Jefferson "J.C." Sheen

Biography

Jefferson "J.C." Sheen received his B.S. in Sociology with a Minor in Social Work from Utah State University in 1999. He completed his MSW Degree at the University of Utah in 2002 and his Ph.D. in Disability Disciplines at USU in 2017. Prior to joining the Social Work faculty as an Assistant Professor in 2020, J.C. served as the Associate Director of Research and Training at the Center for Persons with Disabilities (CPD) at USU where he began working as a social work practicum student in 2001. J.C.’s primary area of interest to date has been in interdisciplinary macro practice and community development, especially related to the disability field. Over the past 20 years of working in the disability community J.C. has been involved in directing and evaluating several projects designed to improve community resources and services for individuals with disabilities and their families. He has also been involved in developing and providing training on a wide variety of disability related issues and has engaged in policy analysis and development at the state and national level as the Chair of Senator Hatch's Disability Advisory Committee and member of the Utah Statewide Independent Living Council and CPD Policy Team. J.C. has previously been an adjunct instructor for the Departments of Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling, Psychology and Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology at USU. His research interests include systemic change initiatives designed to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals with disabilities and their families, general disability policy and programming, inclusion of young adults with intellectual disabilities in postsecondary education, community planning for inclusion and accessibility for individuals with disabilities and other marginalized groups, and mindfulness-based interventions for parents of children with disabilities. J.C. and his family love living in Cache Valley and enjoy all sorts of outdoor activities including paddle boarding, canoeing, hiking, adventure motorcycle riding and just sitting by the river or under a tree.