Dr. Cynthia Sottie
MSW, PhD, RSW
Director School of Social Work, Associate Professor of Social Work
Cynthia is a registered social worker with the Manitoba College of Social Workers. She has a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Ghana, a master’s in social work from West Virginia University, USA, and a PhD from the Queen’s University in Northern Ireland, UK. She has been teaching in higher education since 2000. Prior to taking up appointment at BoothUC, she was a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana and was the director of the social work program which run undergraduate, master’s and PhD programs. Previously registered with the Ohio Counselor and Social Worker Board, she worked within the community mental health care system in Columbus, Ohio (USA) in the 1990s serving adults with severe mental health conditions and assisting in transitioning individuals hospitalized for decades from psychiatric institutions into their communities. She also worked briefly with neurodivergent adults in Alberta, Canada, in 2010. Cynthia has taught and mentored several students since 2000, many of whom are currently professors in universities in Ghana, Europe, and North America, including Canada. She was also part of the team that reviewed the Christian Council of Ghana’s HIV and AIDS Policy. She is a board member of the Centre for Democracy and Socio-economic Development (CDS Africa), a think tank that focuses on promoting democracy, civic education and dialogue, policy research, and advocacy to advance democracy and socioeconomic development in Africa. Cynthia’s main area of research is international social work, immigrant and newcomer issues, stigma and community mental health. Her current research is on the challenges and opportunities African families are presented with as they navigate parenting in Canada. Cynthia’s research is grounded in qualitative inquiry because her main interest is in the lived experiences of the populations she studies. Cynthia is currently part of a team that is developing culturally appropriate community-based support systems for immigrant professionals and families to enhance social integration and belonging. Cynthia seeks to build in her students a thirst and a passion to positively impact the lives of those marginalized.
Education
PhD - Queens University, Belfast, UK
MSW, West Virginia University, USA
BA Social Work & Sociology, University of Ghana
Research
Parenting in a new Homeland
COVID 19 Lockdown - Experiences of women in the informal sector
Publications
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles:
Sottie, C. (2021, October 29). Apt, Nana. In Encyclopedia of Social Work. Oxford
University Press. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.1532
Kodom, R. B., Dako_Gyeke, M. & Sottie, C. A. (2019). Involuntary Return and Coping
Strategies among Deportees in Nkoranza, Ghana Glob Soc Welf 7, 177–187.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40609-019-00166-z
Sottie, C. A. & Darkey, J. (2019). Living with stigma: Voices from the Cured Lepers'
village in Ghana. Social Work in Health Care. 58(2), 151-165.
DOI:10.1080/00981389.2018.1526842 (published online 2018)
Sottie, C. A., Mfoafo-M’Carthy, M. & Moasun, F. Y. (2018). Graduate social work
students’ perceptions and attitude toward mental illness: implications for practice in developing countries, Social Work in Mental Health, 16(5), 540-555, DOI: 10.1080/15332985.2018.1448325
Mfoafo-M’Carthy, M. & Sottie, C. A. (2016). Mental illness and stigma: A ten-
year review of portrayal through print media in Ghana (2003-2012) International Journal of Culture and mental Health 9 (2), 197-207 DOI: 10.1080/17542863.2016.1165271
Mfoafo-M’Carthy, M. & Sottie, C. A. (2015).Current Practices in Community Treatment
Orders in Ontario, Canada: Learning opportunities for Improving
Ghana’s Mental Health System. International Journal of Culture and Mental Health
8(4), 359-369, DOI: 10.1080/17542863.2015.1055333
Hamenoo, E. A. & Sottie C. A. (2014) Stories from Lake Volta: Lived experiences of
trafficked children in Ghana Child Abuse and Neglect 40, 103-122.
doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.06.007
Moasun F. Y. & Sottie, C. A. (2014) Growing up with disabilities in Ghana: Experiences
and perspectives Ghana Social Science Journal 11 (1) 53-76
Sottie, C. A.; Dubus, N. & Sossou, M. A. (2013). Enhancing student outcomes through
mentoring, peer counselling and parental involvement PROSPECTS, 43 (3) 377-391 DOI 10.1007/s11125-013-9280-z
Book Chapters:
Boateng, A. & Sottie, C. A. (2021). Harmful cultural practices against women and girls in
Ghana: Implications for Human Rights and Social Work. In V. Sewpaul, L. Kreitzer, and T. Raniga (Ed.). The Tensions between Culture and human rights: Emancipatory social work and afrocentricity in a global world 105-134. University of Calgary Press.
Sottie, C. A.; Dako-Gyeke, M.; Asampong, E. & Ackumey, M. (2016). Mental health care
services in Ghana. In M. Sossou & T. Modie-Moroka (Eds.), Mental Health Conditions and Services in Selected African countries: Implications for Social Work and Human Services Professions. NY: Nova Publishers.
Sottie, C. A. & Boateng, A. (2014). Development of the social work profession. In
C. A. Sottie, M. Dako-Gyeke, & R. J. Walls, (Eds.), Social work in a changing world: Issues and prospects. University of Ghana Readers Series, Vol 7. (pp 1-10). Accra: Woeli Publishers
Sottie, C. A. (2014). Towards a comprehensive system of community based
mental healthcare in Ghana: Social work perspective. In C. A. Sottie, M. Dako-Gyeke, & R. J. Walls, (Eds.), Social work in a changing world: Issues and prospects. University of Ghana Readers Series, Vol 7. (pp 160-174). Accra: Woeli Publishers
Huxtable, M., Sottie, C. A. & Ulziitungalag, K. (2012). Social work and education. In
K. Lyons; T. Hokenstad; M. Pawar; N. Huegler & N. Hall (Eds.) The Sage Handbook of International Social Work, (pp. 232-248). London: Sage
Edited Book
Sottie, C. A.; Dako-Gyeke, M & Walls, R. (Eds.). (2014) Social Work in a Changing
World: Issues and Prospects. University of Ghana Readers Series, Vol 7. Accra: Woeli Publishers.
Conference Presentations
Selected:
Sottie, C. A. (March 8, 2022). Ethical Issues in Case Management. Alliance for BC Settlement Case Management Conference, Towards a Shared Framework: Exploring Case Management in Settlement. March 8-9, 2022.
Sottie, C. A. & Darkey, J. (2019) The curse we live with: Earning a living after leprosy. 15th International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. May 15 to May 18, 2019
Sottie, C. A. (2018) Living with Stigma: Voices from the Cured Lepers' Village in Southern Ghana. 14th Annual International Congress of Qualitative Research University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign- May 16, 2018 to May 19, 2018
Dako-Gyeke, M. & Sottie, C. A. (2014). Transforming Mental Health care in Ghana: Allowing Beneficiaries to do it their Way. University of Applied Arts and Sciences, International Week –Developing norms and stepping in the lives of others: knowledge and democracy at work. Sierre, Switzerland May 5th & 6, 2014
Sottie, C. A.; Dubus, N. & Sossou, M. A. (2012). Building a School To Community Bridge: A Mentoring Model for Public Basic Schools in Ghana. Fifth International School Social Work Conference. Mensvic Grand Hotel, April 11-13, 2012