Kirst-Ashman, Karen K. 1950- (Karen Kay Kirst-Ashman)

PERSONAL:

Born December 29, 1950, in Milwaukee, WI; daughter of Gary A. (a social worker) and Ruth G. (a medical transcriber) Kirst; married Nick H. Ashman, June 5, 1982. Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: University of Wisconsin—Madison, B.S.W., 1972, M.S.S.W., 1973; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Ph.D., 1983. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Lutheran. Hobbies and other interests: Travel.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Waterford, WI. Office—Department of Social Work, University of Wisconsin—Whitewater, Whitewater, WI 53190. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Curative Workshop of Milwaukee, Demmer-Kiwanis Children's Division, Milwaukee, WI, social worker, 1973-75; Juneau Academy Day Services, Milwaukee, social work therapist, 1975-76, social service director, 1976-77, assistant director, 1977-78; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, instructor in social work, 1978-80; University of Wisconsin—Whitewater, lecturer, 1980-81, assistant professor, 1981-86, associate professor, 1987-91, professor of social work and women's studies, 1991—, chair of women's studies department, 1985-88, and social work department, 1988-91, coordinator of sexual harassment awareness program, 1983-85. Juneau Academy Residential Treatment Center, private therapist, 1975-76; University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee, field liaison in psychology and field instructor in social welfare, both 1976-78; workshop presenter; conference participant; public speaker.

MEMBER:

National Association of Social Workers, Council on Social Work Education (member of board of directors, 1998-2001), Association of Baccalaureate Program Directors, Association for Community Organization and Social Administration, Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists, Wisconsin Council on Social Work Education (member of executive board, 1983-85, 1988—).

WRITINGS:

(With Charles Zastrow) Understanding Human Behavior and the Social Environment, with instructor's manual and student workbook, Nelson-Hall Publishers (Chicago, IL), 1987, 7th edition, Thomson Higher Education (Belmont, CA), 2004.

(With Grafton H. Hull, Jr.) Understanding Generalist Practice, with instructor's manual and student workbook, Nelson-Hall Publishers (Chicago, IL), 1993, 4th edition, Thomson Higher Education (Belmont, CA), 2006.

(With Grafton H. Hull, Jr.) Generalist Practice with Organizations and Communities, with instructor's manual, Nelson-Hall Publishers (Chicago, IL), 1997, 3rd edition, Thomson Brooks/Cole (Belmont, CA), 2006.

(With Grafton H. Hull, Jr.) Macro Skills Workbook: A Generalist Approach, Nelson-Hall Publishers (Chicago, IL), 1998.

Human Behavior, Communities, Organizations, and Groups in the Macro Social Environment: An Empowerment Approach, with instructor's manual, Wadsworth Publishing (Belmont, CA), 2000, 2nd edition, 2007.

Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare: Critical Thinking Perspectives, with instructor's manual and student workbook, Brooks/Cole (Belmont, CA), 2003, 2nd edition, 2007.

(With Grafton H. Hull, Jr.) The Generalist Model of Human Services Practice, Brooks/Cole (Belmont, CA), 2004.

Contributor to books, including Social Work with Groups, edited by Charles Zastrow, Nelson-Hall Publishers (Chicago, IL), 1985, 4th edition, 1997. Contributor of articles and reviews to periodicals, including Socialist Thought and Practice and Arete. Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work, member of editorial board, 1991-97.

SIDELIGHTS:

Karen K. Kirst-Ashman told CA: "I strongly believe in providing social workers with a solid foundation of knowledge, skills, and values. Students need practical, interesting, and relevant content to prepare themselves for working with the most vulnerable client populations. Students must learn, not only how to work with individuals, families, and small groups, but also how to practice effectively in the organizational, community, and global environments. I began writing because I couldn't find material that was directly relevant to social work practice. Books that were available failed to communicate information in a clear, germane, readable manner. When writing, I closely follow curriculum guidelines proposed by the Council on Social Work Education, the accrediting body for social work programs. Programs are required to specify how and where content is covered. My intent is to make that simpler for them because of the straightforward approach in my books. Social work education aims to teach students how to use their critical thinking skills to empower clients. I love my students, and I have great respect for their energy, motivation, ethics, and good hearts."