Gariy Livshits has over 25 years of experience in social work, creative arts therapy, and music. Currently, he serves as the Director of Forensic Intensive Case Management Services at the New York State Office of Mental Health. In addition to his practical experience, Gariy has made significant contributions to the academic field as a field instructor, mentoring numerous social work students nationwide. He is also an Adjunct Instructor at several universities, including Columbia University, Syracuse University, Ohio University, and the University of Kentucky, where he teaches a diverse array of undergraduate and graduate social work courses.
Mr. Livshits holds a Bachelor of Music degree in choral conducting and piano performance from the Molodechno School of Music in Belarus, a BA in General Music from the City College of New York, a Master’s degree in Music Therapy from Illinois State University, and a Master of Social Work from the CUNY Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Social Work at the University of Kentucky, with a concentration in higher education, and he anticipates graduating in May 2025.
Mr. Livshits’s research interests encompass higher education and innovative teaching methodologies. His current capstone project, titled “Bridging Academia and Field: Exploring Innovative Strategies for Integrating Theory and Practice in Social Work Graduate Education,” reflects his dedication to enhancing the educational landscape for future social work professionals.
DSW Showcase Student Presentation
Gariy Livshits
LMSW, LCAT, CRPA
Bridging Academia and Field: Exploring Innovative Strategies for Integrating Theory and Practice in Social Work Graduate Education
Concentration - Social Work Education
- Tuesday, April 29, 2025 -
- 4:00 pm
Abstract
This capstone project is structured into three sections, contributing to the goal of bridging academia and the field by exploring innovative strategies for integrating theory and practice in social work graduate education. The first section of this project is a systematic literature review that evaluates innovative approaches to delivering information to graduate students by focusing on creative teaching methods, common challenges faced by educators, and various delivery systems utilized in social work education.
The second part of the project is a conceptual paper that seeks to understand how information delivery can be improved through the application of community practice and learning theories. This section examines relevant theoretical frameworks, particularly experiential learning theory and community of practice theory.
The final section of the project is a practice application paper that proposes innovative techniques for presenting and delivering information to graduate social work students. This paper includes various elements, such as preparation activities for the LMSW exam, curriculum development strategies, and the integration of advanced technologies like virtual reality and practice simulations. Together, these three sections comprehensively examine creative and innovative approaches to information delivery in graduate education.