Nalini Negi

Nalini Negi is an associate professor at the School of Social Work (SSW) in the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). Dr. Negi’s research has emphasized the social etiology and structural mechanisms (including, racism, discrimination) that confer risk of psychological distress and substance use among Latino im/migrant men employed in the informal economy. She has been funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), among other funding mechanisms, and is one of the first to have elucidated structural and psychosocial factors associated to the mental health and drug use initiation and use of this hard-to-reach and “hidden” population of Latino im/migrants. Dr. Negi has published extensively in scientific journals as well as edited two books, one on social work practice with Latinos by Oxford University Press and one on social work practice with transnational migrants by Columbia University Press. In 2012, she received the National Award for Excellence in Research by a New Investigator from the National Hispanic Science Network. She received her doctoral degree from the University of Texas, Austin in 2008 and received the top honors for her dissertation by the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR), the largest scientific organization representing social work in the United States. In 2017, she was inducted into the Fellows of the SSWR in recognition of serving with distinction to advance the mission of the Society -- to advance, disseminate, and translate research that addresses issues of social work practice and policy and promotes a diverse, equitable and just society. Dr. Negi is passionate about teaching and has been the recipient of multiple teaching awards including, the National Association of Social Workers Maryland Chapter (NASW-MD), Educator of the Year Award, Exemplary Faculty of the Year Award, and the Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award. Dr. Negi was raised in seven countries, in five continents, and speaks five languages (including, Spanish and Hindi).