New Year, New Faces: Dr. Michael Paulus
Amber Haeberle
Issue date: 1/29/09 Section: News
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Dr. Michael Paulus chose to transfer to the Haven where he knew some professors and is now a professor of social work and on tenured track with a one-year provisional appointment.
At the beginning his educational journey, since 1975 till 1977 Paulus attended Jamestown Community College where he attained an associate degree in liberal studies.
From 1977 till 1982, he enlisted in the army to take advantage of the G.I. Bill. While there, he took classes that were focused in the liberal arts at New Mexico State University and the University of Maryland in Agusburg, West Germany.
Paulus continued his education and received his B.A. in liberal studies from Regents College in Albany, N.Y.
He then earned his master's degree in social work in 1988 from SUNY in Buffalo. His doctoral studies took him to Rutgers University in New Jersey where he obtained his doctorate in social work in 1995.
"I have a license to practice social work in New York State, and I am involved in the National Association of Social Workers, from which I was awarded membership in the Academy of Certified Social Workers. This membership was awarded when I attained two years of post-Master's work experience and confirms that I am capable of independent social work practice," said Paulus.
His work experience includes 12 years at Edinboro University, Pa., as a social work professor. Paulus taught an array of social work classes including Human Behavior in the Social Environment, Child Welfare and Woman in Crisis.
He has also worked for a hospice organization in Erie, Pa. for 10 years.
At the hospice, he conducted evaluations, assessments, bereavement counseling and end of life and palliative care services.
When asked why he had chosen his profession, Paulus said, "I wanted to get a doctorate because I saw that a professor's jobs included reading, writing and studying things that they enjoy, and I thought that would be a great life... I have always been interested in making a difference and social work fulfilled that."
While Paulus was working at the hospice, he began to see people pass away and he became intrigued with the spiritual realm. His current interest in this topic is how social work faculty members introduce students to spirituality and the role it can play in the clients' life and the decisions clients make.
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