Dr. Jody VanLaningham

Associate Professor and Department Chair

Office: URS B102   |    Phone: (308) 865-8753   |    Email: vanlaninghjl@unk.edu

Dr. Jody Van Laningham

Biography

Dr. Jody Van Laningham joined the Social Work program at UNK in 2008. Her primary research interests include family relationships, child abuse and neglect, and child welfare policy. Dr. Van Laningham received her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, with emphases in Research Methods and Marriage & Family Studies. She also earned her MS in Sociology from UNL and her BA in Sociology and Business Administration from Doane College. Prior to joining the Social Work Program, she held a position with the Missouri Division of Family Services for several years. Her previous experience also includes positions as a statistical programmer/analyst for the Bureau of Sociological Research at UNL, and as an Instructor at UNL and Doane College. She has served as a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate for children in foster care and currently serves on the Foster Care Review Board.