Ph.D. in Social Work from Univeristy of Minnesota, School of Social Work, St. Paul, MN
MSW with concentration in Community Organizing and Advocacy from University of Minnesota, School of Social Work, St. Paul, MN
Bachelor of Social Work [Magna Cum Laude] with minor in Women's Studies from Univeristy of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI
Dr. Mary Nienow is the Director of the New Mexico State University School of Social Work Prior to being the director she was the BSW Program Director and Associate Professor at St. Catherine University. She has over twenty years of experience in research, teaching, advocacy, program coordination, policy development and analysis and community organizing. Dr. Nienow was the co-founder of Grasstops, a nonprofit advocacy organization that assisted nonprofits and small community groups with their policy and advocacy goals. Her extensive practice experience also includes Policy Consultant for Hennepin County Medical Center, Field Director at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Executive Director at Child Care WORKS, and lead researcher on Health and Human Services for the Minnesota Senate DFL Caucus. Nienow is co-author of the book Whole Person Librarianship: A social work approach to patron services. She has presented on this topic locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. Dr. Nienow’s additional research interests include professional socialization of macro practice social workers, social work regulation, policy and program development, and community based participatory research.
