Dr. Katie Schultz

Biography

Katie Schultz is an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan School of Social Work, focusing her research on health equity among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Her work examines the intersection of violence and associated health outcomes, substance misuse especially among AI/AN women and girls, and the importance of community cultural connectedness as protective factors. A citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, she is dedicated to innovative conceptual and methodological research that addresses the unique needs of tribal communities, rooting solutions in Indigenous knowledges. Schultz is the principal investigator on studies that identify risk pathways affecting AI/AN individuals in the justice system in Alaska and examines social network theories in relation to AI youth and their experiences with violence, substance use, and suicide. In addition to her academic roles, she co-leads initiatives aimed at addressing violence and health equity within tribal communities in Michigan, collaborating with various stakeholders. She received her MSW and PhD from the University of Washington and has held significant administrative and research roles within wellness-focused institutes, particularly in her previous position as administrative director of the Indigenous Wellness Research Institute.

Research Interests

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