Christian Marcel Itin, M.S.W., Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Social Work
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Central Classroom 201, Suite W
Campus Box 70, P.O. Box 173362
Denver, CO 80217-3362
Education
Doctor of Philosophy. University of Denver, June 1997. Dissertation: The Orientation of Social Work Faculty to the Philosophy of Experiential Education in the Classroom.
Master of Social Work. University of Denver, June 1987. Emphases on integrated (advanced generalist) practice, family & group practice, substance abuse and adventure and wilderness therapy.
Bachelor of Science in Social Work (CSWE accredited). Cornell University, December 1984.
Academic/Research Experience
Metropolitan State University of Denver, Department of Social Work; August 2012 – Present; Chair, Full Professor and Tenured – August 2012; Provide leadership to 30 full-time faculty and staff and 40 affiliate faculty. Oversight for both the Bachelor and Master Program with over 400 FTE students. Direct budget control of the self-support MSW program’s 2 million dollar MSW budget and the control of the BSW operating budget. Leadership for departments curriculum planning, strategic planning and representation in the larger community.
Undergraduate Courses
• Introduction to Social Work
· Exploring Current Social Work Topics: Experiential Practice (2 sections)
Humboldt State University, Department of Social Work; August 2005- Present; Full Professor and Tenured - June 2009 – present; Director Graduate Social Work Education – Aug 2008- June 2011, Associate Professor, Associate MSW Director - Aug 2006- Aug 2008. Associate Professor – August 2005 – May 2009. Responsibilities include teaching, advising, committee work, curriculum development, and CSWE accreditation process. Chair faculty search committee, MSW admissions committee, and distance education sub-committee. Service on University WASC EER (university reaccreditation) sub-committee, University Curriculum Committee, College of Professional Studies Curriculum Committee.
Undergraduate Courses
• Research Methods (2 sections)
• Human Behavior in the Social Environment – Individuals, Families and Small Groups (1 section)
• Human Behavior in the Social Environment – Groups, Communities and Organizations (1 section)
• Adventure-based Social Work (2 sections)
• Beginning Social Work Experience (1 section)
Graduate Foundation Year Courses
• Human Behavior in the Social Environment – Individuals and Families (2 sections)
• Human Behavior and the Social Environment – Groups, Communities, and Organizations (5 sections)
• Values and Ethics: The Philosophy of Social Work Practice (1 section)
• Social Policy and Practice (1 section)
Graduate Concentration Year Courses
• Field Seminar (4 sections)
• Advanced Group Work Practice (1 section)
• Community Work (3 sections)
• Organizational Practice (1 section)
• Adventure-based Practice (1 section)
• Experiential Practice (2 sections)
State University of New York College at Brockport, Greater Rochester Collaborative MSW Program; August 1998 – August 2005, Associate Professor - Tenured (2004) Assistant Professor (1998-2004), Director of Field Education/Director of Admissions (August 1999 -June 2000). Responsibilities include teaching, advising, committee work, extensive curriculum development, major author in CSWE accreditation process, Chair of four faculty search committees, service on additional faculty and staff searches, web page development and maintenance, development of field education component, development of admissions process and procedures, development and creation of numerous marketing materials. Courses and number of sections taught:
Undergraduate Courses
• Research Methods (2 sections)
Graduate Foundation Year Courses
• Social Work Practice and Cultural Diversity (2 sections)
• Social Work Research Methods I (2 sections)
• Social Work Research Methods II (2 sections)
• Social Work Field Seminar I (2 sections)
• Social Work Field Seminar II (2 sections)
• Human Behavior and the Social Environment II (1 section)
Graduate Concentration Year Courses
• Family and Community Practice (3 sections)
• Family and Community Empowerment, Advocacy, and Development (4 sections)
• Special Topics Seminar (2 sections)
• Master Project Development (4 sections)
• Master Project Implementation (3 sections)
• Contemporary Issues: Experiential Practice (1 section)
• Field Seminar (1 section)
Ferris State University; September 2004-December 2004. Adjunct Faculty. Responsibilities included designing and teaching an online course via Web CT.
Graduate Education Course
• Issues in Education: The Philosophy of Experiential Education
(1 section)
University of Denver, Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW);
September 1995 – June 1998. Assistant Clinical Professor. Responsibilities included advising, committee work, and other related duties. Courses and total number of sections taught include:
Graduate Foundation Year Courses:
• Human Behavior and the Social Environment
* Small Groups (4 sections)
* Organizations and Communities (3 sections)
* Individuals and Families (1 section)
• Indirect Social Work Practice (2 sections)
• Integrative Field Seminar (3 sections)
• Research Methods (2 sections)
Graduate Concentration Year Courses:
• Social Work with Multi-Problem Families (4 sections)
• Direct Practice Research (1 section)
• Advanced Standing Seminar (1 section)
• Adventure-Based Practice in Social Work (2 sections)
University of Denver, Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW), DU Bridge Project; September 1994 - June 1996. Graduate Research Assistant/DU Bridge Project Evaluator, responsible for evaluating the DU Bridge Project, a collaborative project of the GSSW and the South Lincoln Housing project. Responsible for developing and implementing all aspects of research design, choice of measures and statistical evaluation. Helped obtain $10,000 grant form Denver Safe City Summit for summer programming.
