Peter Szto, PhD
- Peter Kiewit Professorship
- Social Work, Grace Abbott School of, Professor
General Information
Biography
Dr. Szto is Professor of Social Work at the Grace Abbott School of Social Work, University of Nebraska at Omaha. He worked for 12-years in various inpatient and community mental health settings in Michigan and Philadelphia before entering the academy. His current research involves visualizing social welfare with projects in China, Singapore, and Omaha. Since 1996, he has taken nearly 120 social work students on different travel courses to China. In 2022, Dr. Szto was a Senior Fulbright Scholar at the National University of Singapore (NUS), teaching mental health care and conducting a visual study of "hidden youth." He Chairs the Advisory Board for the CSWE Katherine A. Kendall Institute for International Social Work Education (2019 - present), and is also the Editor-in-Chief for the academic journal, Social Work & Christianity. Szto has earned degrees from Calvin University, Michigan State University, Westminster Theological Seminary, and the University of Pennsylvania. Szto was born and raised in New York City to Chinese refugee/immigrant parents. He is happily married and has two dogs.
Teaching Interests
Health & Mental Health Policy;Social Welfare Policy;Spirituality and Social Work Practice;Global Social Work Engagement
Research Interests
Visualizing social welfare;Mental health care and stigma;Social welfare development in China
Service Summary
Senior Fulbright Scholar - Distinguished Chair in the Social Sciences;Katherine A. Kendall Institute for International Education - Chair;Faculty Fellow, UNO Medical Humanities
Awards and Honors
Fulbright Scholarship, Scholarship/Research - 2018
Education
Ph D, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, International social welfare, Historical comparative analysis , 2002
MA, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, Educational Systems Development, Instructional Technology , 1986
BS, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI, Psychology, 1977
Scholarship/Research/Creative Activity
Selected Publications
Szto, Peter. 2014. Psychiatric Space & Design Antecedents, Pickerng & Chatto, 71-90.
Szto, Peter. 2008. Documentary Photography in American Social Welfare History.
Szto, Peter. 2017. Doing Research: Gathering Visual Evidence in China, Council on Social Work Education.
Szto, Peter. 2007. Cultural Context and Social Technology Transfer: The Case of Canton, China.
Szto, Peter. 2013. History of Social Work in China, Oxford Bibliographies/Oxford University Press, 14 pages.
Externally Funded Research
Project NETWORK, Health Resources and Services Administration, Federal, 09/30/2014 - 09/29/2015
Artistic and Professional Performances and Exhibits
Art - Exhibition, One-Person, A Visual Study of China�s Floating Population in Guangzhou - 01/01/2008
Service
Department, College, and University
Chancelor's Leadership Forum, Special Institutional Assignment, Select group of identified leaders participate in year-long leadership development activities. - present
Professional
Council on Social Work Education - Global Commission, Committee Member, Consultative body to CSWE on global initiatives., 01/01/2012 - 01/31/2012
Katherine Kendall Institute, Chairperson, Organize and chair bi-annual Board meetings (Spring & Fall). Lead strategic planning process. Monitor Kendall Grant awards (5 awards annually of $10,000 each). Collaborate with Fulbright and CSWE initiative. Consult with CSWE President on Kendall goals & objectives., 07/01/2017 - 07/31/2017
Reviewer for Journal of Immigration & Migration Studies., Editorial Review Board Member, Reviewer for Journal of Immigration ; Migration Studies., 01/01/2005 - 12/31/2005
Community
Board of Trustees - Christian Reformed Church, Board Member, 09/01/2012 - 09/30/2012
Media Contributions
Radio, KVNO, Interview on scholarship, 09/01/2017
Administrative Assignments
Graduate Program Chair, 08/01/2012