Dr. Dana K. Harmon earned her Ph.D. in social work from The University of Alabama in 2005 and her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from Loyola University Chicago in 1997. As a doctoral student, she received the Alabama Commission on Higher Education/Southern Regional Education Board (ACHE/SREB) Dissertation Year Fellowship and is a lifelong scholar of SREB. Prior to coming to The University of West Alabama in 2008, Dr. Harmon previously taught courses at The University of Alabama and the University of Southern Mississippi. In Dr. Harmon’s current position as a faculty member of UWA, she teaches Sociology/Social Work Track students courses in introduction to social work, social work skills, field practicum, and marriage and family. Recently, she has worked on developing a Sociology/Social Work dual degree program. Dr. Harmon has practiced social work for 14 years focusing on mental health for children, adolescents, and adults; individual, marriage, and family therapy; court ordered programs; and forensic social work as a mitigation specialist. She enjoys practicing because doing so enhances her teaching skills and interaction with students. Dr. Harmon’s research interests and publications focus on African American men and family issues, forensic social work, parental loss, cancer among African American men and women, and cultural competent education and practice.

Direct practice with individuals and families, group work, intervention research, African American men and family issues, forensic social work, parental loss, cancer among African American men and women

• Perry, A.R., Harmon, D.K. (accepted). Resident Black fathers’ involvement: A comparative analysis of married and unwed, cohabiting fathers. Journal of Family Issues
• Harmon, D.K., & Perry, A.R. (2011). Fathers’ unaccounted contributions: Paternal involvement and maternal stress. Families in Society, 92(2), 176-182.
• Roff, L.L., Martin, S.S., Jennings, L.K., Parker, M.W., & Harmon, D.K. (2007). Long distance parental caregivers' experiences with siblings: A qualitative study. Qualitative
  Social Work: Research and Practice, 6(3), 315-334.

Other Publications

Book Chapters

• Harmon, D.K. (2005). A court-ordered program for divorced and separating parents: Is this social work? In L.M. Grobman. More days in the lives of social workers: 35 “real-life” stories of advocacy, outreach, and other intriguing roles in social work practice (3rd ed.) (pp. 181-186). White Hat Communications: Harrisburg, PA.

Book Contributions

• Harmon, D.K. (2005). An evolving profession: Social work profile. In B.L. DuBois &
  K. K. Miley. Social work: An empowering profession (5th ed.) (p. 45). Boston: Allyn &
  Bacon.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS:

• Harmon, D.K. (2009, November). The impact of economic hardship on African American married men. Poster presented at the 55th Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, San Antonio, TX.
• Harmon, D.K., & Batey, D.S. (2009, October). The monolithic social work profession: Addressing the double entendre. 38th Annual Alabama-Mississippi Social Work Education Conference. Jackson State University, School of Social Work, Jackson, MS.
• Harmon, D.K. (2009, May). How important is religiosity and spirituality?: Marital satisfaction among African American males. Paper presented at the 2nd Annual National Conference on Social Work With and For Men: Helping Men Express and Meet Their Needs: Implications for Practice. The University of Alabama, School of Social Work, Tuscaloosa, AL.
• Harmon, D.K. (2008, October). African American men: An analysis of marital commitment, religiosity, and spirituality. Paper presented at the 54th Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Philadelphia, PA.
• Johnson, W.E., Perry, A.R., Harmon, D.K., Parikah, S., & Shears, J. (2008, April). The cultural production of mutual and reciprocal support: The social construction of paternal involvement and help-seeking behavior among young adult men. Panel discussion at the First Annual National Conference on Social Work With and For Men. The University of Alabama, School of Social Work, Tuscaloosa, AL.
• Harmon, D.K., & Perry, A. (2008, April). Fathers’ unaccounted contributions: Paternal
  involvement and maternal stress. Paper presented at the First Annual National Conference on Social Work With and For Men. The University of Alabama, School of
  Social Work, Tuscaloosa, AL.
• Perry, A.R., & Harmon, D.K. (2007, October). Black fathers’ parenting behavior: The impact of family structure and maternal support. Paper presented at the 53rd Annual
  Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, San Francisco, CA.
• Harmon, D.K. (2007, September). Not all doom and gloom: Marital satisfaction and Black men. Paper presented at the First Biennial Southern Conference on Doctoral
  Research in Social Work at Jackson State University, Jackson, MS.
• Harmon, D.K. (2006, February). Black men and marriage: The impact of spirituality, religiosity,
  and commitment on Black men's marital satisfaction. Paper presented at the 52nd Annual
  Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Chicago, IL.
• Simon, C., Harmon, D.K., Nelson-Gardell, D., & Roff, L. (2005, June). Cross-racial female mentoring at a predominately White southern university: Teaching and learning from personal experiences. Panel discussion at the 18th National Conference on Race & Ethnicity in American Higher Education [NCORE], New York City, New York.

INVITED PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS:

• Harmon, D.K. (2007, March). Black Americans and mental health. Guest speaker at Phi Alpha Induction Ceremony, Miles College, Birmingham, AL.
• Harmon, D.K. (2005, August). Traditional vs. Nontraditional families: No!: A loving family. Workshop for childcare providers. Sponsored by the Child Development Resources, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL.
• Harmon, D.K., & Nelson-Gardell, D. (2004, March). Home visitation: Evaluation of the Healthy Families Program…A collaborative endeavor. Paper presented at The University of Alabama 7th Annual Graduate Student Research Conference, Tuscaloosa, AL.
• Harmon, D.K. (2000, October). Young children and violence. Workshop presented on how to address children who have experienced violence in the home and exhibit violent and/or aggressive behaviors with other children and childcare providers. Child Development Resources, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL.
• Harmon, D.K., & Bowen, K. (2000, April). Working with the mandated client, Workshop
  presented at Alabama Conference of Social Workers, Gulf Shores, AL.

Nelson-Gardell, D., & Harmon, D. Neighborhood-based Healthy Families Program Evaluation. Supported by the National Children’s Advocacy Center, 08/02-07/03 ($15,000).