Director; Assistant Professor
Phone: (239) 590-7839
E-Mail: mhart@fgcu.edu
Office: Academic 3, Room 134

Mary Hart earned her BA from Agnes Scott College, her MSW from Denver University, and her PhD in clinical social work from Smith College School for Social Work. She has 35 years of experience in social work and child welfare as a caseworker, supervisor, private practice clinician, child welfare consultant, teacher, and administrator. Prior to coming to FGCU Dr. Hart was associate lecturer and BSW Program Coordinator at the University of Wyoming as well as private practice clinician. Dr. Hart was granted the first Title IV-E Stipend Program for the State of Wyoming and several smaller grants for teaching and research. She has been active on the Boards of Directors of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Head Start, and NASW in Wyoming, serving as board secretary and legislative representative.

Dr. Hart’s research interests are in the area of attachment and violence, most recently conducting studies to explore five-year-old children’s perception of their attachment security. In addition to this ongoing research, Dr. Hart is currently designing a study to explore the perceived childhood attachment security of convicted felons who are sentenced to life without parole for violent offenses, with the goal of creating interventions for families with children and adolescents who are at risk for violent behavior.