Dr. Julie Richards has over thirty years of practice experience in educational, health
and behavioral health contexts. She holds both B.S.W. and M.S.W. degrees, as well
as a Ph.D. in International Family and Community Studies. Her research is devoted
to international development and practice, emphasizing intercultural and interprofessional
growth opportunities. Dr. Richards’ career spans diverse roles, from urban child welfare
practice in New York City to medical and rural school social work in Vermont, and
extends globally, encompassing community development, human rights advocacy and direct
service consultation. She has enjoyed working internationally in public health and
with organizations to identify their Theory of Change and assist them with their program
development, strategic planning, outreach, staff development, curriculum design and
monitoring and evaluation plans.
Dr. Richards teaches across all levels of B.S.W. curriculum and has also enjoyed teaching
research and field on the graduate level. In particular, she strongly values creating
collaborative partnerships that provide students with opportunities for experiential
learning that benefit the community, advance humanitarian and social care practices,
and prepare the next generation of social workers.
Richards, J. & Shrayer, G. (2023). From self-care to compassion resilience: Extending the model
of protective factors for humanitarian practitioners. International Journal of Social Welfare. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijsw.12626
Richards, J. (2022). Pandemic pivoting: Lessons learned about community-building in a remote BSW
context. Journal of Social Work Education. DOI: 10.1080/02615479.2022.2136156
Das, S. & Richards, J. (2021). Psychosocial effects and public health response to COVID-19 pandemic in India
in Origin and Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Originating from SARS-CoV-2 Infection Across
the Globe. IntechOpen Limited: London.
Richards, J. (2021). Glocal social action: Scaffolding assignments to integrate global issues
and local practice. Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work. 26(1), 45-54.
Richards, J., Lotlikar, M, & Lotlikar, P. (2016). Socio-economic disability: A Roadblock to inclusive
education in India. Indian Journal of Social Work. 77(2), 41-58.
Richards, J.L. (2016). Refugee migration and the intersection with child protection services: A Call
for further policy discussion. Social Development Issues. 38(2), 34-46.
May 2024. Shrayer, G. & Richards, J. Managing Trauma: Tools for Building Individual Resilience. Focal Point 24, New York,
New York.
October 2023 Richards, J. & Shrayer, G. “Building Protective Factors for Humanitarian Practitioners Through
Compassion Resilience.” 4th Global Virtual Summit on European Public Health & Healthcare.
January 2023 “Looking Toward the Future: Mental Health and an Ecological Approach
to Build Resiliency.” Presented to the School of Health Systems Studies, Tata Institute
of Social Sciences.
January 2023 “A Holistic Approach to Inclusive Social Empowerment and Development.”
Presented at the virtual, co-sponsored SUNY Plattsburgh and Tata Institute of Social
Sciences conference, Global Social Action: Innovative and Preferred Practice Models.
November 2023 Richards, J. & Shrayer, G. Building Protective Factors for Humanitarian Practitioners Through
Compassion Resilience. International Conference on Social Work & Social Research,
Baku, Azerbaijan.
September 2021 Richards, J. & Das, S. Building Connections and Actions for Sustainable Development Goals. University
Global Coalition Annual Gathering, Virtual Conference.
June 2020 Richards, J. National Cataract Outreach Program: An Effective Model for Eliminating the Backlog
of Cataract Blindness in Ghana. World Ophthalmology Congress, South Africa.
June 2020 Clapp, P. & Richards, J. Strengthening Ethiopia’s Eye Care System: A Collaboration Between Himalayan Cataract Project (HCP) and Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
(CNHF). World Ophthalmology Congress, South Africa.
Scholar in Global and Intercultural Competence, Council on Social Work Education,
Spring 2022. National designation and accompanying scholarship to support the implementation
of global and intercultural curricular resources in social work courses.
