University Directory

Matthew DeCarlo, PhD

Clinical Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership and Counseling
Program Director, Master of Social Work 

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Department

Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling
Graduate Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program
Masters of Social Work

Office

MH 375

Phone

610-660-2917
Contact

Matt DeCarlo earned his PhD in social work at Virginia Commonwealth University and his MSW from George Mason University. His research interests include education equity, labor rights, student wellness & basic needs, licensure examinations, and other workforce development initiatives for students and early-career social workers. He is the author of two free and openly licensed textbooks, Scientific Inquiry in Social Work and Graduate Research Methods in Social Work: A Project-Based Approach. Additionally, is the co-founder of Open Social Work--a collaborative that advances knowledge equity in social work through open scholarly practices--open access, open education, and open science. 

    • 2016: PhD in Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 
    • 2010: Master of Social Work, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 
    • 2007: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA
    • 2023-present: MSW Program Director, Practicum Director, Clinical Assistant Professor, Saint Joseph’s University School of Education and Human Development, Philadelphia, PA.
      • First Zero Textbook Cost online MSW program in the United States. Designed 10 classes in the field education, research, HBSE, and capstone sequences. Created the practicum handbook and student handbook. Developed fellowships in Disability Social Work and Spiritual Social Work Wrote Benchmark 1 documents which were approved by the CoA for the June 2024-2026 accreditation timeline and supervised our first CSWE site visit. 
    • 2021-2023: Assistant Professor, La Salle University School of Arts & Sciences, Philadelphia, PA. 
      • Pre-major classes: Introduction to social work, human rights Generalist classes (BSW/MSW co-listed): Multi-dimensional approaches to human development, social work research, human development & diversity, values and ethics (capstone)
    •  2020-2021: Assistant Professor of Social Work, Stockton University School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Galloway, NJ.
      • Generalist classes: Human behavior in the social environment & lifespan development Concentration classes: Substance abuse, advanced practice with individuals & families, social welfare policy & advocacy Matthew DeCarlo PhD MSW mdecarlo@sju.edu | 540-339-6948 | opensocialwork.org 
    • 2016-2020: Assistant Professor, Radford University School of Social Work, Radford, VA 
      • Generalist classes: Social work research, social welfare policy, HBSE, field instruction Concentration classes: Social welfare policy analysis & advocacy, substance abuse Site Coordinator for online hybrid MSW program (2017-2019) Distinguished faculty member, Waldron College (2018-2019) Dalton Eminent Scholar Rising Star Award (2019-2020) 
    • 2014-2016: Adjunct Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work, Richmond, VA
      • Pre-major classes: Communications Generalist classes: Social work research, policy analysis & advocacy, HBSE & lifespan development Full-time teaching load while completing dissertation

  • Grants & Fellowships

    • 2022: Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Grant Award. La Salle University. $3,500.
    • 2022: Small Research Grant. La Salle University. $1,000.
    • 2019-2020: Dalton Eminent Scholar Rising Star Award. Radford University. $15,000
    • 2019-2020: Course Redesign Grant. VIVA (Virtual Library of Virginia). $23,750.
    • 2019: Seed Grant. Radford University Office of Sponsored Programs. $8,000.
    • 2018-2019: Waldron College Research Grant. Radford University. $8,000.
    • 2018-2019: OER Research Fellowship. Open Education Group. $8,000.
    • 2018-2019: Targeted Outreach Grant. VIVA (Virtual Library of Virginia). $2,300.
    • 2017-2018: Waldron College Research Grant. Radford University. $4,500.
    • 2016-2017: Waldron College Research Grant. Radford University. $7,000.

    Awards & Honors

    • 2019: Dalton Eminent Scholar Rising Star. Radford University
    • 2019: Distinguished Faculty Member. Waldron College of Health and Human Services
    • 2017: Disability Manuscript Award, Honorable Mention. Council on Social Work Education