In addition to serving as the Program Director of the Social Work Department, Jan Potter’s special interests lie in the areas of group work, family therapy, cultural competence, international social work, and spiritual diversity. Jan feels fortunate to have been able to live and work in many areas, including in-depth experiences in rural Mexico and Colombia, South America. Since then she has worked with children, youth, and families in a variety of settings, including community centers in low-income, racially mixed areas, and a psychiatric treatment center. Jan’s experience includes group therapy with sexually abused girls, work with high-risk urban youth, play therapy with children in a psychiatric facility, group work with a substance abuse group at the state penitentiary, and community development in Colombia.

Jan teaches the Introduction to Social Work course because she likes to get to know new students and share her excitement about the field of social work. She also teaches one of the senior social work courses, the Integrative Seminar and enjoys the satisfaction of seeing students’ amazing growth over their years at Dana College. One of her other of her favorite courses is Cultural Diversity, which takes students on a fascinating journey through three cultures in the U.S. In addition, Jan loves teaching the second Social Work Practice Theory and Methods course, where she shares her knowledge of the power of generalist social work practice when applied to group work with people in many different situations.

Whenever possible, Jan takes students on travel seminars to explore cultures different from their own. She has taken students to immerse themselves in Mayan culture in Guatemala. Other trips have focused on learning from Native American elders and tribal leaders on reservations in the region, including the Winnebago, Omaha, Rosebud, and Pine Ridge Reservations. Her personal travels to Central and South America, Mexico, Thailand, Bali, Nepal, India, and Europe enhance Jan’s teaching and give classes an international flavor.

Currently serving as President of the Nebraska Chapter of NASW (the National Association of Social Workers), Jan is actively involved with social work issues in the region. Her research interests currently lie in the areas of cultural competence and spiritual development as related to the stages of human development; she has given numerous presentations at national conferences. She and Richard Potter recently co-authored a book: Spiritual Development for Beginners (Llewellyn).

Janice K. Potter
Professor of Social Work
jpotter@dana.edu
402-426-7238
Office: DC 111