Rebecca Sperling

Professor Sperling earned her M.S.W. and Ph.D. from the Columbia University School of Social Work where she taught graduate level courses in addition to teaching a doctoral level practice course. At MMC, Dr. Sperling developed and oversaw the Minor in Social Work. Her teaching and clinical work are both grounded in systems theory, a firm belief in people’s strengths and the centrality of listening to people tell their stories. She also taught elective courses in the Sociology curriculum and in Gender and Sexuality Studies. In over twenty years as a practitioner, Dr. Sperling has been a clinical supervisor in out-patient hospital, community and school- based settings. She has run programs in the Lower East Side and at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City that focused on the treatment of alcohol and substance abuse, improvement of mental health and crisis intervention for individuals and families. She has acted as Civilian Co-Coordinator of Parenting Programs at the Bedford Hills Women’s Correctional Facility. Professor Sperling also maintains a private practice in New York City. Her areas of professional knowledge and interest include: diversity, mental health, prison systems, women’s studies, human development, substance abuse, oral history and pedagogy.