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Dr. Nicole I. Cesnales, PHD

(She/Her/Hers)

Associate Professor

(585) 395-2675
ncesnale@brockport.edu
Office: Brown Building 269
Office Hours:

Dr. C is on sabbatical for the Spring semester, 2026. She will return to campus on August 27, 2026.

To contact her regarding the Fannie Barrier Williams Project or Fearless Frances, please email fearlessfrancesbook@gmail.com

Presidential Teaching Excellence Award Winner

Bio

Dr. Cesnales is the Director of the Undergraduate Social Work Program at SUNY Brockport and she serves as President of the Board of Directors at the Brockport Child Development Center.

Additionally, Dr. Cesnales is a Member of Board of Directors of the Brockport Museum and Library of Local History and she serves as Co-Director of the Fannie Barrier Williams Project.

Prior to joining the faculty at SUNY Brockport in 2014, Dr. Cesnales taught at Colorado State University, Florida State University, and she served as a field supervisor through the University of Pittsburgh. As a medical social worker at the HIV/AIDS program at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Dr. Cesnales incorporated individualized solution-focused and empirically supported interventions for HIV positive individuals.

Education

2007-2012 PhD, Florida State University, College of Social Work

1999-2000 MSW, Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago
Major: Social Work, Child and Family Practice

1996-1999 BASW, University of Pittsburgh. Major: Social Work. Minor: Psychology

Areas of Specialty

Social Welfare Policy and History

Courses Taught

SWO221 Introduction to Generalist Social Work Practice

SWO301 Human Behavior and the Social Environment

SWO304 Case Management

SWO311 Social Welfare Policy

SWO341 Micro Theories and Practice

Research Interests

Her current work focuses on developing an illustrated children’s biography of Fannie Barrier Williams. The project highlights Williams’s contributions to education, civil rights, and social reform while expanding the historical narratives available to young readers, educators, and libraries.

2025 Presidential Teaching Excellence Award, SUNY Brockport, (recipient)

2024 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching (nominated)

2020 Academic Advisement Award, the College at Brockport (nominated)

2020 Presidential Teaching Excellence Award, the College at Brockport (nominated)

2019 Presidential Teaching Excellence Award, the College at Brockport (nominated)

2019 Discretionary Salary Award, the College at Brockport ($1,200.00)

2018 Presidential Teaching Excellence Award, the College at Brockport (nominated)

2017 Institute for Engaged Learning at the College at Brockport, Service-Learning Grant, ($460.00)

2017 Presidential Teaching Excellence Award, the College at Brockport (nominated)

2016 Institute for Engaged Learning at the College at Brockport, Service-Learning Grant, ($600.00)

2015 Institute for Engaged Learning at the College at Brockport, Service-Learning Grant, ($375.00)

2012 Dianne F. Harrison Scholarship, Best Dissertation Prospectus, College of Social Work, Florida State University (Local)

2011 Instructor of the Year, Association of Student Social Workers, College of Social Work, Florida State University (Local)

2007 President’s Award for Innovation, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Quality Improvement Fair (Local)

2006 Presidential Performance Award for Sustained Achievement, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Quality Improvement Fair (Local)

2004 Outstanding Achievement in Performance Improvement, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Quality Improvement Fair (Local)

2004 People’s Choice Award, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Quality Improvement Fair (Local)

Heffernan, K., Dauenhauer, J., Cesnales, N. I. (2023). Feeling competent isn’t enough: The social worker’s role in creating positive space and promoting trans-affirming practices. International Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, 20(1).

Cesnales, N. I. & Thyer, B. A. (2021). Health-Related Quality of Life Measures. In Maggino F. (Ed.). Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69909-7_951-2

Cesnales, N. I., Dauenhauer, J. A., & Heffernan, K. (2020). Everything gets better with age: Traditional college-aged student perspectives on older adult auditors. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships. https://doi.org/10.1080/15350770.20201835781

Heffernan, K., Cesnales, N. I., & Dauenhauer, J. A. (2019). Creating intergenerational learning opportunities in multigenerational college classrooms: Faculty perceptions and experiences. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701960.2019.1613235

Cesnales, N. I., Witt, M., & Miles, B. K. (2019). Syringe quantity limitations: Syringe exchange program participant health behavior and satisfaction. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 19. https://doi.org/10.1080/1533256X.2019.1659066

Dauenhauer, J. A., Heffernan, K. M. & Cesnales, N. I. (2018). Promoting intergenerational learning in higher education: Older adult perspectives on course auditing. Educational Gerontology, 44, 732-740. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601277.2018.1555358.

Cesnales, N. I., Thyer, B. A., & Albright, D. (2017). Differences in health-related quality of life among people living with HIV/AIDS. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment. doi: 10.1080/10911359.2016.1270869.

