Krings, Amy, PhD

Bio

Dr. Amy Krings examines how members of impacted groups come together to prevent, mitigate, and resist environmental and other social injustices. Her research questions and community-engaged methods are grounded in her previous practice experience as a community organizer and nonprofit leader. A leading scholar in the fields of macro and environmental social work, her research sheds light on opportunities and strategies for social and political change, including the development of ecosocial work theory, education and practice. Her research has been recognized for its contributions, and she is the recipient of Article of the Year awards in International Social Work (2020) and the Journal of Community Practice (2019).

Dr. Krings serves in several leadership positions that support social work researchers, educators, students, and practitioners. She co-leads the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare’s Grand Challenge to Create Social Responses to a Changing Environment. She is a co-editor of the Journal of Community Practice and a co-chair of the SSWR Cluster on Communities and Neighborhoods. She is an elected board member of Influencing Social Policy (ISP) and a former board member of the Association for Community Organizing and Social Development (ACOSA).

Dr. Krings received her Ph.D. from the Joint Doctoral Social Work and Political Science Program at the University of Michigan. In 2021, she was a Visiting Scholar through the University of Jyväskylä, Finland where she collaborated with international scholars to integrate environmental justice theory and practice within eco-social work.

Education

BSW – Xavier University
MSW – The University of Michigan
Ph.D. – The University of Michigan

Areas of Expertise

Community organizing
Ecosocial work theory and practice
Environmental justice
Gentrification, including environmental gentrification
Macro social work
Political social work
Theories of Social Change

Areas of Interest for Mentoring PhD Students

Community organizing
Ecosocial work theory and practice
Environmental justice
Gentrification, including environmental gentrification
Macro social work
Political social work
Theories of social change