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Christopher Gjesfjeld

Associate Professor
School of Social Work
  • About
  • Education
  • Research

Current Courses

448.001Practice Evaluation II

498.001Specialized Practicum II

492.001Specialized Practicum Seminar II

Ph D

University of Pittsburgh

MSW

Washington University

Book, Authored

Houston, D., Gjesfjeld, C., Miller-Ott, C., Gholson, T., Schaeffer, L., & Brown, M. (2016). Higher Education as the Lifeline to Social Mobility for Former Foster Youth: A Comprehensive Needs and Assets Assessment. Normal, IL: Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies.

Book, Chapter

Gjesfjeld, C. Social control and serious mental illness: Understanding and challenging current ideologies. Political authority, social control and public policy. Emerald (2019)

Journal Article

Gjesfjeld, C. D. & Kahn, J. H. (2024). Self-disclosure of mental illness in the college classroom: The role of stigma and avoidance, Social Work in Mental Health, 22, 1, 1-16, DOI: 10.1080/15332985.2023.2239411

Gjesfjeld, C. D. (2022). The Vital Role of Field Supervisors’ Perspectives: Connecting the Field Setting to Social Work Competencies. Field Educator, 12.2, Simmons School of Social Work. https://fieldeducator.simmons.edu/

 


Gjesfjeld, C., Weaver, A., & Schommer, K. Qualitative experiences of rural postpartum women and implications for rural social work.. Contemporary Rural Social Work 7.2 (2015): 115-126.

Gjesfjeld, C. D. (2014). Meeting student resistance with empathic teaching in the college classroom. GAUISUS, 2. Retrieved from http://gauisus.weebly.com/volume-2---april-2014.html

Gjesfjeld, C. D., & Jung, J-K. (2014). Teaching poverty with Geographic Information Systems (GIS): A case study of East Buffalo and food access. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 34, 5, 531-544.

Weaver, A., & Gjesfjeld, C. D. (2014). Barriers to preventive services use for rural women in the Southeastern United States. Social Work Research, 38, 4, 225-234.

Block, A. M., Gjesfjeld, C. D., & Greeno, C. G. (2013). Adolescent perspectives of outpatient mental health treatment. Best Practices in Mental Health, 9, 2, 22-38.

Hall, S. A., & Gjesfjeld, C. D. (2013). Clergy: A partner in rural mental health? Journal of Rural Mental Health, 37, 1, 50-57.

Gjesfjeld, C. D., Weaver, A., & Schommer, K. (2012). Rural women’s transitions to motherhood: Understanding social support in a rural community.  Journal of Family Social Work, 15, 5, 435-448. 

Gjesfjeld, C. D., & Jung, J-K. (2011). How far?: Using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to examine maternity care access for expectant mothers in a rural state. Social Work in Health Care, 50, 9, 682-693.

Gjesfjeld, C. D., & Kennedy, M. (2011). Outpatient commitment on the ground: Listening to consumers and providers. Advances in Social Work, 12, 2, 152-163.

Gjesfjeld, C. D., Greeno, C. G., Kim, K. H., & Anderson, C. M. (2010). Economic stress, social support, and maternal depression: Is social support deterioration occurring? Social Work Research, 34, 3, 135-144.

Gjesfjeld, C. D., Greeno, C. G., & Kim, K. H. (2008). A confirmatory factor analysis of an abbreviated social support instrument: The MOS-SSS. Research on Social Work Practice, 18, 3, 231-237.

Colonna-Pydyn, C., Gjesfjeld, C. D., and Greeno, C. G. (2007). The factor structure of the barriers to treatment participation scale (BTPS): Implications for future barriers scale development. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 34, 6, 563-569.

Presentations

Self-disclosure of mental health identity in the college classroom: The role of stigma and avoidance.. 2024 SSWR Conference. Society for Social Work and Research. (2023)
Gjesfjeld, C. D. (January 2023). Mental health disclosure in the classroom: A request for belonging. Oral presentation at 2023 ISU Teaching & Learning Symposium – Normal, Illinois.
Creating self-reflective spaces: Facilitating classrooms to enhance diversity learning outcomes. ISU Teaching and Learning Symposium. (2020)
They aren't talking! Student self-disclosure in the college classroom.. ITLC Lilly Conference on College and University Teaching and Learning. (2020)
Engage students through emotion. CTLT One-Day Workshop. (2018)

Gjesfjeld, C.D., Houston, D., Miller-Ott, A., & Gholson, T. (April 2017). Former foster youth in college: A needs and assets assessment. Roundtable session at American Educational Research Association – San Antonio, TX

Weaver, A., & Gjesfjeld, C.D. (January 2017). Rural women’s depression prevalence: What do we know and where do we go from here? Oral presentation at Society for Social Work Research Conference – New Orleans, LA

Gjesfjeld, C., Houston, D., Miller-Ott, A., & Gholson, T. (2016). Former Foster Youth in College: A Needs and Assets Assessment. American Educational Research Association (AERA), Unit: Division J - Postsecondary Education; Section: Division J - Section 2b: College Student Success and Outcomes.
Mothers in a Rural Community: Women's Lived Experiences and Implications for Rural Social Work. Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference. (2016)
Engage Students Through Emotion. CTLT Faculty Fellow. (2015)
Overcoming stereotyping and prejudice: Is it possible?. International Studies Seminar Series. (2015)
To "deal with" or engage: Empathy as antidote for the resistant college student.. ISU Teaching and Learning Symposium. (2015)
Meeting Student Resistance with Empathy in the College Classroom. Lilly Conference Series on College and University Teaching and Learning. (2014)
Blend it, ‘Net it, or Forget it: Discussing Emerging CourseFormats.. CSWE annual conference – Atlanta, GA. (2011)
Demanding tyrant or enabling pushover?: Impressions on teaching from an “occasionally” compassionate therapist.. Teaching Lunch Seminar. UND Office of Instructional Development. (2011)
Developing Human Behavior and the Social Environment Competencies through Video Case Studies: A Study with Distance Students. CSWE annual conference – Atlanta, GA.. (2011)
Preventing depression in rural moms: Building a program from the ground up.. NARMH & AgriWellness Conference. (2011)
. Training received from the Frontier Regional FASD Training Center. Presentation for SWK 257 of BSW Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders curriculum.. (2010)
How Far?: Examining Physical Distance to Hospitals for Expectant Mothers in a Rural State.. Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health. (2010)
Structural Equation Modeling and its applications.. Quantitative Nursing Methods taught by Dr. Bette Ide.. (2010)
University Grant Writing Workshop. University Grant Writing Workshop. (2010)
). Determinants of depressive symptoms in American Indian elders.. Rural Social Work Conference. (2009)
Evidenced-based practice and field education. Field Instructor Training. (2009)
An exploratory factor analysis of the Barriers toTreatment Participation Scale: Implications for future barriers scale development.. SSWR annual conference. (2007)
Economic hardship, social support, and maternal depression: A test of the social support deterioration model. CSWE annual conference. (2007)
Keeping interventions in mind: The MOS-SSS and social support measurement in community settings.. SSWR annual conference. (2007)

Grants & Contracts

Sharing Hidden Identities: Attachment Identity as a Predictor of LGBTQ and Mental Health-Related Self-Disclosure Events among College Students in the Classroom.. Illinois State University's College of Arts and Sciences Pretenure Faculty Initative Grant. Illinois State University. (2020)
Competencies in the social work field: And those are what?. Assessment Services. Illinois State University. (2019)
Higher Education as the Lifeline to Social Mobility for Former Foster Youth: A Comprehensive Needs and Assets Assessment.. Spencer Foundation. Private. (2015)