Faculty and Staff
Associate Professor, Social Work
Dr. Denise Hines, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work, College of Public Health at George Mason University. Dr. Hines’ expertise includes the causes, consequences, and prevention of family violence and sexual assault, with a particular focus on under-recognized victims of violence.Professor and Chair, Social Work
Dr. Emily S. Ihara is a professor and chair of the Department of Social Work. Ihara’s research interests focus on interventions, policies, and system changes necessary to eliminate health inequities for vulnerable populations across the life course.Associate Professor, Social Work
Dr. Inoue is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work. Her research focus is primarily on older adults with declined health who are vulnerable to losing autonomy and dignity.MSW Online Program Director and Assistant Professor, Social Work
Dr. Daphne King is an Assistant Professor and MSW Online Program Director in the Social Work Department/College of Public Health. King’s research interests are self-esteem issues in teens and adolescents, mental health concerns and treatment modalities for women of color, specifically African-American women, and the impact engagement in Christianity or spiritual practices have on self-esteem.Clinical Associate Professor, Social Work
Vicki Kirsch, MSW, MA, PhD is a Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work at George Mason University. Her interests and practice focus on trauma and recovery, gender and sexualities, and issues of spirituality and religion.Professor, Social Work
Holly Matto, PhD, LCSW-C is a Professor in the Department of Social Work in the College of Public Health at Mason. Dr. Matto values interdisciplinary collaborations and has established research relationships with colleagues in social work, bioengineering, mathematics, visual and performing arts and others at Mason that have resulted in grant-funded projects.Assistant Professor, Social Work
Dr. Keiana Mayfield’s research interests lie at the intersection of child development and sociocultural contextual factors. Her work focuses on how families and schools influence child and adolescent development while embedded within a society with deep roots in racially oppressive ideologies.Assistant Professor, Social Work
Dr. Anna Parisi is a licensed clinical social worker and licensed clinical addictions specialist in the state of North Carolina. After graduating with her MSW from UNC Chapel Hill, Dr. Parisi worked with individuals with comorbid mental health and substance use disorders in community mental health settings—many of whom were ensnared in the criminal legal system.Assistant Professor, Social Work
Dr. Amy Preston Page is Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work. Page’s research interests are military spouses and families, behavioral health education, and children’s behavioral health. Page’s combination of practice and research experience provides her with a unique perspective on the experiences of military spouses and families. Before coming to Mason, Page was an adjunct instructor with the OnlineMSW Program at Fordham University and a part-time lecturer with the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice. Prior to that she worked for several years providing direct services to children and families in a range of settings.Assistant Professor, Social Work
Dr. Prieto joined Mason in the fall of 2023. His research interests focus on aging and sexual health among older adults. He is passionate about advancing the discussions concerning sexual satisfaction and health disparities among older LGBTQIA+ populations. Prieto has published in several health-related journals such as Annals of LGBTQ Public and Population Health and the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. He earned his B.S. in Sociology/Criminal Justice at Central Michigan University, M.S.W. at the University of Michigan, and his Ph.D. at Michigan State University.