Education
Ph.D. (2020), Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University
Dissertation: Improving Encounters with People who hold Contentious Differences: An Exploration
M.S.W. (2009), Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University
Thesis: Exploring Collaboration between Organizations Assisting Persons Experiencing Poverty
B.A. (2007), Psychology and Sociology, Wilfrid Laurier University
Thesis: Adolescents’ Attitudes toward Personal Experiences with Volunteering, Others Volunteering and Mandatory Volunteering
Courses
- Introduction to Social Work Practice (APS-215)
- Social Work Practice with Communities (APS-236)
- Social Research Methods (APS-321)
- Social Work Practice with Individuals (APS-329)
- Social Work Internship and Integrative Seminar I (APS-380)
- Selected Theories of Social Work Practice (APS-435)
- Social Work Internship and Integrative Seminar II (APS-480)
About
Before joining Redeemer, Dr. Braganza was an adjunct faculty member at Wilfrid Laurier University teaching courses in the Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work, and at Martin Luther University College (formerly Waterloo Lutheran Seminary) teaching courses in the Christian Studies and Global Citizenship and Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy programs. Prior to that, she taught in an adjunct capacity at Georgian College.
Dr. Braganza continues to work with urban and rural agencies to conduct research and program evaluation projects covering a variety of mental health and social issues. Her research interests are diverse as she has had the opportunity to be involved in a number of federally funded, provincially funded, and locally funded research and evaluation projects working with varied populations across Canada. Her research and evaluation projects have covered topics including community-, sports- and faith-based programming, character strengths, inter-organizational collaboration, poverty, domestic violence, violence against women, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. She has also conducted numerous program evaluations which have investigated the effectiveness of, and sought improvements for services related to: domestic violence; newcomers to Canada; healthy behaviour and relationships for teenage girls; mobile crisis response; and students who are the first in their families to attend postsecondary education. The main focus of her doctoral research is on improving encounters with those who hold contentious or difficult differences (e.g. religion).
Research Interests
- Encountering diverse groups/persons
- Community-, sports-, and faith-based programming
- Inter-organizational collaboration
- Program evaluation
- Research ethics
Recent Publications
Braganza, M. E., & Hodge, D. R. (submitted). The Caring Encounters Guiding Framework: A narrative inquiry-informed innovative model for navigating diversity. The British Journal of Social Work.
Braganza, M. E., & Hodge, D. R. (in press). LGBTQ+ people’s perceptions of interactions with outgroup members: Implications for social work education and practice. Social Work Research.
Braganza, M. E. (accepted). [Review of the book Night call: Embracing compassion and hope in a troubled world, by R. J. Wicks]. Social Work and Christianity.
Braganza, M.E., Darewych, O. H., Svendrovski, A., & Argyle, H. (2023). Examining character strengths of creative arts therapists in Canada: A survey study. Canadian Journal of Art Therapy. (currently online only). https://doi.org/10.1080/
Braganza, M. E., & Hodge, D. R. (2023). Understanding Muslims’ interactions with non-Muslims: Laying the foundation for culturally sensitive social work engagement. Qualitative Social Work. (currently online only). https://doi.org/10.1177/
Braganza, M. E., & Oliveira, J. (2022). Using the bio-psycho-social-spiritual framework in holistic health and well-being: A case example of a community- and faith-based sports program. Christian Journal for Global Health 9(1), 94-104. https://doi.org/10.15566/cjgh.
Tan, A. M., & Braganza, M. E. (2022). Introduction to special issue: How might we encounter others well? Social Work & Christianity, 49(1), 3-9. https://doi.org/10.34043/swc.
Braganza, M. E. (2022). Introducing a conceptual framework for assessing existing models, frameworks, and approaches for navigating encounters across difficult differences. Social Work & Christianity, 49(1), 10-25. https://doi.org/10.34043/swc.
Vander Vennen, M., & Braganza, M. E. (2022). Can we talk but still stay together?: Using Restorative Practice to address conflict in faith communities. Social Work & Christianity, 49(1), 87-105. https://doi.org/10.34043/swc.v49i1.256
Braganza, M. E., Hoy, S., & Lafrenière, G. (2022). “They are my family”: Exploring the Usage of Spiritual and Religious Supports by Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work, 41(1), 23-50. http://dx.doi.org/10.15566/cjgh.v9i1.593.
Braganza, M. E. (2020). Improving encounters with people who hold contentious differences: An exploration. [Doctoral dissertation, Wilfrid Laurier University]. https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/
Darewych, O. H., Braganza, M. E., Newton, N. J., Kozman, H. K., Argyle, H. (2020). Examining character strengths of developmental services workers in Canada: A mixed-methods pilot study. Journal of Social Service Research. 47(3), 442-454. https://doi.org/10.1080/
Braganza, M. E., Sheehan, T. D., & Young, D. (2019). Evaluating a rural mobile crisis service for children and youth. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 38(3), 79-96. https://doi.org/10.7870/cjcmh-
Braganza, M. E. (2018). Introducing a hospitality framework to encounter diverse others in professional social work. Social Work and Christianity, 45(2), 33-56.
Akesson, B., Braganza, M. E., & Root, J. (2018). Is theory development essential for the social work dissertation? Social Work Education, 37(2), 209-222. https://doi.org/10.1080/
Braganza, M. E., Akesson, B., & Rothwell, D. (2017). An empirical appraisal of Canadian doctoral dissertations using grounded theory: Implications for social work research and teaching. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 37(5), 528-548. https://doi.org/10.1080/
Braganza, M. E. (2017). [Review of the book America’s blessings: How religion benefits everyone, including atheists, by R. Stark]. Social Work and Christianity, 44(3), 153-155.
Braganza, M. E. (2016). It’s a relationship: A qualitative exploration of the qualities, characteristics and processes that can fracture inter-organizational collaborative relationships. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 35(1), 15-28. https://doi.org/10.7870/cjcmh-
Research Funding
Redeemer University Instructional Development Grant (2021, 2019)
Redeemer University Internal Research Grant (2021, 2019)
Vandezande Restoring Hope Grant (2020)
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) (2013-2017).
Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Scholarship (2015/16).
Laurier Graduate Incentive Scholarship (2013-2015).
Laurier Graduate Scholarship (2013/14).
TD Financial Bank Academic Achievement Award (2012/13).
Laurier Graduate Fellowship (2012/13).
Social Sciences and Humanities Council (SSHRC) (2008/09).
