By Jaelon Jackson
School of Social Work
A PhD candidate in the School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Arlington with a master’s degree in social work and a master’s degree in criminology successfully defended his dissertation.
Alan Kunz Lomelin’s defended his dissertation titled "Implementation of Technological Innovations: An Identification and Examination of Opinion Leaders and Advice Networks in Primary Care" June 6.
Kunz Lomelin's academic journey highlights his dedication and expertise. A Mexican immigrant with dual citizenship, Kunz Lomelin moved to the United States at the age of 13.
He earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Dallas and dual master's degrees in social work and criminology from The University of Texas at Arlington. From there he went directly into the Social Work Ph.D. here at UTA.
Earning his MSW degree enabled him to later become a licensed clinical social worker, providing behavioral health services in community clinics at Baylor Scott and White Health, where he has worked for four years. His practice focuses primarily on underrepresented or marginalized patients dealing with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Kunz Lomelin's research interests include implementation science, technological innovations such as artificial intelligence, mental health, and health disparities. He has a particular knack for quantitative research methods, social network analysis, and the R programming language for statistical analysis.
Recognizing the importance of comprehensive research, Kunz Lomelin engages in mixed methods projects integrating both quantitative and qualitative data. His goal is to ensure technological advancements, particularly AI, are implemented ethically and equitably to help reduce health disparities rather than worsen them.
Dr. Anne Nordberg, Social Work associate professor and co-chair of Kunz Lomelin's dissertation committee, praised his commitment and innovative approach.
“Alan is strongly committed to innovative social justice research, especially related to technological innovations to help mitigate health disparities," Dr. Nordberg, who was recently selected to become associate dean for faculty affairs in the School of Social Work said.
Dr. Rebecca Mauldin, assistant professor of social work and co-chair of the dissertation committee, expressed pride in Kunz Lomelin's dissertation and his work as a PhD student.
"He has engaged in independent research during his time at UTA and has embraced challenging methods and explored innovative research questions," Dr. Mauldin said.
Kunz Lomelin's successful defense marks a significant milestone in his academic and professional journey, positioning him to make substantial contributions to the fields of social work, mental health, and technological innovation.
Kunz Lomelin will be an incoming Assistant Professor at Florida Atlantic University in the Fall.
