Associate Professor, School of Social Work

Dr. Heller recieved her B.A from Providence College, her M.S.W. from Rutgers University and her Ph.D. from Smith College. She joined the faculty at the University of Connecticut in 1991.

Dr. Heller's teaching communicates caring and concern for her students, and conveys accessibility to them, and interest in their professional development-- even as she upholds the highest academic standards. As both a classroom teacher and faculty field advisor, Dr. Heller exemplifies the integration of social work values to educational approaches in her interactions with students. Her use of an adult learning model encourages her students to use their experiences as a basis for deepening and extending their knoweldge and understanding of social work theory and practice. Beyond her classroom teaching, Dr. Heller has extensive clinical experience and maintains a private practice. She has proposed a Post-Master's certification program to address the needs of graduates as they advance in their professional life. Widely published, Dr. Heller is considered a teacher of teachers. The breadth and superior quality of her teaching is recognized in the school, in the professional community, and in other academic social work institutions.