Editorial Team

Editor in Chief: Dr. Kelly Clary (She/Her/Hers)

Dr. Clary joined Texas State University in Fall 2020 as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Clary's areas of research are substance use among emerging adults, military members, and veterans, Emerging Adulthood Theory development, mental health and stigma, brief interventions (Motivational interviewing and SBIRT), and qualitative research. Her favorite thing about writing is the opportunity to refine one's skills and further document and view progress over time. She loves reading, listening to audio-books, and thinking critically! Dr. Clary moved to Texas from Illinois in August with her husband and two Goldendoodles. She has completed 2 full marathons and 6 half-marathons. 

Editor: Dr. Raphael Travis (He/Him/His)

Dr. Travis is a Professor and MSW Program Director at Texas State University in the School of Social Work. He has been in the MSW Director role since Fall 2019, but part of the School of Social Work since Fall, 2007. His research, practice, and consultancy work emphasizes healthy development over the life-course, resilience, and civic engagement. He also investigates creative arts, especially Hip-Hop culture, as a source of health and well-being for individuals and communities. He is the author of the book “The Healing Power of Hip Hop.” His latest research, linking arts engagement and well-being, appears in a variety of academic journals and book chapters. His favorite thing about writing is the ability to express ideas and perspectives in a deliberate and focused way. It allows him to select just the right word(s) and phrase(s) to communicate my message. When this is connected to data that helps answer unanswered questions, it elevates writing to an even higher level. His favorite thing about reading is that whether for entertainment or for gaining knowledge it is embracing “new.” Reading is constant learning of new ideas, perspectives, and information. It is up to us how we use them. The Collaborative Research for Education, Art, and Therapeutic Engagement (CREATE) Lab, at Texas State University (San Marcos, TX, USA) led by Dr. Travis, partners with researchers, educators, artists, and community-based organizations focused on better understanding the educational, health, and therapeutic benefits of music and art engagement. The CREATE Lab has multiple active research projects including studies that build upon the lab’s on-campus music studio. The studio, complete with professional quality music technology, hardware and software, makes constructing, recording, remixing, and other ways of engaging music possible.

Guest Alumni Editor: Ms. Michelle Elliott (She/Her/Hers)

Ms. Elliott has served in Research Administration for two years in roles as a Contracts Coordinator for the Office of Sponsored Projects with The University of Texas at Austin, and Grants and Contracts Specialist with the Steve Hicks School of Social Work. Her practice area includes grants and contracts, research administration, and sponsored research. Ms. Elliott's research focuses on child welfare worker retention, Title IV-E education efficacy and implementation, and queer youth in foster care. Ms. Elliott believes expressing the human experience is such a vital part of creating community. She believes writing gives us the ability to share and preserve snapshots of connections and experiences. Her favorite thing about reading is that there is no limit to exploration in reading - you can be anywhere and feel anything in the written word. One fun fact about Ms. Elliott is she has never seen a live football game but Texas is constantly trying to change that!

Guest Alumni Editor: Ms. Katrina (Kate) Fitzpatrick (She/Her/Hers)

Kate (Fitzpatrick) Thompson, LMSW received her Bachelor of Social Work from Texas State University and Master of Science in Social Work with a concentration in Administration and Policy Practice and a portfolio in Nonprofit Studies at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin. As an undergraduate at Texas State, Kate was one of the undergraduate research assistants for Dr. Carla Ackerson's doctoral dissertation. This group of research assistants developed a survey on the demographic factors of academic entitlement, created a poster that was presented at two undergraduate research conferences, and wrote a report based on their findings that was published in a peer-reviewed academic journal. As a graduate student, Kate was a BRIDGE scholar studying transition skills for teens and young adults with autism and related disabilities. She was also the NASW/Texas MSW Board Representative, and the MSW recipient of the statewide Andrew Marks Student Advocacy Award for her work advocating for the reinstatement of disability, gender identity, and sexual orientation protections in the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners Code of Conduct. Kate is active as a parent advocate for families affected by autism and other developmental disabilities, and is the NASW/Texas Delegate for Human Rights. She has written on the topic the intersection of social work values and autism, and co-authored an article on COVID-related student concerns. Kate is currently the Administrative Program Coordinator for the Autism Consortium of Texas Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (ACT LEND) program at The University of Texas at Austin.

Guest Alumni Copy Editor: Mr. Drake Scallon (He/Him/His)