Dr. Rosemary Vito

Dr. Rosemary Vito

Dr. Rosemary Vito

Associate Professor

Phone: 4380
Email: rvito4@uwo.ca

Rosemary has been teaching at King’s since 2016 in both the MSW and BSW programs. She teaches Administration and Supervision (MSW) and Social Work and Mental Health (BSW). She is also a Faculty Consultant for the BSW and MSW field practicums. Rosemary’s teaching blends best practice knowledge from both recent research and practice experience. She has over 20 years of clinical and supervisory experience in children’s mental health and developmental services at Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) as both a clinical supervisor and mental health worker. She also has experience leading program and service development, external advisory committees and board membership, diversity and community development initiatives. Rosemary has a Diploma in Adult Education and she strives to engage students using an adult education model and experiential learning theory. She believes in promoting excellence and providing students with the knowledge, skills, and experience they need to become competent and ethical social workers in the field, aligning with social work values, ethical guidelines, and principles of professional competence. Rosemary has been on the Dean’s Honour Roll of Teaching Excellence each year, and she was nominated for the King’s Award of Teaching Excellence.

Education

Wilfrid Laurier University – PhD (2016). Awarded Outstanding Work at the Graduate Level. Nominated for the Gold Medal of Academic Excellence. Awarded 3 Ontario Graduate Scholarships.

St. FX University – Diploma in Adult Education (2005)

Wilfrid Laurier University – MSW (1990). Graduated with Distinction. Awarded Ontario Graduate Scholarship.

University of Guelph – B.A.Sc. (Child Studies, 1987). Dean’s Honour List. Multiple scholarships.

Research

Rosemary has an active program of research focused on social work leadership practice and development, social work supervision, organizational culture and change in human services within the Canadian context. She is also interested in mental health policy and practice, field instruction, and equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives. Rosemary enjoys mentoring students as research assistants. Her multiple qualitative research projects include recent SSHRC Partnership Engagement Grant (PEG) funding to study leadership coping and resiliency during the COVID-19 pandemic with 3 community partner mental health and addiction agencies. She has also received multiple King’s internal research grants to study the following topics: the impact of COVID-19 on post-secondary student counselling services; MSW students’ experience with OASW leadership training to become emerging leaders; MSW students’ experience with the Administration and Supervision course and transition to online learning; the implementation of lead agencies in children’s mental health organizations across Ontario; the intersection of organizational culture, diversity, and health; and the role of leadership and diversity management during organizational change. Her dissertation research focused on leadership practice and development, organizational culture and change, during ministry service system transformation in three children’s mental health and child welfare agencies, resulting in 5 peer-reviewed publications and multiple conference presentations.   

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

Vito, R., & Schmidt Hanbidge, A (2021). Teaching social work leadership and supervision: Lessons learned from on-campus and online learning formats, Journal of Social Work Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2021.1932650

Sethi, B., Vito, R, & Ongbanouekeni, V (2021, April). Organizational culture, diversity, and employees’ health in social/human services: A systematic review, International Health Trends and Perspectives, 1(1), 74-95. https://doi.org/10.32920/ihtp.v1i1.1418

Vito, R., & Sethi, B. (2020). Managing change: Role of leadership and diversity management. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 33(7), 1471-1483. DOI: 10.1108/JOCM-04-2019-0116

Vito, R. (2020). Key variations in organizational culture and leadership influence: A comparison between three children’s mental health and child welfare agencies. Children and Youth Services Review, 108. DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104600

Vito, R. (2019). How do social work leaders understand and ideally practice leadership? A synthesis of core leadership practices. Journal of Social Work Practice, 34(3), 263-279. DOI: 10.1080/02650533.2019.1665002

Vito, R. (2019). Self-directed teams as an organizational change strategy to empower staff: A teaching/learning case study. Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance, 43(2), 146-151. DOI: 10.1080/23303131.2019.1614852

