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Aviva Vincent

PhD, LMSW, VSW

Biography

Aviva Vincent, PhD, LMSW, VSW earned her doctoral degree from Case Western Reserve University and Veterinary Social Work Certificate from the University of Tennessee. She is an instructor in the Veterinary Social Work and Veterinary Human Support Certificate Program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her research interest includes exploring the physiological impact of the human-animal bond; specifically, the potential animal support to reduce fear and anxiety in stressful situations. Her background in veterinary social work informs her practice as the Director of Program Quality at Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. In this capacity, she is responsible for ensuring high-quality programs in adaptive riding, hippotherapy, carriage driving, and ground lessons for community participants. She is co-founder and owner of Healing Paws LLC, the only VSW practice in Northeast Ohio. Dr. Vincent is on the advisory board of the Center for Human Animal Education Research and Education at Ohio State University, board of directors for the International Association of Veterinary Social Workers, and is co-founder of the human-animal interactions workgroup with the National Association of Social Workers-Ohio chapter. Dr. Vincent is a contributor to the forthcoming volume The Comprehensive Guide to Interdisciplinary Veterinary Social Work, and Career Paths in Human-Animal Interaction for Social and Behavioral Scientists.


Research

Principal Investigator: Dr. Mary Beth Spitznagel 2021-2023
Kent State University
Role: advisory board member
Targeting a Novel Mechanism for Distress in Veterinary Medicine Workers through Acceptance and
Commitment Training
Amount: $274,996.80
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)/Center for Disease Control (CDC)

Principal Investigator 2019-2020
Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences and Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center
Case Western Research University, Cleveland, OH
Riding to a Different Beat: Equine Assisted Therapy and Music Therapy
Supervisor: Dr. Kathleen Farkas

Principal Investigator 2019-2020
Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences and Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center
Case Western Research University, Cleveland, OH
Mind full or Mindful: Equine Facilitated Therapy for women Veterans
Supervisor: Dr. Kathleen Farkas

Co-Investigator 2017-2019
Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences and School of Dental Medicine
Case Western Research University, Cleveland, OH
Canine Support in Pediatric Dentistry: Phase two, research supported by Salimetrics.
Supervisor: Dr. Masahiro Heima

Co-Investigator 2017-2019
Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences and School of Dental Medicine
Case Western Research University, Cleveland, OH
Canine Support in Pediatric Dentistry: Phase two, research supported by Salimetrics.
Supervisor: Dr. Masahiro Heima

Research Assistant 2018-2019
Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
BCHDI technical assistance
Supervisor: Dr. David Hussey and Dr. Karen Flynn.

Research Assistant 2016-2019
Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
Procedural Justice: Improving Public Trust and Confidence in the Court System Initiative
Supervisor: Dr. Dan Flannery.

Co-Investigator 2017-2018
Flora Stone Mather Center for Women
Case Western Research University, Cleveland, OH
Women’s Experiences in Doctoral Programs
Supervisor: Susan Freimark

Research Assistant 2016
Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences
Case Western Research University, Cleveland, OH
Supporting outcomes and assessment towards reaccreditation
Supervisor: Dr. Zoe Wood

Research Assistant 2016
The Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development
Case Western Research University, Cleveland, OH
The Ohio Department of Medicaid/ Medicaid Technical Assistance and Policy Program
(MEDTAPP): “Statewide Evaluation of Maternal and Infant Health Projects in Ohio.”
Supervisor: Dr. Elizabeth Anthony

Research Assistant 2016
Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences
Case Western Research University, Cleveland, OH
Curriculum and Program Review
Supervisor: Dr. David Biegel

Research Assistant 2009-2011
Human Rights and Oppression
University of Connecticut School of Social Work, Hartford, CT
Supervisor: Dr. Kathryn Libal


Education

Ph.D. Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 2019
Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences
Dissertation title: Canine Support in Pediatric Dentistry
Dissertation Committee: Dr. Kathleen Farkas (chair)
Dr. Masahiro Heima, Dr. David Hussey, and Dr. David Crampton.

MSW University of Connecticut, Hartford, Connecticut 2011
Social Work, School of Social Work,

B.A. University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 2007
Major: Social Thought and Political Economy
Study Abroad, University of Limerick, Ireland, 2006-2007


Professional Service

Adjunct Instructor 2016-present
Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH


Instructor 2017-present
Veterinary Social Work Certificate Program
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN


Awards and Recognitions

Doctoral Program Research Fellowship 2015-2019
Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH


Phi Beta Kappa Research Award 2018
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH


Dr. Dorothy Pijan Student Leadership Award 2018
Outstanding Graduate Student Org. Officer
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH


Honorable mention recipient, ShowCASE 2018
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH


Dr. Dorothy Graduate Student Travel Award 2018
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

Animals & Society Fellowship 2017
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Verhosek Fund Award 2016
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

Graduate Student Council: professional development support 2016
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

Team Award 2014
Consolidated School District of New Britain, CT


Next Generation Leadership Award (30 under 30) 2014
National Afterschool Association


Publications

Vincent, A., Heima, M., Farkas, K. (2020) Between children and therapy dogs: a feasibility study towards reducing anticipatory anxiety and situational fear. Child and Adolescent Social Work.


Vincent, A., Mamzer, H., Ng, Z., Farkas, K. (2020) Pets and People in the time of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Society Registered. 4(3) 111-1128.


Vincent, A., Easton, S., Heima, M., and Farkas, K., (2020) Perception regarding Canine Support in Pediatric Dentistry among oral health care providers and the guardians of pediatric patients. Pediatric Dentistry. 42(1), 16-21.


Vincent, A., McDonald, S., Poe, B., Deisner, V., (2019) Beyond species, pets are family: The Link between interpersonal violence and animal abuse. Society Register. 3(3, 83-101.

Hoy-Gerlach, J., Vincent, A., Lory, B., (2019) Emotional Support Animals in the United States: Emergent Guidelines for Mental Health Clinicians Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Mental Health. 6(2), 199-208.

Vincent, A. (2019) Literature Review: Dog parks as an institutional resource for social capital in the urban neighborhood. Society & Animals. 1(aop), 1-22.

Vincent, A., Farkas, K., (2017) Application of Attachment Theory to Equine Facilitated Therapy. Society Register. 1(1), 7-22.

Anthony, B., Vincent, A., Yoonkyung, S., (2017) Parenting in Shelter: A Qualitative Interview Study Exploring the Effect of Homelessness on Young Children. Journal of Child & Family Social Work. 23(1), 8-15.

Vincent, A. (2017) Summer Enrichment Experience: your place in the community. Practitioner-based submission. Journal of Expanded Learning Opportunities.

Libal, K., Mapp, S.A., Eihrig, E. & Vincent, A. (2011). Commentary: The Convention on the Rights of the Child: Children can wait no longer for their rights. Journal of Social Work.56(4), 367-370.


Contact Information

The flagship campus of the University of Tennessee System and partner in the Tennessee Transfer Pathway.