Catherine A Macomber

Professor of Social Work

Department of Social Work

Health & Human Services

Academic and Student Affairs


SVSU Main Campus

Bachand Hall 260

989-964-7136

camacomb@svsu.edu

Cathy Macomber's Academia Page

Biography

Catherine A. Macomber is a Licensed Social Worker with a PhD and Master’s degree in Social Work and a Certificate in Public Health from Michigan State University. She has worked as a nursing home and home care social worker, a long-term care ombudsman and for the Alzheimer's Association. Cathy is a consultant in the Great Lakes Bay Region in the area of quality of life in long term care facilities.  She has expertise in curriculum design, particularly in Adult Abuse and Neglect, research, and practice, and has used this with Federal and State grant funded programs.  She currently serves as Assistant Dean in the College of Health and Human Services, BSW Program Director, and Associate Professor in the Social Work and Youth Services Department of Saginaw Valley State University.  

Education

Doctor of Philosophy
Michigan State University

Master Social Work
Michigan State University

Teaching Interests

Cathy's teaching interests include policy and research in social work and social welfare.  She is responsible for these areas of the undergraduate curriculum in the Department of Social Work and Youth Services as well as the aging and health care courses offered by the department.

Research

Cathy's research interests include aging issues in the Great Lakes Bay Region, quality of care and quality of life for older adults (including treatment of substance use disorders), environmental justice, interprofessional education and ethics, and curriculum design and implimentation. Cathy has been involved with the creation of an Interprofessional curriculum through the College of Health and Human Services since 2012.

Works of Creativity

Cathy paints in her spare times and is a voracious reader.

Community Engagement

Cathy works with organizations in the Great Lakes Bay Region on issues related to the quality of care and quality of life of older adults.  Recently, Cathy has been working on needs assessment related to the creation of a community center in the City of Saginaw. Cathy served as supervisor and clinical therapist for Medically Assisted Treatement of Substance Use Disorder through the GRACE Project in Bay City, MI. She coordinates the Food of Faith program through Our Lady of Peace parish in Bay City.  

Leadership

Cathy has served in leadership roles in most of the career and volunteer activitites she has been involved with.  She was chosen as a member of the 2017 class of the Program Directors Academy through the Council on Social Work Education. In 2022 she was accepted to the SVSU Leadership Program.

Honors and Awards

Cathy was nominated for the House Family award in 2021.  She was honored as the recipient of the Faculty Association Service award in 2022.

Affiliations

Cathy is a member of the following organizations:

  • National Association of Social Workers
  • American Society on Aging
  • Baccalaureate Program Directors
  • Council on Social Work Education

Office Hours

Monday
  • 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
  • 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM