Erick Lear
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College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Barbara Solomon School of Social Work
Degree Program
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Dr. Erick C. Lear’s formal training is in social work where he has served in various roles over his 15+ years in the field. Dr. Lear served as Director of Client Services for Violet’s Cupboard, an AIDS Service Organization in Akron, OH. He volunteered for over 10 years for the SUPPORT Hotline of Portage Path Behavioral Health, focusing on crisis intervention and suicide prevention. He has also held direct service positions at Akron’s Children’s Hospital, Community Support Services, and Lifewell Behavioral Wellness. He began his teaching career in 2011 with a focus on nonprofit management and direct practice/social work skills at several online schools. At Walden University, Dr. Lear teaches the social work skills and the human behavior in the social environment courses. Dr. Lear’s current research interests focus primarily on suicide prevention, social work skills, burnout prevention, and veterinary social work.
Education
BA, Kent State University
MA, Case Western Reserve University
PhD, Capella University
Awards / Honors
Founder's Scholarship Recipient, Kent State University, 1995
Honors College Scholarship Recipient, Kent State University, 1999