Vaughn DeCoster, PhD, LISW
Department Head
Professor of Social Work
Sabin 235B
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Vaughn DeCoster, PhD, LISW
Department Head
Professor of Social Work
Dr. DeCoster has been a social worker for more than 30 years. As a clinical scholar, he has authored more than 50 publications and reports and has led funded projects focused on diabetes, gerontology, veterans' issues and, most recently, therapeutic photography. He has presented his scholarship at state, national and international conferences.
Dr. DeCoster's practice experience includes acute care medical social work and outpatient behavioral health services for adults and couples. He is a U.S. Army veteran who commanded a combat stress team in Baghdad during the 2006–2007 surge. Before returning to full-time academia, Dr. DeCoster was in private clinical practice, where he worked primarily with first responders, healthcare professionals, veterans and couples coping with trauma.
B.A. Psychology – University of Arkansas
M.S.W. – Tulane University
Ph.D. Sociology – Louisiana State University
Clinical social work practice
Practice/program evaluation methods
Interdisciplinary practice
Statistics
PhotoTherapy
Geriatric social work
Psychosocial factors in healthcare
Veterans and military family issues
DeCoster, V. (2020). The journey of serving as an Army Reserve social worker. In C. Figley & Bruce Thyer (Eds.) Combat Social Worker: Lessons from Practicing Under Fire. Oxford University Press
DeCoster, V. (2018). The needs of military veterans returning to college after service. International Journal of Arts & Sciences, 11: 11-20.
Elpers, K; Takeshita, A; DeCoster, V; & Johnson, M. (2017). Effectiveness of a psycho-educational staff training program on attitudes of staff in a long-term care facility: A pilot study and framework. International Journal of Educational Gerontology. 43(9): 431-439.
DeCoster, V. & Elpers, L. (2017). The ethics of best practices in real world social work. Humanities and Social Sciences Review, 6 (2): 277–282.
Dr. DeCoster recently relocated to the Cedar Valley with his wife of more than three decades, Marla, who is also a social worker. They have two grown sons and a Black Labrador, Amelia, whom they consider their daughter. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, attending live music events and flying airplanes.