Paula Sheridan

Breadcrumb

Associate Professor
Department of Social Work

562.907.4804
psheridan@whittier.edu

Academic History

B.A., Louisiana Tech University
M.S.W., Louisiana State University
M.A., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Texas
Ph.D., University of Southern California

Academic Focus

  • Lifespan Human Development
  • Speech Pathology and Audiology
  • Human Behavior and the Social Environment

Academic Interests

Social Work, Christian Theology, Race/Ethnicity/Gender in American Society

Bio

Professor Paula Sheridan is currently the Director of the Social Work Program at Whittier College. Before coming to Whittier in 1996, Sheridan worked as a clinical social worker at the Inland Psychotherapy Group in Palm Springs and was a family therapist at the Texas Baptist Children’s Home in Round Rock. She was also a field work supervisor for the School of Social Welfare at the University of Texas, Austin and the Department of Religion at Louisiana College.

During her time at Whittier, Sheridan has worked as the student director of the Danish International Studies Program, mentored entering and transferred students, and was the faculty representative for the educational policy committee. She was also one of the founding board members for Habitat for Humanity in Riverside, California. Some of her courses include Introduction to Social Work, Human Behavior and the Social Environment, and Social Work Integration Seminar.

Sheridan graduated from Louisiana Tech University with her B.A. in social welfare in 1976 and soon after completed her master of social work at Louisiana State University with a concentration in individual, family, and group work. In 1997, she received her Ph.D. in social work from the University of Southern California. Sheridan‘s licenses as a social worker come from the National Association of Social Workers and the California Board of Behavioral Science Examiners.

Professional Activity

Publications

Hugen, Beryl, Wolfer, Terry A., Garland, Diana R., Myers, Dennis R., Sherwood, David S., and Sheridan, Paula M. (in press). Service and faith: The impact on faith of community ministry participation. Review of Religious Research.

Sheridan, P. (2003). “Diversity.” In New and Enlarged Handbook of Christian Theology. D. W. Musser & J.L.  Price, Editors. Nashville, TN: Ablingdon Press.  Pp. 131-133.

Hugen, B., Wolfer, T. A., Garland, D. R., Myers, D., Sherwood, D. A., & Sheridan, P. (2003). “Reconceptualizing faith and its relation to community ministry: A model of Christian faith practices.” Social Work & Christianity, 30, 234-255.

Conference and Workshop Presentations

“Building Healthy Child and Adult Attachments.”  Guest Lecturer for students and faculty of the Copenhagen College of Social Work, Copenhagen, Denmark.  October 19, 2009.

“How We Break and Repair Human Relationships:  A neurological perspective.”  Guest Lecturer for the students and faculty of the Copenhagen College of Social Work, Copenhagen, Denmark.  October 20, 2009.