Shamila Sivakumaran

Shamila Sivakumaran

Teaching Interest

  • Diverse populations
  • U.S Immigration policy
  • Human Behavior and Social Environment
  • International/Global Social Work
  • Foundation of Social Policy and Services
  • Theories of Human Behavior
  • Research methods

Research Interests

  • International Social Work Education
  • Adverse Childhood Experience and Flourishing among children and Adolescents
  • Social Work with War Affected Communities
  • Social Work with Immigrants and Refugees
  • Socioeconomic and psychological challenges of women headed households

Shamila Sivakumaran is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Texas at Arlington’s School of Social Work. Her research focuses on exploring the landscape of global social work education in the United States using mixed method study. She holds an MSW from the University of Madras, India, and a BA in Psychology and Drama & Theatre from the University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka.

Shamila brings over a decade of international experience in social work education and practice, having taught at institutions in both Sri Lanka and the U.S. Her research interests center on international social work education, adverse childhood experiences and flourishing among children and adolescents, war-affected communities, immigrant and refugee. She is especially passionate about incorporating international perspectives into social work curricula, aiming to enrich student understanding and promote culturally responsive practice.