Tien Ung, L.I.C.S.W., A.B.D.

Assistant Professor, Practice Sequence

Recognizing the impact of cultural differences on social identity and clinical practice

Tien Ung was born in South Vietnam, attended high school in Italy, and went to college in the U.S. She speaks Vietnamese, Italian, and English. She knows about acculturation because she has experienced it firsthand. Most people don't give this process a second thought, but Ung is keenly aware of what it's like to be influenced and informed by coming into contact with other cultures. It shapes you. It impacts your identity and affects your mental health. As a social work practitioner and professor, this fascinates Ung.

"Over the years, in my personal and professional lives, I've come to understand why it's important to pay attention to cultural differences and to examine and study why cultural differences affect practical care within the context of social work," says Ung. "Our cultural make-up greatly determines how we engage in relationship with other people, with neighbors, with our communities, and with the organizations in which we are involved. Those attachments make up our individual social capital. It's my job to help my students understand how those attachments drive people's actions so they can be better social workers."

Ung honed her practice skills at the Massachusetts Department of Social Services, where she served for ten years in positions such as frontline investigator, ongoing case manager, and administrator. "I developed a unique strength in generalist practice grounded in ecology theory that furthered my understanding about the needs of people who come from racially, socially, and economically diverse backgrounds. I'm excited to share what I've learned from my work and my research with Simmons students."

Part of what compelled Ung to teach at Simmons was that the school cared about the clinical nature of social work practice. "Now the school is working to shape that care in the larger context to meet the needs of a multicultural client population," Ung says. "The school is also committed to recruiting a diverse faculty and to admitting a diverse student body. We have a nice blend of younger and older students and experienced social workers and career changers. It makes for a dynamic teaching environment."