Jennifer Hedges

• Doctor of Philosophy (Social Work) – University of Manitoba, 2022

  Master of Social Work (Mental Health, Health & Disability) – University at Buffalo, 2007

  Bachelor of Social Work – Booth University College, 2003

Dr. Jennifer Hedges research program focuses on social work education and the field of child welfare. Her most recent work explored how transformative learning experiences can prepare students for working in child welfare and addressing some of the challenges in this system. Her research interests include:

• Critical and Feminist Pedagogy

  Anti-oppressive Practice

  Moral Courage in Social Work

• Allyship Relationships

  Child Welfare

  Co-Teaching

  Peer Learning

Dr. Hedges is committed to transformative education that is relational and rooted in feminist pedagogies. She uses a variety of creative teaching methods to engage students and build relationships. Anti-racist and Indigenous perspectives inform her practice as she works toward truth and reconciliation within post-secondary education and the profession of social work. She is eager to support students on their learning journey.

Over the years, Dr. Hedges has developed and taught a variety of courses including social welfare, contemporary issues, anti-racist practice, and environmental justice.

Recent courses taught: 

• SWRK 7230 Critical Pedagogy in Social Work Education
• SWRK 8010 Perspectives on Knowledge for Social Work
• SWRK 4210 Feminist Perspectives in Social Work
• SWRK 1210 Wâhkôhtowin We are all Related
• SWRK 2000 Anti-racist Social Work 

Dr. Hedges is Chair of the International Association of Socials of Social Work Research Committee and Co-Chair of the Prairie Child Welfare Consortium. 

Dr. Hedges has received the following fellowships and awards:

• Ethics Research Fellowship - The Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics
• SoTL Seed and SoTL Development Fund  
• University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship
• Sir Gordon Wu Scholarship
• SSRHC Doctoral Award
• Erin Driben-Triller Memorial School in Social Work 

Recent publications:

Choate, P. Tortorelli, C., & Hedges, J. (Eds.). (2026). Assessment Across Clinical Realities: Applications for Social Work. Fernwood.  

Choate, P., Tortorelli, C., & Hedges, J. (2026). Assessment is the Noun, Critical Thinking is the Verb. In P. Choate, C. Tortorelli & J. Hedges (Eds), Assessment Across Clinical Realities: Applications for Social Work. Fernwood.  
Link: https://fernwoodpublishing.ca/books/reimagining-assessment-in-social-work?srsltid=AfmBOoqtkp35bW2xxhYhIz0IZFgd_u8D4rCVWd8NAkVvhIalZYhxNv8Q    

Hedges, J. (2026). The Space Between Abolition and Now: Assessment in Child Welfare. In P. Choate, C. Tortorelli and J. Hedges (Eds), Assessment Across Clinical Realities: Applications for Social Work. Fernwood.  

Hedges, J., Tortorelli, C., & Choate, P. (2026). Looking Forward: An Invitation to Ongoing Critical Practice. In P. Choate, C. Tortorelli and J. Hedges (Eds), Assessment Across Clinical Realities: Applications for Social Work. Fernwood.  

Hedges, J., Bennett, M., Albert, J., Choate, P., & Fuchs, D. (Eds.). (2026). Pathways to parity: Transformative strategies in child welfare. Voices from the Prairies. University of Regina Press. Link: https://uofrpress.ca/Series/V/Voices-from-the-Prairies   

Hedges, J. (2026). The Prairie Child Welfare Consortium Story: A Model for Collaboration. In J. Hedges, M. Bennett, J. Albert, P. Choate, and D. Fuchs (Eds.), Pathways to parity: Transformative strategies in child welfare, 14-35. University of Regina Press.  

Hedges, J. (2026). Social Work Education for Social Justice Work in Child Welfare. In J. Hedges, M. Bennett, J. Albert, P. Choate, and D. Fuchs (Eds.), Pathways to parity: Transformative strategies in child welfare, 309-337. University of Regina Press.

Huntinghawk, L. & Hedges, J. (2026). Team Teaching as Critical Pedagogy in Social Work Education. In M. Zechner (Ed.), Contemporary Issues in Social Work Education. Springer.

Recent presentations:

Hedges, J. (2025) Exploring the Space Between Child Welfare Reform and Abolition, International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, Vilnius, Lithuania.  

Hedges, J. (2025) Moving beyond compliance to reading engagement for transformative learning in social work education, Symposium for Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Banff, AB.  

Jonathan, M., Botac, M.A., & Hedges, J. (2025) Imagining, Implementing, Innovating, and Improving Anti-Racist Social Work Education: Sharing Perspectives, Plans, and Possibilities. Canadian Association of Social Work Education, Virtual.  

Hedges, J. & Webb, S. (Jun 2024). Child Welfare Curriculum in Canada. Prairie Child Welfare Consortium, Winnipeg, MB.