Sasha Verbillis-Kolp

"Inspired by Paulo Freire's belief that "knowledge emerges only through invention and re-invention", Sasha Verbillis-Kolp is committed to mentoring future social workers and community leaders who advance health, dignity, and social justice."

Alexandra (Sasha) Verbillis-Kolp comes to the UP as a licensed clinical social worker, educator, and consultant with more than two decades of practice experience working alongside refugees, immigrants, and communities affected by conflict and displacement. She earned her master of social work degree from the University of Washington, along with a certificate in international development and policy, and later completed an advanced certificate in forced migration studies at York University.

Her career spans community mental health, refugee resettlement, trauma and torture treatment, and humanitarian response. Sasha has held leadership roles within nonprofit and international organizations and served as a consultant and subject matter expert. She has also engaged in pilot testing psychosocial community-based interventions that strengthen trauma-informed and culturally responsive care for persons who have experienced forced displacement.

Sasha identifies as a scholar-practitioner. She has taught master's-level social work courses in human development, advocacy, and empowerment, and has mentored paraprofessionals and students in clinical, community, and family practice settings. Her research and professional interests include refugee mental health, psychosocial support for conflict-affected communities, gender-based violence prevention, cross-cultural psychiatry, applied medical anthropology, and implementation science.

Outside of work, Sasha enjoys spending time with her family, tending her garden, practicing yoga, learning languages, traveling, and exploring the wild spaces of the Pacific Northwest.