ABOUT

Dr. Junrong Shi is an Assistant Professor in the Social Work Program at the UTC. Prior to pursuing her research interests, Dr. Shi worked with international non-profit organizations including Plan, Save the Children (UK) and Help Age (East Asia and Pacific) for over five years on developing, implementing, and evaluating community-based programs to improve the wellbeing of vulnerable children, isolated older adults and low-income women in deprived areas. With her work experience with older adults and her internship with the New York State Office for Aging, Dr. Shi's research centers on aging and health disparity. She is particularly interested in the social determinants of health and disparities in access to health and social services for older adults and their informal caregivers due to age, race/ethnicity, gender, and disabilities. Recently, she is also interested in investigating the impact of COVID-19 on social work graduates and practitioners. In collaboration with other scholars, Dr. Shi developed and presented several research projects at the national conferences of social work and gerontology, and published articles in peer-reviewed journals. 

Dr. Shi has taught courses including macro social work practices with community and organizations, research methods, program evaluation, human behaviors and social environment,  and theories of aging in both BSW and MSW programs. The format of the courses she taught varies from face-to-face, hybrid, to online (synchronous and asynchronous). She advised around 30 BSW and MSW students each year and mentored over 50 students' research projects, and presented collaborative studies with students on the national conferences.  Her teaching philosophy emphasizes the respect of the diversity of students, creative and critical thinking, and application of the knowledge learned. Dr. Shi served at several committees at the Social Work programs, School of Professional Studies, and the University level. She is also passionate to improve the service equity and social justice by providing direct services in the local events (e.g.,  RAM clinic) and by collaborating with scholars from other disciplines and Chattanooga City Government via grant projects.