Prof. Yvonne Cafik Harrison, PhD

Dr. Yvonne Cafik Harrison is a distinguished social scientist and professor at the School of Social Work at the University at Buffalo, part of the State University of New York. With a focus on the leadership and governance of nonprofit and voluntary sector organizations, she has developed significant expertise in the adoption and use of modern information and communications technology within these contexts. Alongside co-investigator Professor Vic Murray from the University of Victoria, Dr. Cafik Harrison created Board Check-Up, a tool designed to enhance board technical capacity and address governance challenges faced by boards of directors. This longitudinal research initiative assesses the impact of board performance self-assessment from both output (changes in governance practices) and outcome (board performance) perspectives. She is also a co-author of the book Guidelines for Improving the Effectiveness of Nonprofit Boards of Directors and has published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and research reports. Dr. Cafik Harrison holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Master of Public Administration, and a Ph.D. in Public Administration from the University of Victoria, BC, Canada. Through her teaching and research, she continues to influence the field of nonprofit governance significantly.