Skip to main content

Dr. Mark Olson

Associate Professor
School of Social Work
Office
Rachel Cooper - RC 310
  • About
  • Education
  • Awards & Honors
  • Research

Current Courses

412.001Generalist Research

448.002Practice Evaluation II

Teaching Interests & Areas

Research methods; evidence-based practice; practice evaluation.

Research Interests & Areas

Post-traumatic stress; military social work; social work with older adults; student self-efficacy; sexual minorities.

Ph D Social Work

Barry University
Miami, Florida

MSW Social Work

Forida State University
Tallahassee, Florida

BS Psychology

Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida

Team Excellence Award

Illinois State University
2018

Social Work Educator of the Year.

National Association of Social Workers, Northwest Florida Chapter
2011

Special Congressional Recognition of Outstanding Service to the Community.

Congressman, Jeff Miller
2011

Book Review

Olson, Mark (2020) "Review of The Age of American Unreason in a
Culture of Lies by Susan Jacoby," The Journal of Sociology &
Social Welfare: Vol. 47 : Iss. 2 , Article 13.
Review of The Rise of the Military Welfare State, by Jennifer Mittelstadt, Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare, XLIII (June 2016): 187-190.

Book, Chapter

Olson, M.D. (2016). Social Security. In N. S. Lind, E.T Rankin, & G. Harris (Eds.), Today’s economic issues: Democrats and Republicans. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC- CLIO.

Journal Article

Olson, M. D. (2020). The impact of social exclusion on trauma
reactions in older adult veterans. Social Work, 65(2), 123–130.
Olson, M.D. (2020). A reflection on the nature of teaching and
learning in the context of study abroad. Reflections: Narratives
of Professional Helping, 26(1), 89-103.
Olson, M. D. (2018). Exploring military social work from a social
justice perspective. International Social Work, 61(1), 119–129.
DeSouza, E.R., & Olson, M.D. (2018). Coming out in the classroom: Still an occupational hazard? Revista de Educação, Ciência e Cultura, 22(3).
Wesselmann, E. D., Ispas, D., Olson, M.D. , Swerdlik, M. E., & Caudle, N. M. (2018). Does perceived ostracism contribute to mental health concerns among veterans who have been deployed? PLoS ONE, 13, e0208438. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0208438.
Olson, M.D., & DeSouza, E.R. (2017). The influence of
sociocultural factors on college students’ attitudes
toward sexual minorities. Journal of Sociology and
Social Welfare, XLIV
(4), 75-96.
Olson, M.D., Lewis, M.L., Rappe, P.S., Hartley, S. (2015). Innovations in social work training: A pilot study of interprofessional collaboration using standardized clients. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 27(1), 14-24.
Olson, M. Exploring the ethical dilemma of integrating social work values and military social work practice.. Social Work 59.2 (2014): 183-185..
Olson, M. Compassionate stereotypes: Examining the relationship between agesim and perceptions of elderly vulnerability. Sincronia 17.64 (2013)
Scott, ., Herzog, J., Whitworth, J., Olson, M., & Bledsoe, L. Vets caring for veterans: A problem-based learning approach. Military Behavioral Health Journal 1.2 (2013): 129-135.
Olson, M. Self-efficacy, curriculum content, and practicum experience on the interest. Educational Gerontology 37.7 (2011): 593-605.
DeSouza, PhD, E., & Olson, M. Coming Out in the Classroom: Still an Occupational Hazard?. Journal of Education, Science and Culture
Herzog, J., Lee, C., Sansone, F., & Olson, M. Homelessness and incarceration: An examination of barriers to misdemeanor resolution for the homeless.. Journal of Criminology & Sociology
Olson, M. Gerontology content in MSW curricula and student attitudes toward older adults. Educational Gerontology 33.11: 981-994.
Scott, D., Olson, M., & Herzog, J. Child judicial conferences: Making an impact with children in dependency court.. Forum on Public Policy: 1-15.

Presentations

Examining Age Cohort Differences in Resilience, Social Support and Trauma Response Among Older Adult Veterans.. Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference.. Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR).. (2023)
Encouraging Increased Partnership between Mental Health Researchers and Military-Focused Organizations.. Midwestern Psychological Association (MPA), 94th Annual Conference.. Midwestern Psychological Association (MPA).. (2022)
The Influence of Social Exclusion and Integration on Trauma Reactions in Older Adults.. Aging & Social Change: Ninth Interdisciplinary Conference, University of Vienna.. (2019)
Coming Out in the Classroom: Still an Occupational Hazard?. Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting. (2015)
Exploring Military Social Work from a Social Justice Perspective.. Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors Annual Conference. Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors. (2015)
Innovations in social work training: A case study of interprofessional collaboration. Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting. Council on Social Work Education. (2013)
U.S. and Japan Educational Exchange on Aging Issues. Alabama Conference of Social Work.. (2013)
Developing Community Teaching Collaborations to Improve Cultural Competence: Training Veteran Service Workers.. Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors Annual Conference.. Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors. (2012)
Paper Presentation:Compassionate stereotypes: Examining the relationship between ageism and perceptions of elder vulnerability.. Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting. (2012)
Preventing Job Burnout in Social Workers Caring for Older Adults. Jikei College of Social Welfare. (2012)
Case Management & Reentry: New Challenges for Community Supervision.. Annual Meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.. Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.. (2011)
Collaborating with emergency medical educators to integrate simulation technology into a social work practice course.. Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors Annual Conference.. (2011)
Poster Session: Predicting Student Interest in Careers in Aging. Florida Conference on Aging.. (2010)
The influence of Self-Efficacy, Curriculum Content, and Practicum Experience on MSW Students’ Interest in Gerontology.. Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting. (2010)
Poster Session: Training Veteran Service Officers. Center for Applied Psychology, University of West Florida. Second Deployment Mental Health Symposium. (2009)
How Research Informs Practice with Vulnerable Populations.. National Association of Social Workers, Florida Chapter (NASW-FL). (2005)
Helping Hospice Families Circumvent Guilt in Bereavement. Florida Hospices and Palliative Care 20th Annual Symposium. (2004)

Grants & Contracts

Study Abroad Program in Japan.. University of West Florida Office of Diversity and International Education.. Other. (2012)