Thomas Crea
Professor
Biography
Thomas M. Crea, PhD, MSW, is Professor, Chair of Global Practice, and Assistant Dean of Global Programs at the School of Social Work, Boston College. He is a former clinical social worker with previous experience as a mental health therapist for severely emotionally disturbed children, and as a foster care adoption worker and supervisor providing home study assessments and post-placement support to families. Professor Crea leads local, national, and international research projects related to social interventions for vulnerable children and families. This research focuses on the intersections of child welfare, refugee social protection and education, and strengthening humanitarian aid and international development programs. Crea’s projects have been funded by multiple sources such as the US Department of Agriculture, the Porticus Foundation, the National Institute of Child Health and Development, and others. These projects span multiple countries, which in addition to the U.S. have included Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Malawi, Palestine, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Professor Crea uses primarily mixed-methods, participatory research methodologies designed to produce rigorous, yet useful, findings for stakeholders working with marginalized populations.