Master of Social Work Faculty & Staff

Associate Professor; MSW Program Director, Co-Chair of Claire Argow Social Work Program
503-352-2997

Dr. Khandare has been a faculty at Pacific’s MSW program since 2017; he has been teaching courses in research, program evaluation, and global health; he also served on UDC, Faculty Senate, and various committees. Dr. Khandare is also appointed as a member on the Global Young Academy (GYA) for 2022-2027 and he serves as co-lead of the Systemic Discrimination Focus Task Group, GYA. Dr. Khandare is a member on the Commission on Global Social Work Education at Council on Social Work Education. He is recently appointed as a site visitor by the Council on Social Work Education Board of Accreditation (BOA). His research focuses on interpersonal violence, South Asian immigrants, global social work, the intersection of caste & race, and human rights.

MSW Director of Field Education
503-352-2088

Lorrie completed her BSW in 1993 from Boise State University & her MSW from Northwest Nazarene University in 2003. Her practice background includes over fifteen years in Child Welfare, serving youth, birth parents, and foster families.  She has also served the profession by being an National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Board member in both Idaho & California.  Lorrie has an interest in End of Life issues, and serves as a volunteer with End of Life Choices Oregon (EOLCOR). Lorrie is joining Pacific University with over 15 years of previous social work education experience.

Assistant Professor
503-352-2987

Nazan Çetin earned her PhD in Social Work and Social Research from Portland State University in 2022 and her MSW from New Mexico Highlands University in 2013. Nazan also holds a BA in Psychology from the University of New Mexico. Nazan’s work centers on improving psychosocial support services and programs for children and adolescents experiencing chronic physical health conditions. She has particular expertise in cancer and psychosocial oncology. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Nazan has worked with children, adults, and families in child welfare and community mental health.

Associate Professor of Social Work
503-352-3183

Andrea Doerfler earned her M.S.S.W. in Clinical Social Work from Columbia University. Andrea's clinical work has focused on mental health with children, adolescents and families. She has worked extensively with children in school-based settings, out-of-home placements, in-patient behavioral health and private practice. Her work has also included educator training and consultation, program development and administration. Her research and clinical interests intersect in the area of child witnessing of interpersonal violence.

Assistant Professor of Social Work
503-352-1622

Killian Kinney received both their PhD in Social Work in 2022, and their Master of Social Work (MSW) in 2015 from Indiana University. They're passionate about conducting research that raises awareness and improves the lives of individuals and their communities. Killian's research is guided by the ethos by, with, and for the community and explores LGBTQ health equity and wellbeing with a specialization in participatory action research with trans and nonbinary populations.

Assistant Professor
503-352-2993

Nancy Murakami received her DSW in Clinical Social Work from New York University in 2019 and her MSW from Columbia University in 2005. Specializing in trauma and refugee mental health, her clinical practice has been primarily with survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, war, torture, and forced migration. As a classroom and field educator, she aims to strengthen students’ practice of culturally responsive care, attunement to their own well-being, and development of a trauma lens for all practice. She joined the Master of Social Work faculty at Pacific University in 2020.

Assistant Professor & Director of Field Education
503-352-2853

Michelle completed her BA in Psychology from the University of Washington in 2003 and completed her Master of Social Work (MSW) from Portland State University in 2010. She earned her Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and holds credentialing as a board approved clinical supervisor in the State of Oregon for social work, professional counseling, and marriage and family therapy. The Association for Play Therapy national board awarded Michelle designation as a registered play therapy supervisor and play therapy educator for pediatric mental health. Michelle’s work encompasses prevention of adverse childhood experiences, non-profit and healthcare administration, and bridges relational cultural theory with education, qualitative research, and clinical practice.

Bachelor of Social Work Program Director
503-352-3036

Don Schweitzer received his PhD in Social Work and Social Research from Portland State University in 2011 and his Master of Arts in Social Work from Boise State University in 2005. His research goals are to continue to conduct participatory and qualitative research in an effort to help shape innovative forms of policy, treatment models and service evaluation that can help overcome the problems associated with the homeless and runaway youth. He currently serves as the program director for the Bachelor of Social Work program.

Scott Velasquez
Program Assistant
503-352-2854

Scott Velasquez is the Program Assistant for the Master of Social Work program. He holds an Associate of Arts & Science degree from Columbia Basin College, and brings many years of office management and administrative support experience to his current position.