A large group of adults gather outside and eat ice cream treats.
Jeff Mohr, MSW, ACSW, LCSW.

Jeff Mohr, MSW, ACSW, LCSW.

Professor of Social Work
Undergraduate Field Director
Collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, Health Care, Social Policy, Oncology Social Work Practice, Strengths Perspective Practice, Eco Social Work
Department
Social Work
Office location

Smith-Curtis 340E

Office hours

 

By appointment or drop-in.

Email
jmohr [at] NebrWesleyan.edu
Headshot of Jeff Mohr, M.S.W., A.C.S.W., L.C.S.W.

Teaching is all about facilitating the learning process. I try to mix it up with various methods, but the bottom line is that the classroom should be a safe place for the exchanging of ideas, learning new perspectives, and promoting learning as a life-long process. Never stop being a student!

Background

I am a native Nebraskan and have lived in Nebraska all my life with the exception of two years in graduate school in Kansas and two years employed at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute at the University of South Florida in Tampa. I began teaching at NWU in August of 2002 when I accepted appointment as Associate Professor and Director of the Social Work Program. Prior to this I was an adjunct instructor at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha for seven years. For nearly 20  years I was employed as a medical social worker specializing in the areas of oncology, bone marrow transplantation, hospice, and HIV/AIDS. In addition to my clinical work with these client groups, I also spent time serving as a clinical supervisor and an assistant department director. I was also in a group private psychotherapy practice on a part-time basis for one year. As I progressed in my clinical career, I became more interested in teaching and macro/social justice issues where my energies are now directed. Beginning in the fall of 2009 I began a new role in the Social Work program as Field Director. As I came off a sabbatical year for 2012-2013, I returned as Department Chair, Program Director and Field Director for 2013-2014. From 2014-2016 I also served as the Coordinator of our Omaha campus program. I continued to serve as Department Chair/Program Director through the 2019-20 academic year and was promoted from Associate Professor to Full Professor. I was on my second sabbatical during the 2020-21 academic year. I am now engaged in full-time teaching having passed on the Department Chair/Program Director roles to my talented and capable colleagues. I am currently engaged in research on the role of what being an "ally" to Indigenous Peoples means. I also have co-published an article addressing the bias and related social justice issues of information displayed on Nebraska State Historical markers with reference to Indigenous Peoples:

Robinson, G, Mohr, J., and Kinbacher, K.E. (2021). Bias on the byways: An indigenous analysis of Nebraska historical markers. Great Plains Quarterly, 41(3-4), 251-276.

Education

Master of Social Work (MSW)
University of Kansas, 1983

Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Double Major in Psychology & Sociology
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1980

Courses taught

Social Work 1150: Introduction to Social Work

Social Work 2200: Social Welfare Policy, Services & Delivery Systems
Social Work 2270: Human Behavior and the Social Environment I
Social Work 2280: Human Behavior and the Social Environment II

Social Work 2900: Working with Indigenous Peoples
Social Work 3080: Micro Practice
Social Work 3100: Macro Practice
Social Work 3250: Strengths Perspective Practice
Social Work 3450: Health Care Practice
Social Work 3910: Independent Advanced Readings
Social Work 3930: Native American Field Studies
Social Work 3960: Special Projects
Social Work 4970: Field Practicum
Interdisciplinary Studies 001: Poverty in the Land of Plenty
Interdisciplinary Studies 001: The Beatles!

Interdisciplinary Studies 1010: Your Brain on Nature

Research and academic interests

My interests are wide and varied but include collaborative work with Indigenous Peoples, researching the role of allyship with Indigenous Peoples, poverty, health care, strengths perspective & solution-oriented practice applications, peace and justice issues, teaching pedagogy, environmental issues, and advocating for legislation on social work issues. I co-authored a study guide in cooperation with Nebraskans for Peace to accompany the documentary "The Battle for Whiteclay" which depicts the illegal and immoral activities surrounding the sale of alcoholic beverages to the Oglala Lakota on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Check out www.battleforwhiteclay.org  and for more information. I am particularly interested in developing strategies to enhance possibilities for improved collaboration between non-Native allies working WITH Native Peoples. This includes on-going work to address the continued traumatic aftereffects of colonialism on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation since the closure of the four beer stores in 2017. I have presented at state and national conferences on the possibilities of becoming an ally WITH Indigenous Peoples as a person of white European ancestry.  I have engaged in research on the misrepresentation of Indigenous peoples on historical markers and qualitative interviews with those who self-identify as aspiring allies to Indigenous peoples.

Service interests

I currently serve on the Advisory Committee to the Board of Directors of the Lincoln Indian Center, Inc. I served on the Board from August 2019 - May 2023.

I am a former past President of the Nebraska Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers where I chaired the Membership and Political Action for Candidate Election committees.

I am a past board member of the Omaha Tribal Historical Research Project (OTHRP) based on the Omaha Indian Reservation.
I was a TeamMates mentor for 3 years.
I have served as Faculty Advisor for the NWU Global Service Learning students on a service trip to the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

I have served on the NWU Action Council for Diversity and Inclusion. 
I am engaged in ongoing collaborative work with Indigenous Native tribes.

I am a member of the "Fix Whiteclay Lincoln Group."

Professional and community affiliations, certifications and awards

National Association of Social Workers - member since 1981, past Regional Representative, Delegate-at-Large, Vice-President & President of Nebraska Chapter
Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW), 1985 - present.
Alpha Sigma Lambda (non-traditional student honorary), 2003 - present.
Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors (BPD), 2002 - 2019.
Association of Oncology Social Work, Distinguished Membership Award, 1999.
Certified Master Social Worker, State of Nebraska, 1987 - present.
Council on Social Work Education, 2003 - 2019.
Licensed Mental Health Practitioner, State of Nebraska, 1994 - present.
Nebraskans for Peace, 1998 - present, Board Member 2005 - 2008, Lincoln Steering Committee, 2018 - 2019.
NWU Faculty Advocate for Diversity Award, 2015.

Omaha Tribal Historical Research Project, Board Member, 2020 - 2022.
Phi Alpha (Social Work Honorary), 2004 - present.