Dr. Jonel Thaller, associate professor of social work, earned a sabbatical in Fall 2020 and turned her focus toward several projects supporting addictions prevention, intervention, and recovery in Delaware County. She played a key role in the development of the Addictions Coalition of Delaware County (ACDC), a community-University partnership in Delaware County with Dr. Jean Marie Place, associate professor of health science, and Dr. Dane Minnick, assistant professor of social work.

During sabbatical, Dr. Thaller was instrumental in bringing Recovery Cafe support services to Muncie with the assistance of dedicated community members and social service providers. Inaddition, she developed a manuscript for a program development textbook with Dr. Place and Dr. Scott Hall, professor of early childhood, youth, and family studies. This semester, she is facilitating a new MSW course elective specific to intimate partner violence.