Cristina Nedelcu is a full-time lecturer where she teaches courses in direct practice, theory and research methods, and advises a large cohort of online students. She applies a range of instructional strategies rooted in adult learning theory and has played a key role in the development of the school鈥檚 virtual program, designing courses in both direct practice and policy.
She has more than 25 years of experience in child welfare in both the U.S. and Romania. In Cuyahoga County, Nedelcu served as an adoption and permanency planning social worker, supervisor and senior manager of training and professional development. Prior to immigrating to the U.S., she was assistant director of training and development at Holt International Children Services in Bucharest. She was among the early leaders who helped create Romania鈥檚 first network of foster and adoptive families to address the country鈥檚 institutionalized child population.
Nedelcu is co-author of several peer-reviewed journal articles and scholarly contributions, including an encyclopedia entry on Romanian adoptions and a book chapter on Romania鈥檚 child welfare system. Since 2005, she has presented at numerous local and national conferences. Her research interests include domestic and international adoptions and emerging adulthood in vulnerable populations.
She is fluent in English, Romanian and French, and has basic communication skills in German and Italian.
Why I Teach
I am passionate about impacting the professional development of the new generation of social work practitioners, scholars and policy makers.
Why I Chose This Profession
I was always attracted to understanding human behavior, even as a young child. I grew up in a communist dictatorship where people lacked fundamental freedoms and human rights. This type of oppressive environment made me alert to issues of social justice at a young age.