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Bio
I was born in Queens New York and grew up in Connecticut. I've lived in Vermont, New Hampshire, Upstate New York, and Northern California. This is my third time moving back to Colorado.
I discovered a passion for social justice as a child of the 60's. I grew up with a growing awareness of the racial, economic and environmental issues surrounding us. I began engaging in service in junior high and it has been a part of what drove me to social work. I also discovered my love of the outdoors in junior high through skiing. These early passions have been at the foundation of my career for over 30 years.
I have sought to combine social work with work in outdoor adventure and wilderness contexts for much of my career. In the pursuit of combining these areas I deepened by knowledge of experiential education, group work and experiential practice. These elements make up the majority of my professional writing and presentations.
I have been fortunate to travel around the world meeting amazing people and having incredible conversations about the power of work with people by engaging them in activity and group process. I truly believe (and the empirical data supports this) that a group of people engaged in activity is a powerful vehicle for change.
What attracts me to MSU Denver is the commitment of this University to the ideas of social justice and social action. The rich diversity of lived experience in our students, faculty and staff is a testament to the mission of our University. I am privileged to be the Chair of a dynamic and growing department that is full of rich and engaged faculty and students. I hope to meet you and have a conversation!
Educational Biography
Doctor of Philosophy. University of Denver, June 1997. Dissertation: The Orientation of Social Work Faculty to the Philosophy of Experiential Education in the Classroom.
Master of Social Work. University of Denver, June 1987. Emphases on integrated (advanced generalist) practice, family & group practice, substance abuse and adventure and wilderness therapy.
Bachelor of Science in Social Work (CSWE accredited). Cornell University, December 1984.
Degree
PhD in Social Work
University of Denver
MSW in Social Work
University of Denver
BS in Social Work
Cornell University
Published Works
- Itin, M. C. . Adventure-based group work. (). Routledge.
- Young, M., Bradfield, M., Ginal, J., Rankin, B. (2022). HB22-1035 - Modernization of The Older Coloradans' Act. , https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1035
- Itin, M. C., Priest, S. (2022). How does EE work? . Association for Experiential Education, https://assets.noviams.com/novi-file-uploads/aee/CHIP/NEW_PDFS/C.pdf
- Hughes, J. (2020). 2020 Strategic Action Plan on Aging. , https://agingstrategy.colorado.gov/2020-strategic-action-plan-on-aging
- Hughes, J. (2019). 2019 Strategic Action Plan on Aging. , https://agingstrategy.colorado.gov/2019-strategic-action-plan-on-aging
- Tucker, R. A., Norton, L. C., Itin, M. C., Hobson, J., Alvarez, A. M. (2016). Adventure Therapy: Nondeliberative Group Work in Action. Social Work with Groups/Taylor & Francis, 39(2/3), 194-207. .
Research Interests
Group process, leadership, wilderness and adventure therapy, experiential practice
Teaching Interests
Family Therapy and Family Work
Group Therapy and Group Work
Community and Organizational Practice
Experiential and Adventure Therapy and Practice
Research
Field Education