Social Work Professor Appointed as Dean’s Faculty Fellow

Published January 23, 2023
By Darlene Muguiro
UTEP College of Health Sciences

This January, Dr. Yok-Fong Paat, associate professor in the Department of Social Work, became the second faculty member to be appointed as a fellow for the College of Health Sciences (CHS) Dean’s Office. In her new role as Faculty Fellow for Scholarship and Research, Paat will design and facilitate initiatives around mentorship in research for junior faculty and students as well as the continued cultivation of a strong research culture within the college. Since coming to UTEP, Paat has been a productive researcher and was awarded the Mentoring Award from CHS in 2020 for excellence in mentoring students in research.

As a first step, Paat intends to release a survey to CHS faculty and students to identify areas of need and faculty availability for mentoring and looks forward to connecting students and junior and mid-career faculty with experienced mentors. In addition to the area of mentorship, Paat intends to focus on supporting faculty seeking external funding and facilitating the development of writing groups for faculty. 

Despite her strong record of scholarship within CHS, Paat says she was humbled by the notification, and eagerly looks forward to beginning her new role in the dean’s office. “I hope to strengthen the research culture in CHS and assist in addressing any barriers that hinder progress in research,” she said.

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