February 11, 2022
Keith Morgen, Ph.D., is one of two authors recognized by the Society for Social Work and Research for their book, Aging Behind Prison Walls: Studies in Trauma and Resilience.
HACKETTSTOWN, NJ, Feb. 11, 2022—The Society for Social Work and Research has named Centenary University Associate Professor of Counseling and Director of the Graduate Counseling Programs Keith Morgen, Ph.D., LPC, ACS, as a recipient of its prestigious 2022 book award. Co-authored by Dr. Morgen and Tina Maschi, Ph.D., of Fordham University, Aging Behind Prison Walls: Studies in Trauma and Resilience (Columbia University Press, 2020) was named the winner of the 2022 Society for Social Work and Research Book Award, which was presented at the organization’s annual conference in Washington, D.C., last month. In announcing the selection, the society cited the authors’ “outstanding scholarly contributions that advance social work knowledge.”
A crisis is brewing in the American prison system: Today in the United States, more than 200,000 people over age 50 are languishing in prisons, with projections estimating that older adults will account for one-third of the prison population by 2030. In their book, the authors offer concrete proposals at the community and national policy levels for addressing the pressing issue of incarcerated older adults. Meticulously researched, the book presents a compassionate analysis of the lives of elders in prison. Drs. Morgen and Maschi explore the coping strategies used by incarcerated aging adults to create meaning in their lives.
A practicing licensed professional counselor in New Jersey, Dr. Morgen is also a former President of the International Association of Addictions and Offender Counselors (IAAOC) and currently serves on the NAADAC (the Association for Addiction Professionals) older adult practice standards committee. In addition, he is the author of Substance Use Disorders and Addictions (SAGE Publications, 2016).
Centenary University offers a graduate program in clinical counseling (with an addictions track approved as an educational provider by the Addiction Professionals Certification Board of New Jersey), as well as a graduate program in school counseling (CAEP accredited).
ABOUT CENTENARY UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1867 by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church, Centenary University’s academic program integrates a solid liberal arts foundation with a strong career orientation. This mix provides an educational experience that prepares students to succeed in the increasingly global and interdependent world. The University’s main campus is located in Hackettstown, N.J., with its equestrian facility in Washington Township. The Centenary University School of Professional Studies offers degree programs in Parsippany, as well as online and at corporate sites throughout New Jersey.