Faculty and Staff

Asli Cennet Yalim is an assistant professor at the University of Central Florida School of Social Work. She received her master’s degree in Social Work from Florida State University and her Ph.D. in Social Welfare from the University at Buffalo. Drawing on her interdisciplinary background and international experience, she studies refugees’ psychosocial wellbeing, seeks to understand the challenges refugees face upon resettlement in another country, and develops culturally responsive interventions to improve post-resettlement outcomes. Her areas of research include refugee mental health, trauma-informed services for immigrant and refugee populations, refugee women, CBT and mindfulness-based interventions, and the wellbeing of the healthcare workforce. Her methodological approach includes mixed-methods, grounded theory, and a community-based participatory approach.

Yalim has collaborated on funded projects, including an interprofessional, evidence-based virtual program to prevent burnout, suicide, and mental health conditions among healthcare workers, as well as the development of a mental health and psychosocial intervention with refugee women and survivors of earthquakes in Turkey. Before starting her career in the United States, she worked as a child psychologist in various health and educational settings in Istanbul, Turkey. She teaches courses on human behavior, research methods, and social work with immigrants and refugees. Her dedication to teaching has been recognized through the UCF College of Health Professions and Sciences Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award.

Credentials

  • Ph.D., Doctor of Philosophy, Social Work, University at Buffalo
  • MSW, Master of Social Work, Florida State University
  • MA, Master of Arts, Forensic Sciences, Istanbul University
  • BS, Bachelor of Science, Psychology, Istanbul University
Areas of Specialty
  • Refugee mental health and psychosocial wellbeing
  • Syrian refugees
  • Forced migration in the Middle East
  • Use of mental health services among refugee and immigrant populations
  • Community-based participatory research
  • Culturally competent practice
  • Resilience and empowerment
  • Refugee Women

Research Grants

Social Work

Internationalizing the Classroom: Using the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a Framework for Addressing Global Issues

  • PI: Asli Cennet Yalim
  • Amount: $10,000 | Timeframe: 01/01/2024 - 06/01/2027
    Funding Type: Extramural Research
    Funding Agency: Council on Social Work Education
    Physical TherapySocial Work

    Developing a Resilient Health Care Work Force: A UCF Model for Academic Health Science Centers

  • PI: Magdalena Pasarica - College of Medicine
  • Co-PI: Laurie Neely
  • Co-PI: Patrick Pabian
  • Co-PI: Asli Cennet Yalim
  • Amount: $1,496,127 | Timeframe: 01/01/2022 - 12/31/2024
    Funding Type: Extramural Research
    Funding Agency: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
    Social Work

    The impacts of refugee policies on the wellbeing of muslim refugees in the United States and Germany

  • PI: Asli Cennet Yalim
  • Amount: $2,000 | Timeframe: 01/01/2021 - 12/31/2021
    Funding Type: Foundation/Industry
    Funding Agency: Society for Psychological Study of Social Issue
    Health Sciences

    Understanding Barriers to Implementation of a Refugee Mental Health Assessment for Newly Arrived Refugees in Central Florida

  • PI: Asli Cennet Yalim
  • Co-PI: Katia Ferdowsi
  • Amount: $5,000 | Timeframe: 01/01/2020 - 12/31/2020
    Funding Type: Internal
    Funding Agency: Center for Behavioral Health Research and Training (CBHRT)
  • Awardees Announced for 2023 Founders’ Day Faculty Honors Celebration

    Written By: Joe Adams | March 31, 2023
    UCF’s annual marquee event for faculty on April 5 highlights outstanding teaching, advising, mentoring, research, professional service and librarianship.
  • War in Ukraine highlights need for social workers, according to UCF social work association

    Written By: Lauren Luteran | April 2, 2022
    A UCF social work assistant professor says that the war in Ukraine highlights the need for social workers. Originally from Turkey, Asli Cennet Yalim, assistant professor at UCF’s School of...
  • Social Work Faculty, Students and Alumni Present at Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference

    Written By: UCF School of Social Work | January 12, 2022
    On January 12-16, teams of UCF School of Social Work faculty, students, alumni and other social work professionals will be presenting at the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR)...
  • MSW Fellowship Students Share Their Research

    Written By: UCF School of Social Work | August 4, 2021
    The UCF School of Social Work MSW Traditional Track awarded six new first-year graduate level students with a $10,000 fellowship to assist them with tuition, fees, and other expenses for academic year...
  • Fostering Relationships with Refugees Through Psychosocial Support

    Written By: UCF School of Social Work | June 19, 2020
    Resettling into a new country can be difficult for anyone. UCF Social Work Assistant Professor Asli Cennet Yalim talks about the increased challenges refugees experience while resettling and the importance...
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