Vito, R. (2018). Social work leadership revisited: Participatory versus directive approaches during service system transformation. Journal of Social Work Practice, 34(1), 7-21. DOI: 10.1080/02650533.2018.1529026

Vito, R. (2018). Leadership development in human services: Variations in agency training, organizational investment, participant satisfaction, and succession planning. Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance,42(3), 251-266. DOI: 10.1080/23303131.2017.1421284

Vito, R. (2017). The impact of service system transformation on human service agencies: Competing ministry directives and strategic innovative leadership adaptations. Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance, 41(5), 477-491. DOI:10.1080/23303131.2017.1329175

Vito, R. (2015). Leadership support of supervision in social work practice: Challenges and enablers to achieving success. Canadian Social Work Review, 32, (1&2), 145-160. DOI: 10.7202/1034148ar

Adamowich, T., Kumsa, M.K., Rego, C., Stoddart, J., & Vito, R. (2014). Playing hide and seek: Searching for the use of self in reflective social work practice. Reflective Practice: International and Multidisciplinary Perspectives, 15(2), 131-143. DOI: 10.1080/14623943.2014.883312

Manuscripts in Process

Vito, R., Schmidt Hanbidge, A., Brunskill, L., & Lee, G. (2021, "revision"). Leadership challenges and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership, & Governance.

Esaki, N., Liu, X., & Vito, R. An exploratory study of employee engagement in human service agencies. To be submitted to Families in Society.

Knezevic, D., Vito, R., & Kayssi, G. Emerging Leaders initiative: Exploring the impact of early leadership development on social work students’ perception of leadership and professional practice. To be submitted to Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership, & Governance.

Peer-Reviewed Book Chapters/Submitted

Vito, R., Bedggood, J., Anderson, T., Kovacic, N., Maini, E., & Csiernik, R. (2021, “accepted”). COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on post-secondary student counselling services. In Zangeneh, M. (Ed.) Mental Health of University/College Students. Toronto, ON: Concurrent Disorders Society Publishing.

Vito, R. (2020). Contracting for children and youth mental health services in Ontario, Canada using a modified lead agency approach. In R.A. Shick & L.L. Martin (Eds.), Human services contracting: A public solutions handbook. Routledge: New York, NY.

Peer-Reviewed Conference Presentations

Vito, R., Schmidt Hanbidge, A., Hassall, L., Brunskill, L. (2022, June 14-16, “submitted”). Transforming workplace well-being: Leaders’ coping, resilience, and innovation strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic turbulent change. Network for Social Work Management 2nd Annual Summit: Transforming the workplace for the future (virtual/online). 

Schmidt Hanbidge, A., Vito, R. (2022, June 14-16, “submitted”). Teaching inclusive social work leadership and supervision: Lessons learned from on-campus and online formats. Network for Social Work Management 2nd Annual Summit: Transforming the workplace for the future (virtual/online). 

Vito, R. (2021, July 8-9). How do social work leaders understand and ideally practice leadership? A synthesis of core leadership practices. Research paper presented at 2021 Joint Social Work and Education Research Conference. Cardiff University, Cardiff UK (virtual/online).

Vito, R. (2021, July 8-9). Social work leadership revisited: Participatory versus directive approaches during service system transformation. Research paper presented at 2021 Joint Social Work and Education Research Conference. Cardiff University, Cardiff UK (virtual/online).

Vito, R. (2021, June 7). Key variations in organizational culture and leadership influence in human services: Finding ways to maximize organizational effectiveness and social impact. Research paper presented at the Network for Social Work Management Forward Thinking Summit. Fordham University, New York, NY (virtual/online).

Knezevic, D., & Vito, R. (2021, June 1). Bridging the divide between emerging leaders and senior management: A leadership development opportunity for student leaders. Research paper pre-recorded presentation at Canadian Association of Social Work Education Conference 2021: Decolonial dreaming in social work education, theory, research and practice. University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB (virtual/online).

