Johanna is a Senior Lecturer in the Social Services programme in Turku, where she works with teaching, project applications, and the development of the institution’s international networks. She holds a Licentiate degree in Social Work and is a doctoral researcher and project researcher at Åbo Akademi University.

Johanna’s areas of expertise include the Nordic welfare model, social justice and anti-oppressive practice, as well as children and young people with a migration background in institutional child protection.

Teaching

• Social Policy
• Integration-Promoting Social Work

Projects

Project Leader (Novia):
• Global Social Workers of the Future (2022–2024), funded by the Finnish National Agency for Education

Project Researcher (Åbo Akademi):
• LIVICS (2025–2026), funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

Areas of Expertise

• Nordic Welfare
• Anti-oppressive Practice
• International Development Work
• Collaboration
• Project Work

Areas of Interest

• Nordic Welfare
• Integration
• Social Justice
• Anti-oppressive Practice
• Child Protection from a Minority Perspective
• Research and Development between the Global North and the Global South

Publications

Wikgren-Roelofs, J. (2026). Young people’s experiences of epistemic agency in child welfare institutional care in Finland. Manuscript in progress (doctoral research article).

Myumbo, L. & Wikgren-Roelofs, J. (2026). North-South Collaboration: A Context for Culturally Responsive Social Work Education. Manuscript in progress (co-produced with St Augustine University of Tanzania, research article).

Wikgren-Roelofs, J. (2020). Support and Community During Studies: A Study on Social Work Students’ Expectations, Experiences, and Conditions. University of Helsinki.
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2020113098680