Melissa McCollister

Dr. Melissa K. McCollister is a new Assistant Professor this year in the Department of Social Work at Indiana State University. In her previous role as a professor for the University of Akron, School of Social Work, she served on multiple racial and social justice initiatives and the Summit County LGBTQ+ task force. She has been an activist in the LGBTQ+ community for over 22 years and started the first LGBTQ+ youth program in Akron, Ohio. Additionally, she was a faculty liaison for students placed at the Cleveland Pride Center. In her role at ISU, she has already begun to reach out the local community to create LGBTQ+ safe zone training with three undergraduate students that will complete an internship next semester in partnership with the Multi-Cultural Center. Currently, she is teaching macro social work, human behavior, and child and family practice. Her primary social work practice and interest areas include LGBTQ+ and racial and social justice community organizing, emotional intelligence, and trauma-informed practice.