Stacie M. Metz, MA, MPH, MSW, PhD
Department Vice-Chair, Graduate Coordinator, Professor
Anderson Hall, Room 443
610-436-2101
smetz@wcupa.edu
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Curriculum Vitae
Degrees
- BA, Psychology: Bloomsburg University
- MA, Psychology: Towson University
- MPH: Saint Louis University
- MSW: Saint Louis University
- PhD, Public Health Studies: Saint Louis University
Main areas of interest
- Adolescent mental health and social-emotional learning
- Health promotion in young adult populations
- Program evaluation
Inspiration
I grew up in a blue-collar family in Allentown, Pa., along with my grandmother, who was experiencing paranoid schizophrenia. She was able to live with us and have the supportive environment necessary to stay out of frequent inpatient care and maintain her quality of life. It was evident to me that others experiencing similar mental health challenges faced additional setbacks and barriers to seeking care and support. I vividly remember dreaming of opening a community mental health center in order to help those in need. I envisioned a blend of preventive and tertiary services to improve not only emotional health, but also social, physical, and spiritual health.
Mental health and social problems are complex and require a comprehensive ecological approach to their definition and solution. I pursued training in psychology, public health, and social work in order to acquire the lens of multiple disciplines and the program evaluation skill set to help improve services and their delivery. I hope to propel students to examine problems from that multilevel and interdisciplinary lens. As a social worker, I am dedicated to inspiring critical thought, confidence, and the social and civic potential of each student.
Adolescent mental health and social-emotional learning
In collaboration with Brandywine Health Foundation and other regional partners, I am currently the lead evaluator for Youth Mental Health First Aid training in Coatesville, Pa. Each eight-hour course is designed to help educate people on the “first aid” skills needed to help a youth who is experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis.
Presentations
- Frank, J.L., Reibel, D., Metz, S.M., Cantrell, T., & Broderick, P.C. (2013, May). The effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on educator stress and well-being: Results from a pilot study. Paper presented at the First International Conference on Mindfulness, Rome, Italy.
- Broderick, P., Reibel, D., Cantrell, T., & Metz, S.M. (2012, March). Wellness in high school: Introducing mindfulness training to teachers, administrators, and students. Presentation at the International Scientific Conference for Clinicians, Researchers and Educators, Boston, MA.
Publications
- Metz, S.M., Casola, A., & Heiman, D. Impact of the Youth Mental Health First Aid training in school district and community members. Manuscript in progress.
- Broderick, P.C., & Metz, S.M. (2016). Working on the inside: Mindfulness for adolescents. In K. Schonert-Reichl & R.W. Roeser (Eds.), Handbook of mindfulness in education: Integrating theory and research into practice (355-382). New York, NY: Springer.
- Frank, J.L., Reibel, D., Broderick, P.C., Cantrell, T., & Metz, S.M. (2015). The effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction on educator stress and well-being: Results from a pilot study. Mindfulness, 6(2), 208-216.
Health promotion in young adult populations
I am collaborating with Dr. James Brenner in the Department of Health on assessing the prevalence and correlates of alcohol-related unintentional injury in high school and college athletes in order disseminate clear recommendations for preventive measures and interventions.
Presentations
- Heinerichs, S., Metz, S., Prewitt, A., Geisler, P., & Kicklighter, T. (2016, June). Clinical reasoning abilities of athletic training preceptors using the Diagnostic Thinking in Athletic Training Inventory. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, Baltimore, MD.
- Metz, S.M., Willner, K., & Brenner, J. (2015, November). Correlates of alcohol-related unintentional injury in varsity athletes. Poster session presented at meeting of the American Public Health Association, Chicago, IL.
- Joseph, R. A., O’Brien, K., Hyers, L., & Metz, S. (2015, April). Health literacy in undergraduate students: Do nursing students have higher health literacy? Poster session presented at meeting of the National Association of Nursing Students, Phoenix, AZ.
- Metz, S. M., & Willner, K. (2014, April). Health risk behaviors associated with binge drinking among high school students. Poster session presented at WCU Research Day, West Chester, PA.
- Metz, S.M., & Hartman, J. (2014, April). Factors that influence flourishing in children with mild to severe hearing loss. Poster session presented at WCU Research Day, West Chester, PA.
- Brenner, J.W., Metz, S.M., & Entriken, J. (2013, November). Alcohol-related unintentional injury among college students. Poster session presented at meeting of the American Public Health Association, Boston, MA.
- Brenner, J.W., Metz, S.M., Entriken, J., & KC, S. (2013, April). Collegiate athletic trainers’ experience and attitudes regarding alcohol-related unintentional injury in athletes. Poster session presented at WCU Research Day, West Chester, PA.
Publications
- Brenner, J., Metz, S.M., & Brennan, K. Correlates of alcohol-related unintentional injury in varsity high school athletes. Manuscript in progress.
- Heinerichs, S., Gilboy, M., Reed, M., Metz, S., & Duffy, K. Community engagement with older adults to evaluate interprofessional education in allied healthcare students. Submitted to Journal of Interprofessional Care.
- Brenner, J., Metz, S.M., Entriken, J., & Brenner, C. (2014). Experience and attitudes of collegiate athletic trainers regarding alcohol-related unintentional injury in athletes. Journal of Athletic Training, 49(1), 83-88.
- Brenner, J., Metz, S.M., & Entriken. J. (2014). Alcohol-related unintentional injury among collegiate athletes. Athletic Training and Sports Health Care, 6(5), 228-236.
Program evaluation
Presentations
- Metz, S.M., Casola, A., McGee, K., & Nies, A. (2016, March). Effectiveness of the Youth Mental Health First Aid training in Coatesville, PA, school district employees and community members. Paper presented at the meeting of the Society for Public Health Education, Charlotte, NC.
- Metz, S. M., & Casola, A. (2015, November). Evaluation of the Youth Mental Health First Aid training in Coatesville, PA: Preliminary findings. Poster presented at the meeting of the American Public Health Association, Chicago, IL.
- Metz, S.M. (2015, March). Effectiveness of the Learning to BREATHE program on emotion regulation in adolescents. Poster session presented at WCU Research Day, West Chester, PA.
Publication
- Metz, S.M., Frank, J.L., Reibel, D., Cantrell, T., Sanders, R., & Broderick, P.C. (2013). The effectiveness of the Learning to BREATHE program on adolescent emotion regulation: Results from a pilot study. Research in Human Development, 10(3), 252-272.
Additional areas of research
Presentation
- Bean, N.M., Davidson, P.G., Metz, S.M., & Nuzzi, G.M. (2016, November). Teaching across the boundaries of health disciplines: The imperative for interprofessional education. Presentation at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Atlanta, GA.
Additional projects
- Chair, Ethics Committee, Society for Public Health Education
- Co-chair, University Faculty Community of Practice, Society for Public Health Education
- Co-chair, Institutional Review Board, West Chester University
- Steering committee, Coatesville Youth Initiative
- Planning committee, Take a Mental Health Day, West Chester University -- September 2015
- Chair, PA SOPHE Conference: Community Partnerships and Leadership for Health -- October 2014
- Steering committee, Crossing the Boundaries of Health Disciplines: Promoting Recovery and Resiliency -- October 2014