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Hines is a professor in the Department of Social Work and is an internationally recognized expert in the field of interpersonal violence (IPV), particularly in the areas of underrecognized and marginalized victims, such as men and sexual minorities. Her pioneering interdisciplinary research spans more than 20 years, shaping the discourse about IPV and impacting public policy, prevention, and intervention programs. Her research into how IPV within families affects mental and physical health has a direct relationship to child and family welfare, health, and well-being, and has influenced services at the local, national, and international levels. Her current work focuses on individuals and families from Latin America and Africa, and she is building connections to expand her work to individuals and families from Asia and the Middle East. She seeks to build her global reach, which the Enochs endowment is designed to do.
Hines was named to the professorship effective August 25, 2024, after a competitive national search process.
“I would like to extend my sincerest congratulations to Dr. Hines for this well-deserved honor. Her work on the global study and prevention of interpersonal violence, especially affecting those with underrepresented voices, rises to the highest levels of excellence,” says Emily Ihara, professor and chair of the Department of Social Work in the College of Public Health.
The endowed professorship was created to honor Elisabeth Shirley Enochs’ legacy and supports a faculty member who has a strong track record of serving the social welfare of families, women, and children both at home and abroad. Enochs enjoyed a long and rewarding career as an advocate, beginning in 1927 when she joined the Children’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor as an economic analyst. She wrote about diplomacy in Central and South America, as well as Europe, while also focusing on child welfare issues. Over the years, she worked to strengthen the roles of social workers in the United States and develop programs and agencies for children’s welfare in Central and South America. Her efforts helped establish regulations for universal birth registration, lowering infant mortality, reducing malaria, and researching public health issues relating to children. She received dozens of eminent honors for her work, including the first-ever Outstanding Achievement Award from the Society of Woman Geographers in 1978.
The endowed professorship created in her honor is intended to further research in the areas of child and family welfare, health and well-being, and children’s and women’s rights with a focus on individuals in or from Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Hines’ vision aligns deeply with the endowment’s purposes, transforming evidence-based policies and practices to help IPV victims on a global scale, foster inclusivity, and address the challenges of interpersonal violence across diverse populations.
Biographical source and more information on Elisabeth Shirley Enochs: https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/dvb/bio.asp?b=Enochs_Elisabeth_Randolph_Shirley