Dr. Dawn McCarty
Dr. Dawn McCarty
Professor and Director of the Social Work ProgramSocial WorkBiography
Since 2006, Dr. Dawn McCarty has lived and conducted research on both sides of the US-Mexico border, studying the contributing factors and outcomes of unauthorized immigration to the United States. Currently, her work and research are focused on the conditions and experiences of new immigrants now living in Houston, and on the development of a unique professional practice perspective focused on solidarity and modeling equality.
In addition to her work as an Professor and Director of the Bachelor of Social Work Program at the University of Houston-Downtown, she lives part-time in community as a Catholic Worker at Casa Juan Diego where she works directly with Houston's refugee, asylum seeking, and new immigrant communities. Her book, Solidarity Social Work Practice: Serving New Immigrant Populations published by Kendall Hunt is based on ten years of direct social work practice, and four years of qualitative data collection to document the lives of immigrants from around the world.
Degrees Earned
University of Houston Ph.D. 2002
University of Houston MSW (Political Social Work) 1995
Lamar University BS (Sociology) 1991
Experience Qualifications
McCarty , D., Cortez, D. & Bee, B.A. (2016). The empowering effects of cooperative development among Indigenous women in southern Mexico. Journal of Family Strengths, 16(2).
McCarty, D. (2013). Showdown in the Sonoran Desert by Amanda Rose (review). American Catholic Studies, 124(2),98-99.
McCarty, D. (2012). The works of mercy at a Catholic Worker House: Combining Catholic Social Teaching with social work practice. Social Work and Christianity, 39(3), 327-33.