Mary K. O'Connor Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

Mary Katherine O'Connor, with an MSW and PhD from the University of Kansas, School of Social Welfare, is Professor of Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she has taught in the MSW and PhD programs for 28 years. She was a Peace Corps Volunteer and Fulbright Scholar in Brazil. She continues to consult with universities and nongovernmental agencies there serving victims of violence in the development of systems of protection. She also has extensive direct and administrative practice experience in child welfare both in state government and the nonprofit sector. She is the sole author or co-author of six books and has published over 50 book chapters and refereed journal articles in English and Portuguese with a particular focus on child welfare issues, social justice, constructivist research methods, and collaborative or alternative models of organization practice. Her present research involves identifying and assessing various models of human service organizing, which includes historical research with centenary agencies in Richmond, Virginia.