School of Social Work

Pamela Johansen, PhD

Professor Emeritus
Butte Hall, Room 513
530-898-6204
pjohansen@csuchico.edu

Pam came to CSU, Chico 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 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 30 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. Pam maintains an active LCSW license and continues part-time practice as a clinician at Butte and Glenn County Jails and Juvenile Halls.

Pam’s research interests include using technology in social work education, child welfare, HIV/AIDS, corrections, social work students with criminal histories, advocacy for immigrants. 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.

Pam has an active life beyond work, including distance running, scuba diving in tropical waters, and is an avid obstacle course (Spartan) racer.  She is the proud parent of a US Marine as well as mother to four rescue dogs and a cat.  

Education

BSW, CSU, Chico, 1978
MSW, CSU, Sacramento, 1988
EdD, University of San Francisco, 2002

Pamela Johansen runs a race