CSSSW Leadership Team
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PresidentCassandra Hanrahan - PhD, RSWCassandra Hanrahan is an Associate Professor, researcher, and Undergraduate Program Coordinator at Dalhousie University School of Social Work in Nova Scotia, Canada. Cassandra’s research on human animal interactions and animal informed social work urges us to reconceptualize the purpose and practice of social work today, broadening the circle of compassion and incorporating sustainability as a core value. By raising awareness of anthropocentrism and the prescient critique of humanism in social work, Cassandra advocates new ontologies of being and becoming. Over the past decade, she has taught several undergraduate and graduate independent studies on spirituality and social work. Cassandra is President of the Canadian Association for Spirituality and Social Work.
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Vice PresidentHeather Boynton - PhD, MSW, RSW, HBPEDr. Heather M. Boynton, Assistant Professor of Social Work, University of Calgary-Edmonton Campus has worked in mental health for 30+ years as a Child and Family Therapist, Mental Health Consultant, and Manger in Adult Services. Her research and teaching interests include spirituality, trauma, grief and loss, posttraumatic growth, child and family mental health, integrative and holistic practices, and interprofessional collaboration and education. She is an adjunct professor in Kinesiology at Lakehead University, Faculty at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and a Member of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute.
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Treasurer & Past PresidentJohn Coates - PhDJohn Coates, PhD is Professor Emeritus in Social Work, St. Thomas University, Fredericton, NB, Canada.
He taught at St. Thomas for almost 30 years and served as Director of the School of Social Work for several years. He is a founding member of the CSSSW and served as its Chair where he helped organize conferences and encourage scholarship in the area of spirituality and social work. As a scholar, he has co-edited four collections of essays which have been described as landmark contributions to social work discourse and practice. His book, Ecology and Social Work: Toward a New Paradigm (2003) was the first in Canada to examine the intersection of environmental and social work concerns. In addition, he has authoured or co-authoured well over 40 book chapters and articles in peer-reviewed journals, as well as co-edited ten journal volumes. Since retirement he has become an avid woodturner and gardener while he continues community service in the not-for-profit sector. |
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Administrative and Research Assistant
Dani Sherwood - BADani (she/her/they/them) holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours Psychology degree from the University of Manitoba and is currently pursuing a Master of Social Work Degree at the Dalhousie University School of Social Work in Nova Scotia, Canada. Dani’s research interests include eco-social work, decolonizing and indigenizing social work education and practice, as well as the significance of spirituality within these research areas.
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CommunicationsCassie Guye - BA, BSW, RSWCassie Guye (she/her/hers) is a registered Social Worker in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Cassie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2014, where she completed a major in Law and Society and a minor in Economics. Inspired by a family history in the social work profession and the youth she worked with as a child and youth care worker, she completed a Bachelor of Social Work degree in 2017. She worked in the field of mental health for four years in Alberta before returning to Canada’s East Coast. At present, she is enrolled in her final year of Dalhousie University’s Master of Social Work program. Cassie’s areas of interest include trauma-informed care, the role of meta-emotions and psychodynamic approaches. In her pastime, Cassie enjoys walking with her dogs, being in nature, reading books and indulging in a good cup of coffee.
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Secretary - Vacant
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Membership Officer - Vacant
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Board of Directors
Canadian Spirituality and Social Work is governed by a Board of Directors. These professionals bring skills, knowledge and passion for the work of CSSSW.
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Susan Cadell - PhD, RSWSusan Cadell, PhD, RSW (she/her) is a social work researcher and Professor in the School of Social Work at Renison University College at the University of Waterloo. Susan's research concerns death, dying and bereavement, particularly positive outcomes of caregiving and grief. She has been a member of CSSSW since attending the first meeting in 2001. Susan’s most recent projects concern grief in COVID, after Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), and healing tattoos.
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Indrani Margolin - PhD, MSW, RSWIndrani Margolin is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Northern British Columbia. Her research and teaching interests include: Consciousness & Mahavakyam Meditation, Holistic Therapeutic Practice (body, mind, spirit), Girls’ and Women’s Wellness (Bodyself), Arts-based Research, and Social Worker and Student Self-Care.
Dr. Indrani serves on the Northern FIRE (Feminist Institute for Research & Evaluation) Leadership Team at UNBC and the Canadian Society for Spirituality & Social Work. |
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Lucille Villaseñor-Caron - MSW, RSW, E-RYT, AYTLucille Villaseñor-Caron is a Registered Social Worker Psychotherapist, Certified Yoga Teacher and Ayurvedic Wellness Practitioner who offers psychotherapy, counselling and Ayurvedic Yoga therapy to individuals, groups, couples and families seeking support to overcome structural, interpersonal, mental, emotional, physical and/or spiritual challenges. Furthermore, she facilitates mental health related workshops, group therapy programs, and specialized employee-wellness and workplace-health services in private practice, and with both government and non-governmental agencies. It is her passion to be of service to others by creating a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere that supports happiness, wellbeing and healing. As the founder of Happiness & Wellness Therapy, she offers her services in three languages: English, French and Spanish through a wholistic and tailored approach to therapy that acknowledges practical tools, modern psychological theories and ancient wisdom from different cultures to support happiness, wellbeing and healing in a cross-cultural manner.
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Hazel Kabibi Palmer - BSCHazel (she/her/hers) holds a degree in Neuroscience and Mental Health from Carleton University and is currently pursuing a post graduate BSW from the School of Social Work at Renison University College. Hazel has a keen interest in social work and spirituality and hopes to continue studies in the field of Social Work.
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Buetta Warkentin - MSW, RSW, MTS
Buetta Warkentin is an Associate Professor of Social Work at Booth University College in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where she has filled both teaching faculty and field coordinator roles over the last 15 years. She is currently a member of the Manitoba College of Social Workers Board of Trustees. Buetta’s joint degrees in theological studies and social work paved the way for a keen interest in the intersection of spirituality and religion and social work practice. She has developed and taught a course on spirituality and social work for undergraduate students several times, and has had good success with incorporating mindfulness practice in the classroom. Current research involvements include exploring how social work practitioners’ spiritual/religious worldviews impact their practice.
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