Faculty Directory

Thomas Crea

Professor

Assistant Dean, Global Programs

Chair, Global Practice Field of Practice

Photo of Thomas Crea

Thomas Crea

Ph.D.

Contact

McGuinn Hall 211

Telephone: 617-552-0813

Email: thomas.crea.2@bc.edu

Education

  • A.B., University of Georgia
  • M.S.W., University of Georgia
  • Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Research Interests

Humanitarian Aid; Mental Health Sequelae of Infectious Diseases

Expertise

  • Children, Youth, and Families
  • Global Practice
  • Humanitarian Services
  • Immigrants and Refugees
  • Implementation Science
  • Mental Health
  • Faith-Based Services
  • Systems Science
CV or Resume

Profile

Thomas M. Crea, PhD, MSW, is Professor, Chair of Global Practice, and Assistant Dean of Global Programs at the School of Social Work, 艾可直播 College. He is a former clinical social worker with previous experience as a mental health therapist for severely emotionally disturbed children, and as a foster care adoption worker and supervisor providing home study assessments and post-placement support to families. Dr. Crea leads local, national, and international research projects related to social interventions for vulnerable children and families. This research focuses on the intersections of child welfare, refugee social protection and education, and strengthening humanitarian aid and international development programs. Dr. Crea鈥檚 projects have been funded by multiple sources such as the US Department of Agriculture, the Porticus Foundation, the National Institute of Child Health and Development, and others. These projects span multiple countries, which in addition to the U.S. have included Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Malawi, Palestine, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Professor Crea uses primarily mixed-methods, participatory research methodologies designed to produce rigorous, yet useful, findings for stakeholders working with marginalized populations.

Select Publications

Cardoso, J. B., Brabeck, K. M., Chen, T. A., Bjugstad, A., Mytelka, C., Capps, R., &聽Crea, T. M.聽(2023). Threat and deprivation as distinct predictors of posttraumatic stress and depression symptoms in first and second generation Latinx youth.听Applied Developmental Science.听

Collier, K. M., Klein, E. K., Sevalie, S., Molleh, B., Kabba, Y., Kargbo, A., Bangura, J., Gbettu, H., Simms, S., O鈥橪eary, C., Drury, S., Schieffelin, J. S., Betancourt, T. S., &聽Crea, T. M.聽(2023). Ebola Virus Disease sensitization in Sierra Leone: Evidence for a community-centered public health response.听Journal of Community Health.听

Neville, S. E., Okunoren, O., &聽Crea, T. M.聽(2023). Youth who have lived in alternative care inNigeria, Zambia and Zimbabwe: Mental health and violence outcomes in nationally-representative data.听JAACAP Open.听

Crea, T. M.,聽Collier, K. M., Klein, E., Sevalie, S., Molleh, B., Kargbo, A., Kabba, Y., Bangura, J., Gbettu, H., O鈥橪eary, C., Simms, S., Schieffelin, J. S., Drury, S., & Betancourt, T. S. (2022). Distress related to social distancing and community stigma in the aftermath of Ebola Virus Disease.听PLoS ONE, 17(11): e0276790.听

Crea, T. M.,聽Klein, E. K., Okunoren, O., Jimenez, M. P., St. Arnold, G., Kirior, T., Velandria, E., & Bruni, D. (2022). Inclusive education in a refugee camp for children with disabilities: How are school setting and children鈥檚 behavioral functioning related?聽Conflict & Health, 16(53).听

Crea, T. M.,聽Evans, K., Hasson III, R. G., Neville, S. E., Werner, K., Wanjiku, E., Okumu, N., & St. Arnold, G. (2022). Inclusive education for children with disabilities in a refugee camp.听Disasters.听

Davidson, M.C., Lu, S., Barrie, M.B., Freeman A., Mbayoh, M., Kamara, M., Tsai, A.C.,聽Crea T.,聽Rutherford, G.W., Weiser, S.D. & Kelly, J.D. (2022). A post-outbreak assessment of exposure proximity and Ebola virus disease-related stigma among community members in Kono District, Sierra Leone: A cross-sectional study,聽Social Science & Medicine - Mental Health. doi:聽听箩.蝉蝉尘尘丑.2022.100064.

