Category: Recipient Stories

We are thrilled to announce that Associate Professor William Schneider has been selected as the inaugural Merlin Taber Faculty Scholar for Collaborative Research in the School of Social Work.

The Merlin Taber Faculty Scholar for Collaborative Research was established as an evolution of the Merlin Taber Collaborative Research Fund through the generosity of a friend and colleague of Dr. Merlin Taber, honoring his legacy of collaborative, agency-partnered scholarship. It supports a named faculty scholar whose work bridges the CFRC and the School, translating research into practice, supporting implementation in agency settings, and incentivizing collaborative projects between the center and the School. Per the donor’s agreement, eligibility for this appointment is tied to the Faculty Directorship of the CFRC. 

Dr. Schneider has served as Faculty Director of the CFRC since 2023. His research on the economic and policy determinants of child maltreatment is grounded in direct partnership with public child welfare systems, most notably DCFS, and exemplifies the kind of applied, boundary-crossing work Dr. Merlin Taber championed.

We are thrilled to announce that Professor Karen Tabb Dina has been selected as the inaugural Mark Brandt Faculty Scholar in the School of Social Work.

The Brandt Faculty Scholar was established to honor scholarship and leadership of the highest distinction in research, mentorship, and professional service. Following an open call for nominations among eligible full professors, a peer committee carefully reviewed the nominees and recommended Dr. Tabb Dina for this honor.

Dr. Tabb’s scholarship in perinatal mental health, maternal mortality, and health equity has earned national and international recognition, influenced state and federal policy, and secured substantial external research support. Equally important, she has demonstrated a deep commitment to mentoring students and junior colleagues, advancing the profession through both her scholarship and her leadership.

Dr. Tabb also currently serves as President of the National Association of Perinatal Social Workers (NAPSW).

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Patricia Turner to the School of Social Work as the first Bill and Julie Kellner Faculty Scholar, a position made possible by a generous gift from the Kellner family.

This appointment supports faculty whose work advances the mission of the Kellner Center for Neurogenomics, Behavior, and Society—a center dedicated to exploring how our genes, brains, and behavior intersect to shape our communities. The Kellner Center brings together the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB), the Center for Social & Behavioral Science (CSBS), and the School of Social Work (SSW) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. It is housed within the Gene Networks in Neural and Developmental Plasticity (GNDP) Research theme at the IGB.

Dr. Turner joins us from Arizona State University, bringing a powerful combination of clinical expertise, research excellence, and deep dedication to social justice. Her research focuses on the psychosocial prevention and treatment of psychotic disorders, advancing understanding and care for those with serious mental illness.