Activities and Accomplishments

Dr. Nybell's teaching and research interests include the social construction of childhood in social work policy and practice; the changing nature of social work and employment and its effects on workers; and race, gender and class in social work practice. She teaches courses in social welfare policy, human behavior and field experience. Her recent scholarship includes articles in Childhood: An International Journal of Child Research, Journal of Progressive Human Services, Social Work, and Children and Youth Services Review.

Honors and Awards

Eastern Michigan University, College of Health and Human Services, Everett T. Marshall Award for Excellence in Scholarship (2009)

Eastern Michigan University, Faculty Research and Creative Activity Fellowship (2008-2009).  "Inside stories:" Young people’s narratives about the child welfare agency that provided their care.

Eastern Michigan University, Sabbatical Award, (2006-2007).  Childhood, youth and social work in transformation:  Resources for teaching.  

Eastern Michigan University, Faculty Research and Creative Activity Fellowship, (2004-2005), Connecting youth and youth policy through participatory research.

Eastern Michigan University Alumni Association, Excellence in Teaching Award, (2004).

American Association of University Women Educational Foundation American Fellowship (2003), Summer Faculty/Short-term Research Publication Grant, Remaking children’s mental health in Michigan:  On children, community and care in reform (funded, $6000)

Recent Publications

Finn, J., Nybell, L. and Shook, J. (in press). The making and meaning of childhood in the era of globalization: Challenges for Social Work. Children and Youth Services Review.

Nybell, L., Shook J. & Finn, J. (Eds.) (2009) Childhood, youth and social work in transformation:  Implications for policy and practice. New York:  Columbia University Press.

Nybell, L. (2009).  Missing children:  Representing children away from placement.  In L. Nybell, J. Shook and J. Finn (Ed.) Childhood, youth and social work in transformation:  Implications for policy and practice. New York:  Columbia University Press.

Nybell, L. (2009).  Accounting for risk:  Children and community-based reform.  In L. Nybell, J. Shook and J. Finn (Eds.) Childhood, youth and social work in transformation:  Implications for policy and practice.  New York:  Columbia University Press.

Nybell, L. and Gray, SS.  (2009).   Theoretical stories, possible plots:  On assessing cultural competency in a child welfare agency. Reflections:  Narratives of Professional Helping.

Nybell, L. (2008). Review of Literacy Research for Political Action and Social Change by M.V. Black & C.T. Clark (Eds.) Anthropology of Education Quarterly 39(4).

Gray, S.S. & Nybell, L.  (2007).  Putting field education in context:  Preparing students for practice in an urban center.  Journal of Teaching in Social Work 27(1), 213-232.

Nybell, L. and Gray, S. S. (2004). Race, place and space:  Meanings of “cultural competence” in three child welfare agencies. Social Work 49 (1), 17-25.

Nybell, L.  (2002) Review of Children, Family and the State:  Decision-making and Child Participation by Nigel Thomas. Contemporary Sociology:  A Journal of Reviews, 31 (2), 141-142.

Nybell, L. (2002).  Remaking children’s mental health: children, community, and care in reform. Dissertation Abstracts.

Finn, J. L. and Nybell, L. (Eds.) (2001). Capitalizing on concern:  The making of troubled children and troubling youth in late capitalism, (Special Issue), Childhood:  A Global Journal of Child Research 8(2).

Nybell, L. (2001).  Meltdowns and containments:  Constructions of children at risk as complex systems.  Childhood:  A Global Journal of Child Research, 8(2), 213-230.

Nybell, L. and Williamson, M. (2001). What does ‘flexibility’ mean for children’s services?  Dilemmas of reform. Journal of Progressive Human Services, 12(1), 9-33.