Activities and Accomplishments

Dr. Gunther has previously been the Director of the Schools of Social Work at Southwest Missouri State University and Southeast Louisiana University. As a practitioner he worked as a protective service worker, Executive Director of a youth and family agency, a private practitioner and a substance abuse counselor. He has published four books and has numerous journal publications and presentations. Nationally, he has been the Chair or NASW - PACE. He has also received numerous awards in his career recognizing both his practice, accomplishments and leadership skills.

Academic Appointments

2000 - present: Professor, School of Social Work, Eastern Michigan University

1997 - 2000: Professor & Director, School of Social Work and MSW Program, Southwest Missouri University

1995 - 2000: Director, Missouri State University

1995 - 1997: Professor & Director, BSW Program, Southeastern Louisiana University

1992 - 1995: Professor, Southern University

1990 - 1995: Adjunct Professor, Tulane University

1989 - 1992: Associate Professor: Southern University

1982 - 1987: Assistant Professor: University of Oklahoma

1977 - 1982: Assistant Professor, Southern University

Grant Awards

$95,000. Missouri Division of Family Services- Title IV-E Grant. 2000

$38,000. Missouri Division of Family Services- Title IV-E Grant. 1999

$35,000. Community Block Development Grant with Southwest Missouri Indian Center. 1997

$225,000. Mid-Del Youth and Family Services- Emergency Youth Shelter. 1987

$3,000. McCasland Foundation. Hospice Research. 1986

$40,000. ARP/ANDRUS Foundation Research grant. “Effectiveness of Hospice Bereavement Services.” 1985

$5,000. Title I- Community Involvement Program: A Proposal for the Development of a training program for Community Liaison Workers. 1979

$35,000. Comprehensive Plan for A Neighborhood Year Round Youth Shelter within Eastern Helena, Montana (Social Security, Title IV-A). 1972

Professional Publications

Populations-at-risk: Empowerment-based practice. In populations at Risk: Empowerment Strategies to Combat Oppression and Discrimination. Mellen Press, Lewistown, New York. 2001

Populations at Risk: Empowerment Strategies to Combat Oppression and Discrimination. Mellen Press, Lewiston, New York. (With Dr. Lola Butler and Diane Elliott). 2001

A Professional Guide to Understanding Gay and Lesbian Domestic Violence. Mellen Press. Lewiston, New York. (With Dr. Joan McClennen). 2000

Making TQM Work in Human Service Organizations. Springer Press. New York. (With Dr. Frank Hawkins). 1999

Total Quality Management in Human Service Organizations. Springer Press; New York. (With Frank Hawkins). 1996

Socio-cultural and institutional violence and their impact on same gender abuse. In a Professional’s Guide to Understanding Gay and Lesbian Domestic Violence. Mellen Pres, Lewistown, New York. 2000

Community organizing to combat violence in the gay and lesbian community. In McClennen, J. and Gunther, J. Professional’s Guide to Understanding Gay and Lesbian Domestic Violence. Mellen Press, Lewistown, New York. 2000

Managing for Quality. In Edwards, R.E., Yankey, J., and Attpeter, M. Effective Management for Non Profit Organizations, NASW Press, Washington. District of Columbia. (With Dr. Frank Hawkins). 2000

Total Quality Management in the Human Service. In Gunther and Hawkins. Total Quality Management in Human Service Organizations. Springer Press, New York. 1996

The Technologies of Total Quality Management. John Gunther and Hawkins. Total Quality Management in Human Service Organizations. Springer Press, New York.

Reengineering in Human Service Organizations. In Gunther and Hawkins. Total Quality Management in Human Service Organizations. Springer Press, New York. 1996

Taking a Bite Out of Social Justice. In Pepinsky, H.E.  & Quiney, R. Criminology as Peacemaking. Indiana University Press. 1991

Chapter: Alcoholism and the Indian People: Problem and Promise, in Freeman, E., Social Work Practice with clients Who Have Alcohol Problems. Charles C. Thomas Press, Springfield, Illinois. 1986

"Juvenile Delinquency in Search of a Practice Model: Family Health., differential Association and social control." Journal of Family Social Work. (With Dr. Mary Ann Jennings). Vol. 5(1). 2000

"Toward a Civil Society: What it's Like to Be a Minority Student at a Very White Institution." SMSU Journal of Public Affairs, Vol. 4, 2000. (With Dr. Lola Butler, Diane Elliott, Dr. John Gunther, and Dr. Francis Yuen).

"Psychological Dimensions of Seropositive IVDA in New Orleans; Implications for Social Work Practice." Free Inquiry in Creative Sociology, Vol. 19 (2). 1991

"Psychosocial Dimensions of HIV." National Institute on Drug Abuse: NADR Proceedings. 1990

"Negative Socialization and Its Impact on Adolescents Living in Substance Abuse Families" Implications for Family Therapy: Indian Child Welfare Digest. 1990

Social Work Practice Experience

Psychiatric Social Worker, Bryce State Hospital, Tuscaloosa, AL

Social Work Service Director, Helena Housing Authority, Helena, MT

Social Worker, Custer County-Welfare Department, Miles City, MT

Child Welfare Worker, Custer County-Welfare Department, Miles City, MT

Executive Director, Mid-Del Youth and Family Center, Midwest City

Mental Health Consultant, West Alabama Mental Health Center, Demopolis, AL