Dr. Mary Collins

Biography

Mary Collins is an internationally recognized expert in child welfare. She currently serves as an international editorial advisor for the British Journal of Social Work and is a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Policy Practice Research. She is the author of the book 'Macro Perspectives on Youths Aging Out of Foster Care' (NASW Press, 2015) and has published more than 90 articles and book chapters. Collins' research focuses on developing supportive policies and programs for older youth within state systems. Her work has been featured in prestigious journals such as the Journal of Youth Studies, Child Welfare, Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis, and Journal of Social Policy. Over the past decade, she has been a visiting scholar in places like Switzerland at Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Ethiopia at the University of Gondar, and in Northern Ireland at Queen’s University School of Social Work. In the academic year 2011-2012, Collins was a Fulbright Lecturer at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities at Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City. Currently, she holds the chair in Human Behavior, Research and Policy in the Department of Social Welfare Policy at Boston University School of Social Work. She has also served as associate dean for academic affairs, director of the dual degree program in social work and theology, co-coordinator of the specialization in children, youth and families, director of the doctoral program, and chair of the social welfare department. Collins is a faculty affiliate of BU’s Center for Innovation in Social Science, the Center for Antiracist Research, and the Initiative on Cities.

Research Interests