Erick Scherf, MSW, LSW
Hello,
I'm Erick, a licensed social worker, emerging scholar, and researcher in the fields of Migration, Health, and Public Policy.
I'm a Ph.D. Candidate in Social Work at the University of Alabama School of Social Work, and I am striving to build a vibrant and interdisciplinary research agenda.
I follow a tradition of critical inquiry, and I have a passion for research, service, and advocacy on issues that affect vulnerable groups and marginalized populations, especially those with a migration background.
As an academic-in-training, I have developed a steadily growing record of peer-reviewed publications and national and international conference presentations. My academic journey has also been fully supported by a series of competitive, merit-based scholarships, awards, and fellowships, which have funded my education from the undergraduate level through my Ph.D.
Through the use of a qualitative case study design, my doctoral-level dissertation research explores the advocacy role of immigrant-serving organizations in the U.S. Southeast region.
My main areas of research focus
and scholarship are:
I. International migration, immigrant well-being, and policy
II. Public health, health equity, and health-related topics
III. Research on social work education and practice
Methodologically speaking, I identify as a multimethod researcher with a robust foundation in qualitative inquiry, specializing in phenomenological methods and qualitative case studies within organizational settings. Alongside my qualitative expertise, I also conduct secondary data analysis of large datasets utilizing statistical methods, and my personal goal is to design and execute comprehensive mixed-methods studies in the future when I transition into a full-time Faculty role.
My latest accomplishments
Dissertation Proposal Approved. Finally ABD!
University of Alabama School of Social Work
August 2026
Feedback from students
SW 101 - Orientation to Social Work (Instructor)
"Honestly, this has been the best class I’ve taken so far! The communication, the teaching skills, everything exceeded my expectations. I’m truly grateful for Mr. Erick, and I can proudly say that I’ve learned so much."
Human Behavior and the Social Environment (Teaching Assistant)
"He is really good at being engaging and the class was so interesting. The information was really put together."
SW 101 - Orientation to Social Work (Instructor)
"Erick is by far the best professor I've had so far in my time at UA. He is so caring and truly wants to see his students succeed. He is always willing to answer questions, pause class to explain something that we don't understand, and is overall an excellent teacher."
One of my favorite quotes:
"Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes ... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status quo. ... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things. ... They push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the people who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do."
- Steve Jobs