S.W. and post-master's work at Wayne State University. Koenig joined the University in 1975.

Aloha VanCamp

vancampa@udmercy.edu
313-993-2010

Associate Professor of Social Work, teaches social work practice and research methods for the department of social work. She has an extensive background in mental health and program evaluation. Her research interests and professional presentations include assessment and evaluation and international social work. She has served as Dean of the UDM Weekend College and Chair of the Social Work program. Currently, she is co-chairperson for the Department of Social Work. She holds a B.A. from Michigan State University, an M.S.W. from Wayne State University and a Ph.D. in Education Evaluation and Research from Wayne State University. She joined the University in 1990.