Council on Social Work Education Awards Grant to CSU Pueblo’s Trevor Gates-Crandall

Assistant Professor Trevor Gates-Crandall, Ph.D., of Colorado State University Pueblo, has secured a nearly $10,000 grant for the initiative "Culturally Responsive, Queer Affirmative Practice in a Global Context." This three-year project, in collaboration with institutions in Vietnam and Australia, aims to foster inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ individuals through nine case studies in social work education, focusing on the US and Asia-Pacific regions.

The initiative aligns with global social work associations' emphasis on culturally responsive practices and will result in a publicly accessible document shared with relevant programs. Expressing gratitude for the recognition, Trevor Gates-Crandall remarked, "I am deeply honored to receive the grant for 'Culturally Responsive, Queer Affirmative Practice in a Global Context.' Our primary objective is to cultivate inclusive and safe environments for LGBTQ+ individuals across diverse cultural settings."

Gates-Crandall, with extensive experience in social work education and clinical practice with LGBTQ+ communities, brings valuable expertise to the project. Holding a Ph.D. in Social Work and interdisciplinary certification in gender and women’s studies, sexuality, and culture in social work practice, Gates-Crandall served as a 2022-2023 Fulbright Scholar in Gender Studies from Vietnam. Additionally, he held a faculty position in Queer Studies on a Semester at Sea/Institute for Shipboard Education at CSU Fort Collins in 2023.

CSU Pueblo Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Gail Mackin stated, "I commend Trevor Gates-Crandall for his significant contribution to CSU Pueblo, particularly for securing this prestigious grant, which elevates the profile of our Social Work Education department."

Upon completion, the project will end with the creation of a Portable Document Format (PDF) document, accessible to all, and shared with the Kendall Institute Grants Program and CSWE for dissemination to accredited programs. Presently, Gates-Crandall serves on the CHASS study abroad committee and is set to lead a trip to Costa Rica in the summer of 2024.