School of Social Work Ph.D. candidate Suzanne Lohrbach has been named academic director of child welfare for the American Humane Association, a national organization that advocates for the protection of children and animals.

Lohrbach has more than 20 years of child welfare experience as a clinical consultant, mental health professional and professor. Most recently, she has been a community services supervisor for Olmsted County Child & Family Services in Rochester, Minnesota, where she helped to improve family group decision-making programs and field services for the protection of high-risk children. She also had clinical consultation responsibilities for the domestic violence response team and helped to lead the implementation of the child protection practice framework, Signs of Safety.

“Suzanne has been instrumental in leading many innovative initiatives in differential response and family group decision-making that are making a significant impact nationally and internationally,” said American Humane Association Senior Vice President of Child Welfare Sonia Velazquez. “We are thrilled to have her expertise as we continue to improve the safety, permanency and well-being of children everywhere.”