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M. Candace Christensen is an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan's School of Social Work, with significant research focusing on a critical feminist approach towards community engagement and qualitative arts-based research methodologies to prevent and respond to gendered, racial, and anti-LGBTQ+ violence. Dr. Christensen emphasizes positionalities as a Femme genderqueer, poly-sexual artist-activist and survivor of sexual violence, aiming to deconstruct paradigms that perpetuate power-based violence while fostering cultures of self-determination and mutual empowerment. Their recent projects concentrate on queer and trans youth development, exploring organizations that foster joy and belonging. Additionally, they utilize Photovoice as an intervention tool for educating social work students and engage in community-based theatre projects for sexual violence prevention, queer liberation, and racial justice. Christensen's educational background includes a BA in Theatre Literature from the University of Texas at Dallas, along with an MSW and PhD from the University of Utah. They actively mentor students in assessing creative approaches in social work practice to build life-affirming cultures through a commitment to arts-based social justice research.
University of Michigan • Ann Arbor, MI
Teaching and conducting research in social work, focusing on anti-violence and community engagement.
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science