PhD Students

Rujeko O. Machinga (Asaolu)

Education

Master’s in Social Work, University of Louisville; Master’s in Marriage & Family Therapy, University of Louisville; Master’s in Community Health Education, Minnesota State University
Bachelor’s in Biochemistry, Minnesota State University

Teaching Interests

  • Research Methods
  • Human Behavior in a Social Environment
  • Intimate Partner Violence
  • International Social Work
  • Social Work Practice Theories

Research Interests

  • Intimate Partner Violence
  • Post-traumatic Growth
  • Immigrants
  • Older adults
  • International students social work education in the U.S.

Publications

  • Machinga-Asaolu, R.O. (In press). “I wish I knew”: Helping social work international students achieve their clinical professional goals. Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping.
  • Conner, L.R., Adatorwover, R., Robbins, S.K., Machinga-Asaolu, R.O., Showalter, K., & Oser, C. (In press). Geographic patterns of HIV risk behaviors among older adults: A strategy for identifying space as a risk exposure. Journal of Applied Gerontology.
  • Conner, L.R. & Machinga-Asaolu, R.O. (2024). Addressing pedagogical challenges in teaching social justice issues: Are we scared yet? Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 44(3), 261-273. https://doi.org/10.1080/08841233.2024.2344494
  • Showalter, K. Maguire-Jack, K., Marcal, K., Eubank, K.M., Machinga-Asaolu, R.O., & Park, Y. (2024). The protective effect of employment policies on intimate partner violence. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/15555240.2024.2312101
  • Conner, L., Showalter, K., Asaolu Machinga, R., & Barnhart, S. (2024). Academic integrity: Faculty attitudes and behaviors of student plagiarism and self-plagiarism. The Online Journal of Horizons in Education, 14(1). https://www.tojsat.net/journals/tojned/articles/v14i01/v14i01-02.pdf
  • Showalter, K., Choi, M.S., Marcal, K., & Machinga-Asaolu, R.O. (2023). The impact of IPV on employment latent classes: Examining stability and support. Community, Work & Family. https://doi.org/10.1080/13668803.2023.2226808
  • Conner, L.R. & Machinga-Asaolu, R. O. Addressing pedagogical challenges in teaching social justice issues: Are we scared yet? (in print). Journal of Teaching Social Work.
  • Showalter, K., Maguire-Jack, K., Marcal, K., Eubank, K.M., Machinga-Asaolu, R.O., & Park, Y. The protective effect of employment policies on intimate partner violence. (in print). Journal of Policy Analysis and Management.

Presentations

  • Machinga, R.O. (2024, April 24). Behind closed doors: Unveiling intimate partner violence among immigrants in the U.S. [Poster Presentation]. UNITE Research Showcase, Lexington Kentucky.
  • Machinga, R.O., Showalter, K., & Harman, J., (2024, March). Employer considerations: Supporting IPV survivor employees. [Breakout Presentation]. National Network to End Domestic Violence Economic Justice Summit, Kansas City, MO, United States.
  • Machinga, R.O. (2024, March). Understanding research on IPV survivors: Older adults, and psychological abuse. [Breakout Presentation]. National Network to End Domestic Violence Economic Justice Summit, Kansas City, MO, United States
  • Machinga, R.O., Nyoni, T., Oreoluwa D., & Makori, B.M. (2024, March). “I wish I knew”: Reflections of social work international students in the U.S. [Poster Presentation]. Kentucky Association of Social Work Educators, Lexington, KY, United States.
  • Machinga R.O.& Conner L. (2024). Addressing pedagogical challenges in teaching social justice Issues: Are we scared yet? [Poster Presentation]. Kentucky Association of Social Work Educators, Lexington, KY, United States.
  • Machinga, R.O., Mpatsi, M., & Machinga, M.M. (2023, November). “I was failing to take charge of the situation”: Experiences of Zimbabwean male survivors of sexual assault [Round Table]. American Public Health Association, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • Showalter, K., Conner, L., Machinga, R.O, & Bosetti, R. (2023, November). Understanding and facilitating disclosure among nursing professionals[Oral Presentation]. American Public Health Association, Atlanta, GA, United States.
  • Showalter, K., Machinga, R.O., Wyman Bookwalter, C.A. (2023, November). Strengthening the public health nursing workforce: COVID-19 and Nursing. [Round Table]. American Public Health Association, Atlanta, GA, United States.

Bio

Rujeko “Rue” is an international student from Zimbabwe. Rujeko is a certified social worker in Kentucky and has practice experience in community-based and school-based mental health; individual, couple, and family therapy; FlourishCare navigating; and behavioral health case management. Rue is a Pre-Dissertation Fellow with the Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGESW), a pre-doctoral fellow with the United in True Racial Equity at the UK, and a recipient of the Lyman T. Johnson Fellowship at the University of Kentucky. She is also an awardee of the AGE-SW Predissertation Award (2022 cohort).