Nataliia Gusak

Nataliia Gusak (she/her/hers) is a Visiting Assistant Professor at Bryn Mawr's Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research and Associate Professor at the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy School of Social Work. Nataliia’s research focuses on communities and people experiencing trauma including victims of human trafficking, mothers with mental disorders in their perinatal journey, internally displaced persons, refugees, minority ethnic groups, military and veteran populations, as well as military/veteran connected families. Her research agenda covers three areas: 1) understanding the biopsychosocial-spiritual needs of vulnerable populations; 2) assessing services and professional responses to the needs of vulnerable populations; and 3) developing and implementing programs and projects at national and local levels for people in need. Nataliia employs mixed methods and participatory approaches in her studies.

Nataliia’s commitment to translating research into practice involves documenting and disseminating knowledge in chapters, professional reports, policy briefs, and presentations. She also applies her research to provide consultation for regional, national, and international social work and human rights agencies like the United Nations. Since 2008, she has applied her research to help the International Organization for Migration to design its anti-trafficking campaigns. She has published on these topics in the journals Forced Migration Review, Mental Health and Social Inclusion, and the Journal of Comparative Social Work, among others.

Nataliia completed her BA and MSW in social work at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy School of Social Work (Kyiv, Ukraine), and her Ph.D in sociology at the National Academy of Science. She was subsequently hired by her alma mater and served in a series of progressive positions at the University—as a lecturer, assistant professor, associate professor, head of the master's program in social work, and finally as the Dean of the School of Social Work. She was also a Fulbright scholar at the School of Social Work (Wayne State University, Michigan, USA), visiting lecturer at Dublin City University, visiting researcher at the Centre for Health and Social Service Studies (University of Kent, Canterbury, UK), and most recently Visiting Assistant Professor at Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research.

Nataliia also serves as Co-Chair of the International Cluster for the SSWR.