Vikash Kumar
Associate Professor
Dr. Vikash Kumar is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work at Northern Michigan University. With over a decade of experience in academic, nonprofit, and international development settings, he is dedicated to bridging research, practice, and policy to address complex global social challenges. His work centers on empowering students, strengthening community-based organizations, and fostering cross-sector partnerships that lead to meaningful, sustainable change.
Dr. Kumar’s expertise lies in international social work, global health, and policy advocacy. He has led multiple initiatives to expand access to healthcare for marginalized populations, particularly in Bihar, India. His doctoral research at Queen Margaret University (United Kingdom) examined the implementation of mental health and non-communicable disease programs in public hospitals, offering practical insights for health system reform in low-resource settings.
At Northern Michigan University, Dr. Kumar developed and leads the Social Work Study Abroad Program, which provides students with transformative global learning experiences. This initiative reflects his commitment to preparing future social workers to engage effectively in a globalized world through intercultural understanding and experiential learning.
Dr. Kumar has also worked extensively on projects related to homelessness, emergency response, community health, and livelihood development. He is deeply interested in using technology and interdisciplinary collaboration to create innovative interventions that address contemporary social problems.
In addition to his academic work, Dr. Kumar serves as the Director of Information Technology and interim Associate Secretary (Membership) for the International Consortium for Social Development (www.socialdevelopment.net ), where he supports global collaboration among scholars and practitioners in the field of social development.
Education
- Ph.D., Global Health, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK
- M.S.W., Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India
- B.S.W., Indira Gandhi National Open University, India