Department of Human Service Studies, College of Human Ecology, Cornell University; February 1983 - December 1984. Teacher's Assistant, for "Ecological Determinants of Human Behavior" and "Groups and Organizations". Responsibilities in both courses included collaborating on lesson planning, facilitation of group discussions and discussion sections, and assisting students with assignments.
Practice Experience
Colorado Outward Bound School; August 1986-January 1997. Program Director, responsible for development, sales, and marketing of all custom designed programs including corporate, organizational, community, education, and health courses. Obtained $24,000 grant from the Tribune Foundation for a program for inner city youth. Course Director/Instructor, in schools Health Services, Professional Development, Educational, Community and Mountain Programs. Responsibilities include instructing courses for many different populations (i.e.., corporate managers, community leaders, adolescents, chemically dependent, chronically mentally ill, families, survivors), designing and utilizing many different course formats (i.e.., 1 day, multi-day, base-camp, wilderness), group facilitation, assessment, clinical intervention, substance abuse treatment, inter-agency contact, staff supervision, course design and development, and resource development. These management positions demanded flexibility, leadership, and creativity.
Boulder County Health Dept., Intervention Program; November 1991- August 1994. Substance Abuse/Mental Health Intervention Specialist/ Team Leader, a school based position working with adolescents, families and school personnel. Providing therapy and other programming to individuals, groups, families, and consultation services to the school. This is a highly autonomous position demanding a high degree of flexibility, creativity, and self-management. Also had responsibility for team leadership of a three-person team operating in Southeast Boulder County.
West Pines Hospital/West Pines Training Center, June 1991 - January 1997. Per diem staff for inpatient and outpatient psychiatric and chemical dependency populations providing experiential programming. Per Diem staff for corporate and community programs providing experiential programming.
Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC), Summer 1994.
Per Diem staff for corporate and community programs providing experiential programming.
Mountain Crest Hospital, June 1992 - September 1994.
Per Diem staff for inpatient and outpatient psychiatric and chemical dependency populations providing experiential programming. Per Diem staff for corporate and community programs providing experiential programming.
Adventure Bound, September 1991 - September 1992.
Per Diem staff for corporate and community programs providing experiential programming.
Hurricane Island Outward Bound/Beech Hill Adolescent Chemical Dependency Treatment Program; August 1989- April 1991. Clinical Program Director, Primary responsibility for supervising all clinical and Outward Bound staff, all activities, and providing for the full integration of both. Responsibilities included: substance abuse evaluation, assessment, and diagnosis; maintaining continuity of care with referral sources, insurance companies, families and adjunctive services; discharge planning; supervision of all elements of field programming; safety management and supervision; staff training and evaluation; clinical supervision; staff recruitment; hiring; program development and evaluation.
Cornell Outdoor Program; September 1984 - June 1986. Senior Instructor/Instructor, for courses in rock climbing, back packing, Nordic skiing, bike touring and instructor development. Responsibilities included curriculum design, logistics, instruction, group facilitation, and evaluation.
Homes Inc.; December 1985 - June 1986. Senior Counselor, in supervised group home for psychiatrically disabled adults. Responsibilities included supervising four resident counselors, developing and implementing new programming, goal planning, teaching basic living skills, and helping residents transition from institutional life to a more independent living situation.
Significant Invited Staff Trainings
Hong Kong Youth Leadership – Staff Training – Spring 2012
Team Adventure - Taipei Taiwan - Staff Training - Fall 2004
Youth Adventures Program for Physically Challenged- Rochester NY - Staff training - fall 2004
Raven's Way - Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium - Sitka AK, 3 day staff training, fall 2004
National Ability Center - Park City Utah, 3-day staff training, spring 2004 & 2005
Colorado Outward Bound School - Denver CO, Community Programs Staff Training, Spring 1995-2006. Designed, developed and implemented a 2.5 day advanced facilitation training.
Professional & Community Service (Select)
Association for Experiential Education; March 1985 - Present.
• Past President of the Board (Member Management Committee) – November 2011 – November 2012
• President of the Board: November 2009 – November 2011
• President-Elect of the Board: November 2008-November 2009
• Co-chair West Region Council: April 2007- November 2008
• West Region Council: 2005-Present
• Therapeutic Adventure Best Practices writing group: Summer 2007- present
• Past Treasurer of the Board: 2004-2005
• Past President of the Board: 2003-2004
• President of the Board: 2001-2003
• President-elect of the Board: 2000-2001
• Member of the Strategic Planning Committee: 1999-2000
• International Conference Host Committee: 1998-1999
• Chair of Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group: 1997-1999, 1989-1992
• Managing Editor Therapeutic Adventure newsletter “Insight”: 1989-2000
• Co-Chair Rocky Mountain Regional Conference Committee - 1993
• Member of Rocky Mountain Regional Conference Committee 1992
• Member Northeast Regional Conference Committee: 1990 & 1991
Adventure Therapy International Committee: October 1994-Present
Co-convener 7th International Adventure Therapy Conference, June 4-7 2015, Denver Co.
