Dr. Pamela Johansen

Associate Professor
BSW Program Director
BSW California State University, Chico 1978
MSW (Mental Health) California State University, Sacramento, 1988
EdD (Learning and Instruction) University of San Francisco, 2002

Pam came to CSUC full-time in 2001, after 15 years as a part-time instructor. In her long teaching history at Chico State, she has taught most of the undergraduate courses in the School of Social Work. In recent years, Pam teaches practice, field, human behavior in the social environment, and child welfare. Pam is a strong advocate of online education and has been influential in bringing online courses to the department.

Pam has more than 25 years of direct social work practice, including work with children, adolescents and families, foster care, residential treatment, mental health, HIV/AIDS, and criminal justice/corrections. In collaboration with Professor Emeritus Dr. Roy Brazzale, she developed and directed Tri Counties Community Services, a foster family, group home, and family therapy agency. The program closed in 1995, with the birth of Pam’s only child, Alex. Pam maintains an active LCSW license and continues part-time practice as a clinician at Butte County Jail.

Pam’s research interests include using technology in social work education, child welfare, HIV/AIDS, corrections, and immigration. She has completed two studies on parenting grandparents with Dr. Jean Schuldberg, as well as a qualitative study on long-term survivors living with HIV/AIDS. Pam has experience using online survey instruments and qualitative research methods.

When Pam is not at Chico State or “in jail,” she enjoys catamaran sailboat racing, scuba diving, and snow skiing.