For Namrata Mukherjee, social work is more than a profession; it is a calling rooted in connection, dignity and action.
“I’ve always been drawn to people’s stories and the systems that shape their lives,” Mukherjee said. “Social work gave me a framework to understand those stories and to partner with communities to write new, more empowering chapters.”
Now an assistant professor in the School of Social Work, Mukherjee is helping students see how empathy and evidence work hand in hand to create lasting social change.
Mukherjee’s path began in India, where she earned her Master of Social Work and worked with older adults in rural areas. It was there she noticed a profound gap: a lack of research and policy addressing the realities of aging.
“I realized that to create meaningful change, I needed to move from observation to measurement,” she said. That realization led her to pursue a Ph.D. in Social Work at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with a minor in statistics and data science.
Her research now bridges that gap, developing precise tools to measure social isolation and functional impairments among older adults. “My work translates real-world challenges into data that can drive targeted interventions and inform policy,” Mukherjee said.
Helping students move from anxiety to curiosity
This semester, Mukherjee teaches research and statistics at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, courses many students initially fear.
“What I love most is seeing the lightbulb moment,” she said. “Research is just a structured way of asking questions that can improve lives. Transforming student anxiety into curiosity is incredibly rewarding.”
Her teaching philosophy is what she calls a “guide on the side.” She creates a collaborative environment where students can safely ask questions, make mistakes and build both confidence and competence.
“Beyond the formulas, I want them to leave believing they can understand complex data and use it to advance social justice,” Mukherjee said. “That sense of empowerment is what I hope they carry into their careers.”
The importance of studying health aging
Mukherjee’s work focuses on healthy aging and social isolation, issues that are growing in importance for Idaho.
“By 2030, nearly one in four Idahoans will be over 60,” she said. “Over a third of rural adults 65 and older report feeling socially isolated, which is a health risk comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.”
Her current project develops a scale to measure functional impairments that contribute to isolation, such as limited transportation or hearing loss. “This kind of data helps agencies like the Idaho Commission on Aging target resources where they’re most needed,” Mukherjee explained.
Her research also turns the classroom into a laboratory for change. “Students aren’t just learning statistics,” she said. “They’re collecting and analyzing data that affects the well-being of people in their own state.”
Outside of work, Mukherjee finds joy in exploration and stillness. She loves cooking foods from different cultures, hiking Idaho’s trails, gardening and baking for her family, pursuits she says keep her grounded.
“My family is my foundation,” she said. “That’s where I truly recharge.”
Mukherjee envisions a “classroom without walls,” where teaching, research and community engagement flow seamlessly together.
“I hope to help build a learning environment where students feel empowered, where our research serves the people of Idaho, and where we’re known for both innovation and compassion, especially in advancing healthy aging,” she said.
For Mukherjee, social work is not just about helping people. It is about reshaping the systems that define care, connection and community.