Sheryl Kubiak

Sheryl Kubiak, Ph.D. is the Dean of and a Professor in the Wayne State University School of Social Work. Dean Kubiak is also the Director of the Center for Behavioral Health and Justice. Prior to her current position, Dean Kubiak was a professor in the College of Social Science, Department of Social Work, at Michigan State University and a research associate in the Institute for Research on Women and Gender and the Substance Abuse Research Center – both at University of Michigan. Dean Kubiak obtained her graduate degrees from the University of Michigan (MSW, 1988; PhD in Psychology, 2002) and a BA in Social Work with a minor in Business Administration from Madonna University (1987).

Dean Kubiak’s interest in the intersections between criminal/legal systems and behavioral health began 30 years ago when she developed and administered a long-term residential re-entry program in Detroit for pregnant women addicted to crack cocaine. Since then, Dean Kubiak has received funding from national (NIMH, NSF, NIDA) and state (MDOC, MDHHS) government, as well as foundations (i.e., Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Skillman, Flinn) to research and evaluate projects such as substance abuse treatment within prisons, mental health courts, and integrated substance abuse and mental health treatment for those involved in the legal system. Professional contributions include involvement as a member of peer review panels for National Institute of Mental Health and Fulbright Awards. Currently, she is the PI on a cross-site evaluation of pilot diversion programs statewide (Governor’s Diversion Council) and a prison reentry project for those with opioid addictions. Dean Kubiak is also a gubernatorial appointee to the state’s Criminal Justice Policy Commission.