Full Time Faculty

Alex Espadas, PhD Assistant Professor DeSaussure 129 College of Social Work University of South Carolina Columbia, SC 29208 Phone: (803) 777-1380 Fax: (803) 777-3498 e-mail: espadas@gwm.sc.edu

Educational Background:

8/99 to 5/05, Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work - University of Houston
8/97 to 7/99, Masters of Social Work - University of Houston
8/92 to 5/97 ,Bachelor of Science in Psychology - University of Houston Minor: Sociology

Research Interests:

Selected Publications:

Bailey, S. E., Lachar, D., Diefenbach, G. J., Rhoades, H. M., Espadas, A., & Varner, R. V. (2004). Quantifying symptomatic change and predicting outcome of an acute psychiatric hospitalization using the new BPRS-A scales.  Psychological Services, 1, 68-82.

Lachar, D., Bailley, S. E., Rhoades, H. M., Espadas, A., Aponte, M., Cowan, K. A., Gummatira, P, Kopecky, C. R., & Wassef, A. (2001). New subscales for an anchored version of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale: Construction, reliability, and validity in acute psychiatric admission. Psychological Assessment, 13, 384-395.

Lachar, D., Espadas, A., & Bailley, S. E. (2004). The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale: Contemporary applications. In M. Maruish (Ed.), The use of psychological testing for treatment planning and outcome assessment, 3^rd ed. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum. 

Espadas, A., & Lachar, D. An investigation of heavy psychiatric inpatient use: A study of rehospitalization rates. [anticipated date of completion: Spring 06]

Espadas, A. & Lachar, D. The predictive value of psychotropic medication type and dosage on rehospitalization rates: A regression analysis. [anticipated date of completion: Spring 06]

Lachar, D., Espadas, A., Guyn, R. W., & Hickey, S.  The predictive value of demographic, clinical, and psychometric variables on community tenure post an index-admission. [anticipated date of completion: Fall 05]

Selected Presentations:

Lachar, D., Espadas, A., Averill, P., & Lachar, B. L. (2001, August). Adjective Personality Survey: Rapid assessment of inpatient status and symptomatic improvement. Paper presented at the 109^th annual convention, American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA.

Lachar, D., Espadas, A., Morgan, S. T., & Harper, A. (2001, August). BPRS-C assessment of child symptom severity and inpatient treatment. Paper presented at the 108^th annual convention, American Psychological Association, Washington, DC.

Lachar, D., Morgan, S. T., Espadas, A., & Schomer, O. (2000, August). Effect of defensiveness on two self-report child adjustment inventories. Paper presented at the 108^th annual convention, American Psychological Association, Washington, DC.

Service:

Teaching Experience:

8/06-present  Assistant Professor – University of South Carolina College of Social Work (MSW Program)
Courses taught:

• Micro Practice with Individuals and Families

8/00-8/05  Adjunct Faculty - University of Houston Graduate School of Social Work (MSW Program)
Courses taught:

• Social Work Research Method
• Advocacy Based Research
• Social Work Micro Practice

Honors and Awards:

8/04 Fellowship to the National Hispanic Science Network Summer Research Training Institute on Hispanic Drug Abuse

• attended daily training seminars focused on developing current quantitative and qualitative research on drug abuse among various Hispanic populations
• participated in daily panel discussions focused on past, current, and future drug abuse
• research initiatives among Hispanic populations
• participated in grant writing seminars focused on the structure and content of effective grants submissions
• researched, developed, and delivered presentation on drug abuse among Hispanic populations.  Title: Post-immigration Acculturation and Illicit Drug Use among Recent Mexican Immigrants: The Role of Anticipatory Acculturation

President of the Hispanic Social Work Association, University of Houston Graduate School of Social Work
Social Work Senator, University of Houston Student Association
Senior Honors Thesis: Mexican American Women, Immigration, and Depression: An Analysis of Relation and Interaction
Graduated Magna Cum Laude, Honors in Major, Dean’s List, PSI CHI (Honor Society in Psychology)

Links: 

Curriculum Vitae (in Adobe Acrobat)