Elizabeth D. Hutchison, MSW, PhD, received her MSW from the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis and her PhD from the University at Albany, State University of New York. She was on the faculty in the Social Work Department at Elms College from 1980 to 1987 and served as chair of the department from 1982 to 1987. She was on the faculty in the School of Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University from 1987 to 2009, where she taught courses in human behavior and the social environment, social work and social justice, and child and family policy; she also served as field practicum liaison. She has been a social worker in health, mental health, aging, and child and family welfare settings. She is committed to providing social workers with comprehensive, current, and useful frameworks for thinking about human behavior. Her other research interests focus on child and family welfare. She lives in Reno, Nevada, where she is a hands-on grandmother and an activist on local justice issues.

Holly C. Matto, M.S.W., Ph.D., received her M.S.W from the University of Michigan and Ph.D. from the University of Maryland. Holly is currently an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she teaches courses in Human Behavior and the Social Environment and research methodology. Her social work practice experience and current research interests are in substance abuse treatment.

Leanne W. Charlesworth, LMSW, Ph.D., received her M.S.W from the University at Albany and PhD from Virginia Commonwealth University. Leanne is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work at Nazareth College of Rochester, where she teaches a variety of courses including Human Behavior and the Social Environment. She has served in child protection and other capacities within child welfare systems and has been an evaluation consultant to diverse public and private human service agencies. Her research and practice interests focus on poverty, child and family well-being, and child welfare system issues.

Pamela A. Viggiani, LMSW, Ph.D., received her M.S.W. and her PhD from the University at Albany. Pamela is currently an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Social Work at Nazareth College of Rochester where she teaches courses in Social Justice, Social Advocacy, Diversity, Policy, and Social Work Methods. She has worked in schools with at risk children and has served as the legislative liaison for the National Association of Social Workers, New York State Chapter. Pamela also has served as an evaluator and consultant for several grants funding public child welfare professionalization. Her research focuses on poverty, and pedagogy.