Cesnales, N. I., Thyer, B. A., Albright, D., & Neujahr, N. (2016). Health-related quality of life among people living with HIV/AIDS. Journal of HIV/AIDS and Social Services, 15 (2), 202-215. doi: 10.1080/15381501.2014.973134.

Cesnales, N. I., Dakin, E., & Rose, P. (2016). HIV case managers’ attitudes toward empirically-supported interventions. Journal of HIV/AIDS and Social Services, 15 (2), 234-247. doi: 10.1080/15381501.2014.951504.

Kolbe, A. R, Cesnales, N. I., Puccio, M. N., & Muggah, R. (November, 2015). Impact of perceived electoral fraud on Haitian voter’s beliefs about democracy. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Igarape Institute.

Whyte, J., Eccles, D. W., Whyte, M. D., Cormier, E., Pappas, C., & Cesnales, N. I. (2013). HIV case manager preparedness for practice in Ryan White Care Act funded settings. Social Work in Health Care, 52, 808-825. doi: 10.1080/00981389.2013.827146

Vinton, L. & Cesnales, N. I. (2012). Alcohol and drug misuse and abuse in late life. In A. McNeece & D. DiNitto (Eds.), Chemical dependency: A systems approach. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Rutledge, S. E., Whyte, J., Abell, N., Brown, K. M., & Cesnales, N. I. (2011). Measuring stigma among health care and social service providers: The HIV/AIDS Provider Stigma Inventory. AIDS Patient Care & STDs, 25 (11), 673—682. doi: 10.1089/apc.2011.0008

Cesnales, N. I. (2009). Best practices in HIV/AIDS prevention and education. In G. Thomas (Ed.) MSWE-001: Introduction to HIV/AIDS: Block 4 Understanding and responding to stigma and discrimination, Unit 5. New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Open University, School of Social Work.

Cesnales, N. I. (2019, October). Engaging elders and students in the classroom: Strategies to promote intergenerational learning. 65^th Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education. Denver, Colorado (National).

Cesnales, N. I., Heffernan, K., & Canfield, J. P. (2017, October). Homeless Connect: The effect of service-learning on self-reflection, self-regulation, and affective reactions. 63^rd Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education. Dallas, Texas (National).

Schneider, M. & Cesnales, N. I. (2016, October). Syringe quantity limitations: An evaluation of Northern Colorado Syringe Exchange Program participant satisfaction. Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Public Health Association, Denver, Colorado (National).

Kolbe, A. R, Cesnales, N. I., Puccio, M. N., & Muggah, R. (2016, June). Impact of perceived electoral fraud on Haitian voter’s beliefs about democracy. The 41^st Caribbean Studies Association Annual Conference, Port-au-Prince, Haiti (International).

Johnson, L. A. & Cesnales, N. I. (2016, April). The domino effect of stigma: Reducing stigma among helping professions improves outcomes for people living with HIV/AIDS. The 33^rd Annual Scholars Day, the College at Brockport. Brockport, New York (Local).

Brown, K. M. & Cesnales, N. I. (2013, May). HIV Prevention with Lesbian and Bisexual Women. The 25th Annual National Conference on Social Work and HIV/AIDS, Chicago (National)

Cesnales, N. I. (2013, May). Differences in Health-Related Quality of Life among People Living with HIV/AIDS. The 25th Annual National Conference on Social Work and HIV/AIDS, Chicago (National)

Cesnales, N. I. & Dakin, E. (2013, May). HIV Case Managers’ Attitudes Toward Evidence-based Practice. The 25th Annual National Conference on Social Work and HIV/AIDS, Chicago (National)

Brown, K. M., Cesnales, N. I., Abell, N. Rutledge, S. E., & Whyte, J. (2011, January). Measuring Stigma among Health Care Providers: The HIV/AIDS Provider Stigma Inventory. Society for Social Work and Research, Tampa (National)

Cesnales, N. I. (2010, January). The Relationship Between Health Insurance Coverage and Self Rated Health: A Secondary Analysis of the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study. Society for Social Work and Research, San Francisco. (National)

Cesnales, N. I. (2009, January). Does Ryan White Funded Case Management Improve Retention in Care for HIV Positive Adults? A Review of Outcome Studies. Society for Social Work and Research, New Orleans (National)

Cesnales, N. I. (2004, May). Social Worker Strategies for Secondary Prevention Interventions: Identifying Provider Comfort, Patient Needs, and Practical Techniques. The 16^th Annual National Conference on Social Work and HIV/AIDS, Washington, DC (National)

Open gallery

Dr. Nicole I. Cesnales, PHD

Bio

Education

Areas of Specialty

Courses Taught

Research Interests

Awards/Recognitions

Recent Publications

Presentations