Vito, R., & Sethi, B. (2021, June 1). Decolonizing social work practice: Fostering inclusion and relationality through workplace diversity management. Research paper pre-recorded presentation at Canadian Association of Social Work Education Conference 2021: Decolonial dreaming in social work education, theory, research and practice. University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB (virtual/online).

Knezevic, D., Vito, R., & Kayssi, G. (2021, March 8). Bridging the divide between emerging leaders and senior management: An innovative leadership development opportunity for student leaders. Research paper presented at Ontario Association of Social Workers Spring Seminar Series: Leadership & innovation in social work practice (virtual/online).

Vito, R., & White, H. (2019, Sept. 24). Building mental health and holistic wellness on-campus: Everyone’s responsibility. Poster session based on King’s mental health plan presented at Canadian Mental Health Association National Conference 2019. Connection Interrupted: Restoring Mental Health in a Fractured World. Toronto, ON.

Vito, R. (2019, May 30). Financial innovation and human services contracting: Using a modified lead agency approach in child and youth mental health services. Book chapter paper presented at the Network for Social Work Managers 30th Annual Conference. Loyola University, Chicago.

Vito, R. (2019, May 30). Human innovation and leadership development: Variations in training, organizational investment, participant outcomes, and succession planning in human services. Research Paper presented at the Network for Social Work Managers 30th Annual Conference, Loyola University, Chicago.

Vito, R., & Hassall, L. (2018, Oct. 23). Mental health promotion and prevention in a post-secondary setting. Poster session based on King’s mental health course presented at Canadian Mental Health Association Mental Health for all National Conference: Ahead by a Century, the Shape of Things to Come, Montreal, Quebec.

Vito, R. (2017, Nov. 13). Innovative and adaptive leadership strategies to manage competing ministry directives and continuous funding constraints. Research paper presented at Children's Mental Health Ontario Annual Conference: Bold Ideas: Exploring Research, Elevating Practice, Influencing Policy, Toronto, ON.

Vito, R. (2017, June 15). Adaptive leadership and innovation: The key to human service organizations thriving during service system transformation. Research paper presented at the Network for Social Work Management 28th Annual Management Conference. The Business of Social Work: Mission, Morals, Morale & Money. Fordham University, New York City, NY.

Vito, R. & Schmidt Hanbidge, A. (2015, June 1). Social work leadership and supervisory education at the intersection of cultural and linguistic diversity. Teaching pedagogy presented at Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE-ACFTS) Conference: Social Work at the Intersection of Ideas, Languages and Cultures. University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON.

Vito, R. (2015, June 2). Leadership practice and adaptation to a complex environment. Research paper presented at Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE-ACFTS) Conference: Social Work at the Intersection of Ideas, Languages and Cultures. University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON.     

Vito, R., Sherin, J., Liehmann, L., & Moore, D. (2014, Nov. 24). Leadership practice and development in a changing environment. Research findings presented at Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO) Annual Conference: Getting it Right for Kids and Families, Toronto, ON.                          

Vito, R. (2013, May 15). Participatory leadership models: A counterforce to new public management in human service organizations. Research findings presented at Network for Social Work Management Research to Practice Institute, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ.

Invited Conference Presentations/Posters

Vito, R., Sethi, B., & Elsie-McKendrick, A. (2018, March 19-23). Poster displayed on working paper, The intersection of organizational culture, emotions, diversity, and leadership style on employees’ health: A comparative case study in Ontario, Canada. Creative Research that promotes Social Justice: Art exhibition, King’s University College, London, ON.

Vito, R. (2017, Oct. 24). Clinical Supervision. Presentation at Salvation Army National Social Services Conference, Hilton Meadowvale Hotel and Conference Center, Mississauga, ON.

Vito, R. (2017, March 3). The impact of service system transformation on human service agencies: Contradictory ministry expectations and leadership adaptations. Faculty Research Presentation, King’s University College, London, ON.

