Dr. Shelley Craig

Director at Large (2021-2025)

Dr. Shelley Craig, RSW, is Full Professor at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work (FIFSW) at the University of Toronto and Canada Research Chair in Sexual and Gender Minority Youth (SGMY). She has served as Associate Dean, Academic at FIFSW and developed competencies for social work education, particularly as it relates to health and mental health, equity, diversity and inclusion. 

Shelley’s program of research, based on twenty-five years of community and clinical practice, is focused on developing affirmative programs and interventions to cultivate the resilience of SGMY; the role of social work in healthcare settings, digital mental health and competent social work. As a practitioner, she has served as Executive Director of organizations and systems of care for SGMY, clinical case manager at a residential shelter for women and children that have experienced domestic violence and emergency room social worker at a community hospital.

Shelley has developed and tested the first evidence-informed interventions for SGMY mental health and as Principal Investigator on over 30 studies supported by research grants, she has produced hundreds of peer-reviewed presentations and academic publications.  She is the Principal Investigator of The International Partnership for Queer Youth Resilience

Shelley has been in leadership roles including as Board Co-Chair of organizations such as Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), WorldPride, the Council of Sexual Orientation and Gender Expression and Identity of the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) and Heartstrong. Her passion for social work has been honoured as she was awarded Student Social Worker of the Year while in her MSW program and more recently as an OASW Inspirational Social Work Leader (2015). 

Shelley is grateful for the opportunities to learn from a range of inspirational youth, families and communities during her social work career and is excited to support the important vision of OASW during these critical times for our profession.