Dr. Em Loerzel, MSW, PhD (she/her) is a researcher, multi-species (working with humans and animals) social worker, and educator who is strongly informed and motivated by her love of the two and four legged community members that surround her day to day. Em holds her MSW from Aurora University and a PhD in Social Welfare from University of Washington-Seattle. She is also the founder and director of The Humble Horse, a grassroots started and community supported non-profit that advocates for the wellness and continued existence of the Ojibwe Pony, and their reconnection to Ojibwe people and connection to their wider community. 

Dr. Loerzel has robust research experience on topics relating to the wellness of Native American communities and intimate partner violence, serving on a research teams and projects at institutions like Johns Hopkins University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Illinois-Chicago, University of Washington-Seattle, and Northwestern University. She has also taught courses at University of Washington and served as a pre-tenured assistant professor at University of Wisconsin-River Falls before finding her way back to her "roots" of practicing within community spaces. 

 

Previous to joining academia, Dr. Loerzel worked in spaces supporting mental health in both community and clinical settings, non-profit development and administration, and community organizing with a variety of different people. She is excited to be able to continue her healing work with both humans and animals, and currently holds her temporary Advance Practice Social Work license in the state of Wisconsin.