Nicole MacFarland

Nicole S. MacFarland received her BA from Skidmore College and an MSW from the University of Penn, School of Social Policy & Practice.  In May, 2014 she received her PhD from the University at Albany's School of Social Welfare.  She was appointed as Clinical Assistant Professor of Health Policy, Management & Behavior for the School of Public Health May, 2018.  Dr. MacFarland has held the position of Executive Director of Senior Hope Counseling, Inc. since 2012 after serving as Clinical Director of Senior Hope for eight years.  She also holds the position of Executive Director of The Senior Hope Foundation, Inc. a nonprofit, established in 2015 which supports Senior Hope Counseling, Inc.  She has lectured locally and nationally on the topic of geriatric addictions and co-occurring disorders among older adults and has ben interviewed on TV, for newspapers and the radio over the past several years.  Her publications include two book chapters and peer reviewed journal articles.  Dr. MacFarland is the recipient of a Hartford Doctoral Fellows Pre-Dissertation Award and the 2009 Individual of Distinction in Addictions Educations and Training Award for NYS.  In 2010, she was honored as Social Worker of the Year for New York State at the Annual NASW-NYS conference.  Dr. MacFarland's community service includes prior leadership roles within the National Association of Social Workers as Delegate to the National Delegate Assembly representing the Northeast division of NYS and Representative to the Committee on Nominations and Leadership identifications for NASW-Northeast Division.  Additionally, she was inducted into the Albany Rotary Club July, 2015 and was appointed as Vice President of Albany Rotary Club, July, 2018.  She resides in Glenmont, NY with her husband and son.

Research Interests

Studies geriatric addictions, co-occurring disorders among the elderly and trauma informed care.

Affiliated Research Website

Senior Hope