Vito, R. (2016, April 22). Leadership in challenging times. Keynote speaker at Child Welfare Link PARTner conference, Implementing EIP in a perfect storm. Toronto, ON.

Vito, R. (2015, March 19). Participatory leadership: Leading through quicksand. 3MT Thesis Competition, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON. 

Vito, R. (2015, Feb. 23). Leadership practice and organizational culture in children’s services: Exploring these influences during system transformation. Research Forum, Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty of Social Work, Waterloo, ON.

Vito, R. & Adamowich, T. (2013, Jan. 28). Playing hide and seek: Searching for the use of self in reflective social work practice. Research Forum, Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty of Social Work, Waterloo, ON.

Invited Community Presentations/Workshops

Vito, R., & Schmidt Hanbidge, A. (2021, Nov. 23 & 26). Leadership training during the pandemic and organizational integration. Leadership training workshop (full day) on coping and resiliency strategies presented to 50 directors and managers. Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Elgin-Middlesex, Oxford, and Addiction Services of Thames Valley (ADSTV), London, ON.

Vito, R. (2021, July 5). Supervision training. Training workshop (full day) presented to senior management team at John Howard Society, London, ON.

Vito, R. (2021, June 22). Leadership training. Training workshop (full day) presented to senior management team at John Howard Society, London, ON.

Vito, R., & Sethi, B. (2021, May 20). Managing change: Role of leadership and diversity management. Strategic Diversity Management Seminar, Vienna University of Economics and Business (virtual/online).

Vito, R. (2019, Aug. 22). How to thrive in a transforming environment: Organizational culture and change management. Staff training workshop (full day) presented to library staff at King’s University College, London, ON.

Schmidt Hanbidge, A., Vito, R., Carr, B., & Mudge, C. (2019, June 21). Supervision models and practice skills. Training workshop (full day) presented to directors and managers at Canadian Mental Health Association London Middlesex, Elgin, and Oxford, ON.

Vito, R. (2019, May 23). Current mental health issues and wellness. Liberal Arts Lecture, King’s University College, London, ON.

Vito, R. (2018, March 10). Social work and mental health. Spring Open House, King’s University College, London, ON.

Vito, R. & Vitali, S. (2018, Feb. 15). Organizational change. Training workshop (half day) presented to executive and senior directors and managers at Canadian Mental Health Association London Middlesex, London, ON.

Vito, R. (2016, Oct. 14). Effective leadership and adaptation: The key to human service organizations surviving in a market culture. Social Work Professional Development workshop, King’s University College School of Social Work, London, ON.

Vito, R. (2015, June 18). Leadership practice and organizational culture in children’s services: Exploring these influences during system transformation. Research presentation to Agency 2 (knowledge translation for dissertation research).

Vito, R. (2015, May 25). Leadership practice and organizational culture in children’s services: Exploring these influences during system transformation. Research presentation to Agency 3 (knowledge translation for dissertation research).

Vito, R. (2015, Jan. 15). Leadership practice, organizational culture and adaptation in children’s service organizations. Presented to Ontario Deputy Minister Alex Bezzina, Ministry of Children and Youth Services, Toronto, ON.

Service

Rosemary also believes in giving back to the King’s and broader local community. Her service activities include: Reviewer and Editorial Board Member, HSO journal (2019-present); KUCFA Mentor Program (2021); Co-chair of the LGBTQ2+ Principal’s Advisory Committee (2019-2021); Mental Health and Wellness Committee Co-chair/Member (2018-present); External/University Examiner for 2 PhD, 1 MSW student (2019-present); Joint Health and Safety Committee (2017-2020); Social Work Admissions Committee member (2017-present); MSW Integrative Capstone Exercise chair (2017-present); Social Work Curriculum Committee member (2016-present); Appointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee member (2016-present); supervision of 8 research assistants (2017-present).