Lauren M. Barrow, Ph.D.
Chair, Center for Education, Advocacy & Social Justice; Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
Contact: barrowl@chc.edu OR 215-242-7719
Building and Room #: St. Joseph Hall, Room 464
Lauren M. Barrow, Ph.D., is currently Chair of the Center for Education, Advocacy & Social Justice, and an Associate Professor of Justice Studies at Chestnut Hill College. She began her criminal justice career at the National Victim Center (NVC) in Arlington, VA. While working at NVC, she was a team member for the Looking Back—Moving Forward: A Guidebook for Communities Responding to Sexual Assault and the Focus on the Future: A Systems Approach to Prosecution and Victim Assistance projects. She left Washington, DC to pursue graduate studies at CUNY Graduate Center, John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. During her career, she worked on several federal and national research projects, including assessing Federal Drug Treatment Evaluation in NYC (Urban Institute), and surveying AAC Board users regarding victimization (Inst. For Excellence, Temple University).
Dr. Barrow has been teaching criminal justice courses for over 20 years and has taught undergraduate, graduate, and online students. She first taught as an adjunct instructor for undergraduates at John Jay College and Queens College in New York, then as a graduate instructor at Monmouth University, NJ, before joining Kaplan University as a full-time online instructor. She joined the full-time faculty at Chestnut Hill College in 2011, and since then, has taught a wide range of criminal justice courses and is regionally recognized for her innovative course designs.
Nancy DeCesare, IHM, Ph.D., MSW, LCSW
Director, Social Work
Contact: decesaren@chc.edu OR 215-248-7173
Building and Room #: St. Joseph Hall, Room 203
Sister Nancy DeCesare, IHM, Ph.D., MSW, LCSW, has over thirty years of experience in administration, social work, and teaching. As a frontline social worker on the streets of New York City, a supervisor and executive director, she is now director of social work at Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia, PA. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s in social work from Marywood University and a Master’s in Public Administration from the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service at New York University. Sister received her Ph.D. in Clinical Social Work from the Silver School of Social Work, New York University. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the Academy of Certified Social Workers, and a Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work. She is a licensed clinical social worker in both New York and Pennsylvania.
Sister has received many honors for her work with marginalized populations, including the National Jefferson Award, an award founded by Jackie Kennedy for outstanding public service, the No Time to Lose Award, presented by the Governor of New York, and the Beloved Award for her work with street children.
Sister is the former Executive Director of Boys Hope Girls Hope of New York, an international program for homeless youth. In addition, Sister is a grant writer, teacher, and author. She has served on boards including Marywood University, Friends of the Poor, the Philadelphia Children’s Foundation, and the Governor’s Advisory Board for People with Disabilities for Pennsylvania.
Sister Nancy’s professional life has complemented her desire to make a difference. Her research centers on improving personal and educational opportunities for young people and veterans.
Anne Myerson
Adjunct Professor
Contact: myersona@chc.edu
Anne Meyerson has spent her entire career in the Human Services, working with people facing multiple challenges in their lives and communities. She retired recently as Executive Director of the YMCA of Greater Boston’s Education and Training branch – providing Job Training and Employment, and English Language instruction to immigrants,
Anne then began teaching at the college and university level, teaching courses in Human Services and Non-Profit Management.
She believes the field of Human Services is personally fulfilling, offers opportunities and career growth, and is critically important to our society. She is thrilled to help prepare the next generations of leaders in the Human Services.
Melissa Groden, MS, HS-BCP, CFRS
Adjunct Professor
Melissa Groden is a dedicated Human Service Professional with nearly three decades of experience in the field. She employs a person-centered approach to support, educate, and empower individuals in need effectively. For the past 18 years, Melissa has been with The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc., overseeing the Prevention, Training, and Education Division.
In addition to her role at the Council, Melissa has served as an adjunct professor at Chestnut Hill College for the same duration, where she develops and teaches curricula in traditional and hybrid formats for the School of Continuing and Professional Studies. In 2025, Melissa joined the Human Services Management Master’s program as an adjunct professor.
Melissa is a Human Services-Board-Certified Practitioner, Certified Trauma-Sensitive Professional, Certified Healing Engagement Specialist, and a Certified Family Recovery Specialist. She also acts as an Adjunct Trainer for Lakeside Global Institute and is a Certified Trainer in both the Pennsylvania Student Assistance Program and Youth Mental Health First Aid and a Master Trainer of Trainers for the Pennsylvania Certification Board.
Her academic credentials include a master’s degree in administration of human services from Chestnut Hill College, a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and a minor in Criminal Justice from Temple University. She is pursuing a Psy.D. in Behavioral Health Leadership with a concentration in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
Kelly Boettcher, LCSW
Adjunct Professor
Contact: boettcherk@chc.edu
Kelly Boettcher is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and behavioral health leader with more than 15 years of experience across diverse mental health settings, including the past eight years in correctional mental health. She currently oversees mental health service delivery, behavioral health initiatives, and reentry coordination for incarcerated individuals within the Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP). Kelly served communities throughout Philadelphia, advocating for mental health awareness and equitable access to behavioral health services.
Kelly has presented at multiple professional conferences on topics including health disparities in Philadelphia and process improvement in mental health service delivery. In addition to her leadership responsibilities, she serves as a field mentor for social work interns from various colleges and universities, supporting the development of future professionals in the field. She earned her Master of Social Work from West Chester University and her Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Temple University.
