Office Address:

Phone Number:

Email Address:

Office Hours:

Teaching Areas:

Experience:
Dr. Jenny Tanis joined the School of Social Work (SSW) at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) as an Assistant Professor in 2026, marking a return to her alma mater where she earned her MSW. Prior to joining the GVSU faculty, Jenny spent four years as an Assistant Professor of Social Work at Hope College, where she taught courses in social policy and social work practice with children and families. Her academic career is backed by more than a decade of clinical practice, working directly with children and families within healthcare settings, adoption services, and residential facilities. She is licensed as a clinical social worker in Michigan and holds specialized certifications in child death scene investigation, forensic interviewing, and trauma-informed yoga.

Jenny’s current research explores how macro-level social and economic policies, such as paid family and medical leave, shape family stability and well-being. She is committed to modeling social work values through her teaching, research, and service, which includes serving as a Member-at-Large on the Board of Directors for the Michigan Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.

Education:
PhD, Social Work, Michigan State University, 2024
MSW, Grand Valley State University, 2014
BA, Family and Community Services; Child Development, Michigan State University, 2009

If you would like to know more about Dr. Tanis’s teaching, scholarship, service, and practice experience, please see her curriculum vitae.