Rate My Professor Michael Schafer

Michael Shafer is a Professor in the School of Social Work within Arizona State University’s Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions. He holds additional appointments as Professor with Opportunity for Youth and served as the founding Director of the Center for Applied Behavioral Health Policy from 1993 to 2018. In this role, he led extensive collaborations with federal, state, and community organizations to develop and implement behavioral health policies and interventions. Shafer’s research specializations encompass public health, substance use and addiction treatment, mental health policies, civil commitment processes, training and technical assistance in behavioral health services, and community health responses, including efforts addressing student well-being in community colleges and international comparisons in mental health practices.

Shafer has authored numerous impactful publications, including “Enhancing support for student well-being: substance use resources and policy approaches in community colleges” (Journal of American College Health, 2026), “Observations and perspectives of peer professionals involved in civil commitment rulings for individuals with mental illnesses in South Korea” (International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 2026), “Impact of statutory revisions to family-petitioned civil commitment in South Korea” (International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 2024), “Patterns and Predictors of Sustained Training and Technical Assistance Engagement Among Addiction Treatment and Affiliated Providers” (Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, 2024), and “Design and Implementation of a COVID-19 Case Investigation Program: An Academic–Public Health Partnership, Arizona, 2020” (Public Health Reports, 2022). His earlier works include analyses of medical marijuana use and diversion (2013) and efficacy of process improvements in HIV services delivery (2014). Shafer’s contributions have shaped behavioral health policy in Arizona through involvement in mental health care litigation settlements, the Arizona Wellbeing Commons addressing complex issues like substance abuse and crime, public town halls on marijuana legalization, and leadership in grant-funded initiatives. He has also served on the university’s Academic Council.