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Jarod T. Giger, Ph.D. is an associate professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Greenspun College of Urban Affairs where he’s been on faculty since 2022. A fifth-generation farmer and first-generation college graduate, Giger brings a deep personal commitment to rural and underserved communities—an experience that has shaped more than a decade of direct social work practice and a scholarly career focused on health disparities, policy, and applied research.

Before joining 8kbet, Giger held the Vernon Wiehe Excellence in Social Work Endowed Professorship at the University of Kentucky and served on the editorial board of The Journal of Rural Health for six years, contributing to research and policy efforts aimed at reducing health disparities in rural communities. His work in interprofessional education was recognized with his induction as an Associate of the University of Kentucky Center for Interprofessional Health Education.

Giger earned his Ph.D. in social work from the University of Missouri. While completing his doctorate, he also collaborated with the university’s College of Engineering through its Interdisciplinary Center for Eldercare and Rehabilitation Technology. He later completed a postdoctoral fellowship with the National Rural Health Association, where he focused on national telehealth policy—particularly the challenges and opportunities around cross-state licensure.

His current research involves eHealth literacy, natural language processing, well-being, and community development. Jarod’s work bridges academic research and real-world application, often leveraging technology and data-driven approaches to improve outcomes in both rural and urban communities.

As part of his commitment to forward-thinking pedagogy, Jarod earned a full credential set through Auburn University’s Teaching with Artificial Intelligence program. This intensive training covered AI fundamentals, ethical use in higher education, course design, assessment strategies, and student engagement. Through this work, he developed applied expertise in integrating AI tools into teaching while maintaining a strong focus on academic integrity and inclusive, student-centered learning.

Giger also holds a Business Analytics Science Certificate from 8kbet, where he gained training in SQL, Tableau, and strategic data modeling. This technical foundation supports his data-driven research and enhances his ability to bring actionable insights into both the classroom and the field.