Dawn Apgar, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor/Director
Department of Sociology Anthropology and Social Work

Dr. Apgar joined the faculty at Seton Hall University in 2016 after serving as Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Human Services, the largest department in New Jersey state government with more than one-third of the State workforce (15,000 employees/contracted staff) and an annual budget of more than $18.7 billion. Prior to becoming Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Apgar was an Assistant Professor at Marywood University and the Director of the Developmental Disabilities Planning Institute at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. She has extensive direct practice, policy, and management experience in the social work field. In addition to her role in the Department of Sociology Anthropology and Social Work, she is also affiliated with the Seton Hall-Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.

Dr. Apgar also writes and does research on social work licensure and has served as chairperson of the New Jersey Board of Social Work Examiners. Many of her publications are used by states across the country to assist social workers with passing the licensure examinations.

She is a past President of the New Jersey Chapter of NASW and has been on its National Board of Directors. In 2014, the Chapter presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Education

• Ph.D. in Social Work – Rutgers University
• Masters Degree in Social Work – Rutgers University
• Bachelors Degree in Psychology – Bucknell University

Scholarship

Academic Distinctions and Scholarship: Books

Apgar, D. (2018). Social Work ASWB Bachelors Exam Guide: A Comprehensive Study Guide for Success, Second Edition. New York: Springer Publishing.

Apgar, D. (2018). Social Work ASWB Masters Exam Guide: A Comprehensive Study Guide for Success, Second Edition. New York: Springer Publishing.

Apgar, D. (2018). Social Work ASWB Clinical Exam Guide: A Comprehensive Study Guide for Success, Second Edition. New York: Springer Publishing.

Apgar, D. (2018). Social Work ASWB Advanced Generalist Exam Guide: A Comprehensive Study Guide for Success, Second Edition. New York: Springer Publishing.

Apgar, D. (2018). Social Work ASWB Bachelors Practice Test: 170 Questions to Identify Knowledge Gaps, Second Edition. New York: Springer Publishing.

Apgar, D. (2018). Social Work ASWB Masters Practice Test: 170 Questions to Identify Knowledge Gaps, Second Edition. New York: Springer Publishing.

Apgar, D. (2018). Social Work ASWB Clinical Practice Test: 170 Questions to Identify Knowledge Gaps. New York: Springer Publishing.

Apgar, D. (2018). Social Work ASWB Advanced Generalist Practice Test: 170 Questions to Identify Knowledge Gaps. New York: Springer Publishing.

Journal Articles

Apgar, D. (in press). Professional identity: An exploratory study of undergraduate social work majors versus minors. Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work.

Apgar, D. (2020). The use of group text messaging to enhance social support of social work students. Social Work Education, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2020.1736022

Apgar, D. (2020). Social work minors in undergraduate education: Benefit or burden? Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 40(2), 129-146. https://doi.org/10.1080/08841233.2020.1718263

Apgar, D. (2019). The great divide between social work educational policy and licensure examinations. Journal of Social Work Education, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2019.1671273

Apgar, D. (2019). Conceptualization of capstone experiences: Examining their role in social work education. Social Work Education, 38(2), 143-158. http://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2018.1512963

Apgar, D., & Parada, M. (2018). Strengthening competency in policy practice: An experiential model for student learning. Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work, 23(1), 145-158. http://doi.org/10.18084/1084-7219.23.1.145

Apgar, D., & Congress, E. (2005). Ethical beliefs of social work researchers: Results of a national study. Journal of Social Service Research, 32(2), 61-80. https://doi.org/10.1300/J079v32n02_04

Apgar, D., & Congress, E. (2005). Authorship credit: A national study of social work educators’ beliefs. Journal of Social Work Education, 41(1), 101-112. https://doi.org/10.5175/JSWE.2005.200300356

Lerman, P., Apgar, D., & Jordan, T. (2005). Longitudinal changes in adaptive behaviors of “movers” and “stayers”: Findings of a controlled research design. Mental Retardation, 43(1), 25-42. https://doi.org/10.1352/0047-6765(2005)43<25:LCIABO>2.0.CO;2

Lerman, P., Apgar, D., & Jordan, T. (2003). Deinstitutionalization and mortality: Findings of a controlled research design in New Jersey. Mental Retardation, 41(4), 225-236. https://doi.org/10.1352/0047-6765(2003)41<225:DAMFOA>2.0.CO;2

Apgar, D. (2000). Providing mental health services at what price? Ethical issues and dilemmas for social workers practicing in a managed care environment. Critical Strategies: Psychotherapy in Managed Care, 1(1), 87-104. https://doi.org/10.1300/J271v01n01_09