Neville, S. E., Collier, K. M., Acevedo, J., Canelas, O., Medina, M., Mallman, J., & Crea, T. M. (2021). The link between primary school students鈥� psychosocial outcomes and parental involvement in school in the Department of Intibuc谩, Honduras. Journal of Research in Childhood Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/02568543.2021.1956652

Werner, K., St. Arnold, G., & Crea, T. M. (2021). Special needs education in a refugee camp: A community based systems dynamics approach to understanding inclusion and wellbeing. Conflict & Health, 15, 58 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-021-00390-5

Hasson, R. G., & Crea, T. M., Evans, K., & Underwood, D. (2021). Clocking in: Employment outcomes for Unaccompanied Refugee Minors exiting care in the United States. Children & Youth Services Review, 126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106040

Lopez, A., & Crea, T. M. (2021). Depression among Mexican immigrant mothers: The mediating role of self-efficacy. Social Work & Mental Health, 19(4), 259-275. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332985.2021.1910893

Crea, T. M., Neville, S. E., Diaz-Valdes, A., Evans, K., Urizar, B., Drummer, E., Acevedo, J., Canelas, O., Medina, M., & Mallman, J. (2021). The McGovern-Dole Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program (MGD): A comparative analysis of reading comprehension gains in Central America. World Development Perspectives, 20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wdp.2021.100288

Crea, T. M., Tobin, E., Young, A. E., Ko, C., & Weber, A. (2021). Job retention among resettled refugees in the United States: The importance of place and context. Journal of Refugee Studies. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jrs/feaa088

Evans, K., Crea, T. M., & Soto, X. (2020). Unaccompanied immigrant children: A human rights approach to macro social work field education. Journal of Human Rights & Social Work. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41134-020-00154-w

Hasson III, R. G., Easton, S. D., D铆az-Vald茅s, A., O鈥橠wyer, L., Underwood, D., & Crea, T. M. (2020). Examining the psychometric properties of the Child PTSD Symptom Scale within a sample of unaccompanied immigrant children in the United States. Journal of Trauma and Loss. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2020.1777760

Unangst, L., & Crea, T. M. (2020). Higher education for refugees: A need for research. Comparative Education Review.

Harry, M., Acevedo, J., & Crea, T. M. (2019). Assessing the factor structure of the Spanish language parent Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in Honduras. PLOS One. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0214394

Select Grants

8/18 to 7/23.听 Principal Investigator for Long Term Stress and Impairment in Children and Youth after an Acute Infectious Disease Outbreak: A Longitudinal Study of the Social, Familial and Individual Effects of Ebola Viral Disease (EVD), funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD), #R01HD096699 ($2,568,749)

8/16 to 12/20 Principal Investigator for Food for Education Phase II Evaluation, funded by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Honduras ($262,802)

6/18 to 5/19 Principal Investigator for Research in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya: Special Needs Education Activities, Project Design, and Foundational Beliefs, funded by Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) International ($120,443)

7/15 to 9/17 Principal Investigator for Midterm and Final Evaluations: Food for Education (FFE) 鈥淟earning for Life鈥�, funded by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Guatemala ($209,557)

9/15 to 8/16 Principal Investigator for Central American Youth in Long-Term Foster Care: A Study of Child Welfare Outcomes and Documentation of Best Practices, funded by Lutheran Immigrant and Refugee Service (LIRS) ($30,000)

Select Appointments & Awards

Fellow of the Society for Social Work & Research (SSWR), Class of 2017

Clinical Practice Experience

2001鈥�2003, Adoption Supervisor, All God鈥檚 Children, Inc., A Special Needs Adoption Agency, Athens, Georgia

2000鈥�2001, Adoption Caseworker, All God鈥檚 Children, Inc., A Special Needs Adoption Agency, Athens, Georgia

2000鈥�2000, Adolescent Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Inner Light Program, Family Counseling Service, Athens, Georgia

1999鈥�2000, In-Home Crisis Counselor, Severely Emotionally Disturbed (SED) Program, Child and Adolescent Unit, Northeast Georgia Center for Mental Health, Athens, Georgia聽

Back To Top