Dr. Einat Veger-Atias
Charlotte B. and Jack J. Spitzer Department of Social Work, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
My Life Before BGU:
I was born and raised in Kiryat Gat. I earned my undergraduate degree at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and my master’s degree at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, both in social work. For my doctoral studies, also in social work, I returned to BGU. Since 2000, alongside my academic studies and activities, I have also worked in the field of social work, specializing in at-risk youth and young adults, supporting families living in poverty, and developing professional training processes. Since 2012, I have been teaching a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in BGU’s Charlotte B. and Jack J. Spitzer Department of Social Work.
Why BGU?
The Negev has always been my home, and I continue to live here today, in a moshav in the western Negev. As a child, I would peer curiously from the car window at the concrete buildings of the University on every trip to Beer-Sheva. The concept of a university rooted in the desert, situated among diverse and vibrant populations and cultures, combining academic excellence with social engagement, captivated and inspired me. It was clear to me that this would be the place where I would study, and if I were fortunate enough, perhaps even work in the future.
My Research:
I study the way social perceptions and positions shape the practices of social workers in their work with youth and young adults from socially marginalized groups, including Ethiopian-Israeli teens and adolescents experiencing poverty, risk, and school dropout. Despite the profound influence of these perceptions and positions, as evidenced in research, these dynamics often remain invisible to practitioners, sometimes even working against the core intentions of their professional work. These insights underscore the importance of fostering awareness and critical reflexivity, alongside theoretical and practical knowledge, as part of the learning, training, and mentoring processes for social work professionals.
In recent years, my research has also explored the existing and potential intersections between therapy and education as a foundation for identifying and developing methods to support children and families experiencing poverty and exclusion within the educational system.
In addition to my research, teaching is a significant part of my professional identity and perspective. There is something deeply engaging about guiding individuals through their processes of learning and growth. I particularly enjoy observing students as they discover professional content areas and develop personal insights, and the connections between the two. I am deeply involved in the "pedagogy of knowledge" and in developing teaching and training processes in social work that address not only the content being taught but also the relationships that foster learning, the filters, emotional and cognitive, through which students absorb knowledge, and the varying learning styles and professional developmental stages of students.
The integration of learning, academic research, and practice is a cornerstone of social work. It serves as the foundation for creating an academic-professional community that influences and is influenced by the social field. In my view, these connections are the most fertile ground for developing innovative and relevant knowledge for the benefit of populations in need of support.
Something not on my CV:
My partner, our three children, and I live on a farm where we cultivate olives in the fertile soil of the Negev and produce high-quality olive oil.
