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Ann Obermann
Interim Department Chair of Social Work
College of Health and Human Sciences
[email protected]Biography
Ann Obermann PhD, LCSW is an associate professor at MSU Denver teaching primarily in the BSSW program and coordinating online teaching and learning for both the BSSW and MSW programs. She has worked with the Denver metro community strengthening families across multiple systems for over 15 years as a case manager, family therapist, supervisor, and trainer before pursuing her PhD at University of Denver.Research Interests
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Ann's current research explores online learning specifically microaggressions in digital learning environments and student partnerships in course design. Her past research addressed occupational stress and workforce issues within child welfare and community mental health systems. Ann has presented nationally on occupational stress in child welfare; student design partnerships, critical digital pedagogy; and how social work distance education is increasing access to the profession of social work. Ann is a coauthor of 101 Careers in Social Work, numerous journal articles, and online training curriculums.
Teaching Interests
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Ann's love for teaching social work is what motivated her pursuit of a PhD. She engages students in transformative learning experiences by encouraging critical exploration of self and course content, creating a classroom environment of support and challenge, and facilitating the effective exchange of knowledge. All of her courses include opportunities for students to create and publish demonstrations of their learning. This process facilitates students' knowledge acquisition, integration, application, and dissemination. It creates a community of learning where students see each other as experts and resources for future practice. In addition, Ann's classroom engages in exploration about how students' salient identities and role as social workers challenge power, privilege, and oppression at the micro, mezzo, and macro level. Being part of her students' journeys in discovering their passion and gifts in the work of social justice continues to motivate her never-ending journey of learning and teaching.
Education
PhD in Social Work
University of Denver
MSW in Social Work
University of Wisconsin-Madison
BA in Social Work
St. Olaf College
Published Works
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Decker, B., Obermann, A., Danhoff, L. K., Ritter, J. (2026). Social Work Careers in Community Practice. Springer,
Scherrer, K., Obermann, A., Cottrell, R. (2025). Partnering With Students in Course Design: Utilizing Design Justice Principles in Social Work Education. Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work, 30(2), 145-151. https://doi.org/10.1891/jbsw-0137.
Obermann, A., Danhoff, L. K., Ritter, J. (2025). 101 Careers in Social Work 4th Edition . Springer, https://www.springerpub.com/101-careers-in-social-work-9780826190796.html
Cottrell, R., Obermann, A. (2025). Collaborative Online Course Design . (pp pp. 67 - 83). Athabasca University Press. https://www.aupress.ca/books/120334-feminist-pedagogy-for-teaching-online/
Obermann, A. (2024). Trusteeship Magazine AGB: An Interview with Ann Obermann. Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, https://agb.org/trusteeship-magazine/
Obermann, A. (2024). Protecting Jewish Students at the National Level While Attacking State Level DEI Initiatives: The Contradiction in Republican Actions. LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/protecting-jewish-students-national-level-while-state-ann-bofmc/?trackingId=kMBN%2BCOHT0uY%2FbmJl04yKQ%3D%3D
Obermann, A., East, J., Leake, R. . Perspective of supervisors on occupational stress in the child welfare workforce. Child Welfare.
Obermann, A., Rienks, S., Bride, B., Leake, R. . A Rasch Analysis of the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale. . Research in Social Work Practice.
Obermann, A., East, J. . An Exploration of Supervisors' Perspectives on Vicarious Trauma in a Mental Health System. Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research.
Obermann, A. (2020). Digital Social Annotation. , https://www.msudenver.edu/early-bird/2020/10/1-sip.shtml
Obermann, A. (2020). Using Synchronous Learning as Part of your Online Course. MSU Denver Early Bird, https://www.msudenver.edu/early-bird/2020/6/8-synchronous.shtml
Obermann, A. (2020). The Importance of Saying Goodbye to Your Students in Times of Uncertainty. Faculty Focus Magna Publications, https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/effective-teaching-strategies/the-importance-of-saying-goodbye-to-your-students-in-times-of-uncertainty/
Obermann, A. (2020). Crafting Meaningful Goodbyes. , https://sites.msudenver.edu/sips/11-14-crafting-meaningful-goodbyes/
Ritter, J., Obermann, A., Danhoff, K., . (2020). 101 Careers in Social Work 3rd Edition. Springer Publishing Company, https://www.springerpub.com/101-careers-in-social-work-9780826143259.html
Trujillo, A. K., Bruce, L., Obermann, A. (2020). The Future of Online Social Work Education and Title IV-E Child Welfare Stipends. (Issue 1). Routledge Taylor and Francis Group. https://www.routledge.com/Title-IV-E-Child-Welfare-Education-Impact-on-Workers-Case-Outcomes-and/Leung-Cheung/p/book/9780367438135
Trujillo, A. K., Bruce, L., Obermann, C. A. (2018). The Future of Online Social Work Education and Title IV-E Child Welfare Stipends. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 12(3), 317-322. .
Obermann, C. A. (2017). Perspectives of Occupational Stress in the Child Welfare Workforce. Graduate Studies at Digital Commons @ DU. https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/1354/?utm_source=digitalcommons.du.edu%2Fetd%2F1354&utm_medium=PDF&utm_campaign=PDFCoverPages
Leak, R., Reinks, S., Obermann, A. (2017). A Deeper Look at Burnout in the Child Welfare System. Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership, and Governance, -11. https://doi.org/10.1080/23303131.2017.1340385.
McCrae, J., Scannapieco, M., Obermann, A. (2015). Retention and job satisfaction of child welfare supervisors. Children and Youth Services Review, 5971-176. .