Dr. Lawrence Ressler

Social Work Department

Professor of Social Work

Office Location: Reade 217C
Phone: (765) 998-4841
Email: lwressler@taylor.edu

Specialties: Working with Families, Conflict and Mediation, Spirituality and Religion, Integration of Faith and Social Work, Groups, International Social Work, Use of Technology in Helping, The Works of Dr. Alan Keith-Lucas

Education:

Ph.D., Social Work Direct Practice, Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, 1990
Dissertation: “The Effect of Compensation-Enhanced Social Work Direct Practice on Verbatim and Gist Recall Among the Elderly.”
M.S.W., Community Organizing from Temple University, 1979
B.S.W., Social Work, Eastern Mennonite University, 1976
B.A., Sociology, Eastern Mennonite University, 1976

Why I Came to Taylor:

I came to Taylor to get back to my first love – to teach social work to undergraduate students – after seven years of teaching at the graduate level and eight years of college administration. Taylor had four things that were important to me: serious academics, a commitment to the integration of Christian faith and learning, a commitment to global education, and forward thinking openness to the use of technology in learning and in life. I am lovin it.

Advice to Incoming Freshmen:

Don’t take the opportunity to learn for granted. I will always remember the hunger and passion to learn that I saw when I volunteered for a time in a refugee camp in Thailand. A large bamboo building was so full of people wanting to learn that some people could not get in. Those who could not get inside were peering through the bamboo slats to see. The freedom to spend four years studying full-time is a luxury most people in the world would give almost anything to be able to do. Invest yourself wisely in the time you have to learn while here.

Hobbies:

There are a number of things that recharge my battery. Playing racquetball or golf are high on my list. Playing music is another way to do this. I play a resophonic guitar (also called a steel guitar or Dobro) and other instruments including the guitar, autoharp, and harmonica. Bluegrass is the musical genre that works best with these instruments. Fixing up old things like cars and houses are enjoyable ways to spend time, especially my 1987 Saab 900. And when I can, I enjoy international travel.