The Social Work

Researcher's Laboratory

As a Social Work Educator and Researcher the community is my laboratory.  The Community is where I carryout my research efforts. 

 I equate my research with any scientific research ever carried out.  The only difference in my research and that of a biochemist is that my laboratory is in the community and the biochemist's lab is in a building.

Andrew L. Cherry's OU Web Page

Classes that I Teach:

SWK 5010  – The DSM-IV TR in Social Work: Assessment and Diagnosis

SWK 5083 – Social Work Research Methods

SWK  –  Advanced Research

SWK 5313 – Social Welfare in a Changing World

A little background.

I have been a social worker since received my BS from Troy State University, Troy, AL in 1969.  My first job was as in the rural county of Escambia Alabama.  My roles involved work in, Aid to Dependent Family, Foster Care, Adoptions, and as a Juvenile Probation officer.  In 1974 I received my Masters of Social Work degree from the University of Alabama.  During my MSW training, I worked as a psychiatric social worker at Bryce State Hospital, next door to the University of Alabama for five years before beginning his doctoral studies.  In 1986, I received my Doctorate from the Columbia University School of Social Work, in New York City.  After receiving my Doctorate, I taught at Salisbury State University Department of Social Work, Marywood College School of Social Work, Barry University School of Social Work before coming to the University of Oklahoma in the Fall of 2003.  I am proud to currently hold the position as the first Oklahoma Medicaid Endowed Professor of Mental Health in the University of Oklahoma School of Social Work—Tulsa Campus.

When not teaching I conduct research and evaluations in the areas of mental health, addiction, homelessness, social services to children and families, the biopsychosocial response to trauma, and the influence of Social Bond on human behavior. 

In addition to publishing numerous professional journal articles about my research and presenting at national and international professional conferences.  I was the series advisor for a set books published by Greenwood Press called: A World View of Social Issues, and I have authored and co-authored several books:

co-authored, Social bonds and teen pregnancy, (1992), Praeger Press.

authored, The socialization instinct: Individual, family and social bonds, (1994), Praeger Press; 

authored, A research primer for the helping professions: Methods statistics and writing, (2000), Brooks/Cole Pub.; 

co-authored,  A global view of teenage pregnancy (2001), Greenwood Press.

authored,  Examining Global Social Welfare Issues Using MicroCase (Revised ed. 2005), Brooks/Cole.