Boys and Girls Clubs of the Redwoods – Summer 2007 – Present. Board Member – active on building committee (primary person in developing an indoor ropes course and climbing wall); program committee (primary person in strategic planning for program in the organizations new facility); member of the auction committee, marketing and building committee.
Humboldt Adventure Advisory Committee - Spring 2006 – Fall 2006. Committee member. – Saw program through its closure.
United Families AIDS Coalition - 2003-2005 - Co-facilitator. Provider/consumer coalition, co-facilitated coalition with a consumer.
Family Unity - Labor day 2000-2005. Consultant and Assistant Director annual family camp for HIV/AIDS affected families.
Together Everyone Achieves More (TEAM Project) - Spring 2000 - 2005. Consultant. Contributed to writing a $400,000 funded grant through the Abandoned Infants Act. Involved in all aspects of program design and program evaluation.
Youth Adventures Program for Physically Challenged - Fall 2001-2005 Consultant - provided ongoing support in grant writing and programming.
Rochester Area Task Force on AIDS (RATFA) - Committee on Evaluation September 2000 - August 2005. Committee Member
Peer Reviewed Publications
Tucker, A. R., Norton, C. L., Itin, C., Hobson, J., Alvarez, M. A. (In Press, anticipated 2016). Adventure Therapy: Nondeliberative Group Work in Action. Social Work with Groups.
National Association of Interpretation (2007). Definitions project. http://www.definitionsproject.com/definitions/index.cfm
Itin. C. M. (2004). Closing address: Symposium on experiential education research. Journal of Experiential Education, 26(3). Pp. 219-221.
Itin, C. M. (2001). Adventure Therapy - Critical Questions. Journal of Experiential Education, 24(2), 80-84.
Itin, C. M. (1999). Reasserting the Philosophy of Experiential Education as a Vehicle for Change in the 21st Century. The Journal of Experiential Education,.22(2), 91-98.
Itin, C. (1995). Utilizing hypnotic language in adventure therapy. The Journal of Experiential Education, 18(2), 70-75.
Itin, C. (1995). Adventure therapy and the addictive process. Journal of Leisurability, 22(2), 29-37.
Tucker, A. R., Norton, C. L., Itin, C., Hobson, J., Alvarez, M. A. (In Press, anticipated 2016). Social Work with Groups
Publications
Itin. C. M. (2009). The nature and meaning of adventure therapy. In D. Mitten and C. M. Itin (Eds.). Connecting with the Essence of Adventure Therapy. Boulder CO: Association for Experiential Education.
Mitten, D. & Itin, C. M.(Eds.) (2009). Connecting with the Essence of Adventure Therapy. Boulder CO: Association for Experiential Education.
Itin, C. M. (2008). Reasserting the philosophy of experiential education as a vehicle for change in the 21st century. In D. Mitten, K. Warren & T. A. Loffler (Eds.) Theory and Practice of Experiential Education. Boulder CO: Association for Experiential Education.
Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group – Association for Experiential Education (2008) Best practices http://tapg.aee.org/tapg/bestpractices
Itin, C. M., McFeaters, S., Taylor-Brown, S. (2004). Family Unity program for HIV-affected families: Creating a family-centered and community building context for interventions (pp. 642-660). In Berzoff, J. & Silverman P. R. (Eds.). Living with Dying: A Handbook for End-of-Life Healthcare Practitioners. New York: Columbia University Press
Itin, C. (2004). Adventure-based practice. In L. M. Grobman (Ed.). Days in the Life of Social Workers, 3rd edition.. Harrisburg, PA: White Hat.
Itin, C. M. (2003). Adventure-based practice: Reciprocal relationship between adventure therapy and outdoor education. In Polley, S. (Ed.) Relevance: Making it Happen, 13th National Outdoor Education Conference Proceedings. Underdale, SA: Outdoor Educators Association of South Australia.
Itin, C. M. (2003). Adventure therapy vs. therapeutic adventure: Critical differences and appropriate training (pp. 175-183). In K Richards and B. Smith (Eds.). The Therapy within Adventure: Proceedings of the Second International Adventure Therapy Conference. Germany: Zeil Verlag
Itin, C. M. (2003). The double diamond model of experiential education as a framework for adventure therapy (pp. 111-125). In K. Richards and B. Smith (Eds.). The Therapy within Adventure: Proceedings of the Second International Adventure Therapy Conference. Germany: Zeil Verlag