by Matthew Smith
A pair of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work faculty members have been recognized as distinguished scholars by the School.
Associate Professor Rachel Goode has been named a Wallace Kuralt Early Career Distinguished Scholar and Associate Professor Hsun-ta Hsu has been named a John A. Tate Early Career Scholar for Children in Need.
The appointments began Jan. 1 and will be held through Dec. 31, 2029.
“Both Dr. Goode and Dr. Hsu are very deserving of this recognition and we’re proud of the work they’re accomplishing as part of the School of Social Work,” Dean Ramona-Denby Brinson said. “Dr. Goode’s nutrition-related research through her Living F.R.E.E. Lab helps families manage chronic diseases, while Dr. Hsu’s cutting-edge work with artificial intelligence and machine learning is making a difference in the lives of unsheltered individuals across the country. I commend both for their continued endeavors that help our School fulfill its mission to advance equity, transform systems and improve lives.”
Wallace Kuralt Early Career Distinguished Scholar
Goode, who joined the School in 2017, connects the dots between obesity and disordered eating, with a particular focus on disordered eating among Black women.
Her own experiences around food and nutrition, along with cultural stereotypes of disordered eating, led to her research investigating the relationship between disordered eating and food insecurity.
While at UNC, Goode established her Living F.R.E.E. Lab. Its mission is to develop, implement and evaluate equitable interventions for those living at the intersection of disordered eating and chronic disease. Chronic conditions, like diabetes, heart disease and mental health conditions, can be exacerbated by disordered eating.
Goode has received more than $1.7 million in funding during her time at Carolina. In 2023, she received the prestigious Deborah K. Padgett Early Career Achievement Award from the Society for Social Work and Research.
“So many individuals with eating disorders are underdiagnosed due to bias and lack of clinician recognition,” Goode said. “I want to create treatments for those who have been underserved and who are navigating disordered eating amid chronic disease.”
With the appointment, the School acknowledged Goode’s high level of productivity in teaching, publishing, research and service, as well as overall contributions to the School community through mentoring of other junior faculty and doctoral students.
The distinction comes with a combined stipend and research fund of $12,500 annually for five years or until faculty members are promoted to the rank of full professor. The award is supported by private donations from the School of Social Work’s Wallace H. Kuralt Early Professorship Fund.
“I am so honored to receive this appointment,” Goode said. “It is incredibly meaningful to know that my school supports my work and is willing to publicly communicate that I and the communities I serve matter.”
Concurrent Wallace Kuralt Early Career Distinguished Scholars include David Ansong and Joy Noel Baumgartner.
John A. Tate Early Career Scholar
A recent addition to the School of Social Work, Hsu joined the Tar Heel faculty at the start of the 2023-24 academic year. He is also an associate professor at the UNC School of Data Science and Society.
A trained social worker in his native Taiwan, Hsu earned his doctorate from the University of Southern California where his research interests in health promotion, homelessness and housing, and artificial intelligence blossomed.
Hsu is the principal investigator on several research projects, including a two-year, $252,000 project funded by the National Alliance to End Homelessness. That project focuses on rural homelessness.
The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in his research has led him to find unique opportunities at the School, like helping its practicum program pinpoint new student placement possibilities.
“I’ve always been fascinated by how artificial intelligence can help people make complex decisions with consistency,” Hsu said. “Yet, I also recognize the ethical and fairness challenges that AI-aided decision-making may pose for disenfranchised communities, including individuals experiencing homelessness. That’s why my research adopts a community-based data science approach — engaging stakeholders to co-develop AI tools that are both efficient and equitable in addressing their most pressing needs.”
The Tate Scholar appointment recognizes Hsu’s high level of productivity in teaching, publishing, research and service in support of children, youth and families, as well as overall contributions to the School of Social Work community.
The professorship provides a combined stipend and research fund of $12,500 annually for five years or until faculty members are promoted to the rank of full professor. The award is supported by private donations from the School of Social Work’s John A. Tate Professorship Fund.
“Receiving the John A. Tate Early Career Scholar for Children in Need appointment is a tremendous honor,” Hsu said. “It will provide me with essential resources to collaborate with community stakeholders and interdisciplinary researchers as we develop and implement AI-integrated interventions aimed at enhancing health and housing outcomes for youth experiencing homelessness.”
Concurrent Tate Scholars include Lisa Zerden.
