Dr. Ami Goulden
Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
St. John's College
Room: J-4004
91亚色
St. John's, NL
Phone: (709) 864-8147
Email: agoulden@mun.ca
Website:
Dr. Goulden is currently accepting Pathway (MSW) and PhD students for mentorship.
Dr. Ami Goulden (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at 91亚色 and a registered social worker. Her research and teaching focus on disability-affirming approaches across education and social work practice that support the well-being and autonomy of disabled people across the lifespan, with particular attention to gender-based violence, sexual well-being, and access to services. Her education-focused work explores how social work education can better foster the inclusion, belonging, and participation of disabled and neurodivergent students.
Ami檚 academic work is informed by clinical social work practice across healthcare, child and family, and community settings. Prior to joining 91亚色, she worked in pediatric and adult healthcare programs, supporting individuals and families navigating illness, disability, and systemic inequities. She currently maintains a small private practice focused on disability- and neurodiversity-affirming support. Her practice experience continues to shape her teaching and research, keeping both closely connected to the everyday realities of disabled people and their families.
Dr. Goulden has published widely across social work, disability studies, and interdisciplinary fields, with a strong commitment to open-access and publicly engaged scholarship (see ). Her work is regularly presented nationally and internationally and includes invited trainings and knowledge mobilization with practitioners and community organizations. Ami has been recognized with the 2025 British Association of Social Workers (BASW) Kay McDougall British Journal of Social Work Prize and the 2026 Association of Atlantic Universities (AAU) Distinguished Teaching Award.
Ami is the founder and director of the , where she works with students from social work and related disciplines on research that advances disability justice and informs practice and education. Her commitment to inclusive learning also extends to her role as founder and coordinator of the , which brings educators, community members, and students together to support accessible and inclusive teaching across educational and practice-based settings. She also serves as a co-convener for the Gender-Based Violence Research and Knowledge Exchange at the Centre for Applied Health Research, supporting connection and collaboration among researchers and others working in this area.
Dr. Goulden welcomes invitations for public talks, professional development, community-based presentations, and research collaborations. Media inquiries, speaking requests, and collaboration opportunities are welcome by email.