Michal Sela-Amit is an associate teaching professor at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. She instructs students in the MSW program on campus and the online program. She teaches courses on clinical theory and practice including human behavior, foundation practice, domestic violence and IPV, professional self-care, social justice practice and global immersions courses to Israel and China.

Her professional interests lie in the advancements of the use of the arts and the expressive practices in social work with individuals, families, groups, and communities. Specifically, how expressive practices impacts health and wellness. She is also interested in methods of increase culturally sensitive and relationally informed interventions focusing on the social context of the family, the organizations, and the communities. Sela-Amit uses solution-focused perspectives and narrative therapy as well as the healing and transformative power of the arts in her practice and teaching. She is experienced in designing and developing courses including online courses. Because of her interest in the intersection of social work and the arts, Sela-Amit is incorporating expressive practices, including the use of community-based theater in her work to empower youth in communities. She has served as the chair of a consortium of national and international social work faculty focusing on the advancement of the arts in social work and leads an international special interest group of faculty to promote the arts in social work.

Sela-Amit served as a clinical therapist at the Haifa University Student Counseling Center. She also worked with emotionally and behaviorally challenged youth in residential settings and in schools. She served as a research practitioner and therapist with adults, couples, families, and groups impacted by domestic violence and child abuse at the Haifa Women's League for Israel Family Therapy Center. In addition, she served as an instructor at the University of Haifa and the Tel-Hai Academic College in Israel, where she developed and taught courses on immigration, diversity, group work and cultural competence for social workers.

Sela-Amit has developed USC Social Work's support program for international students and continues to support admissions and student services in their work with international students. She served as a member of the CSWE-China USC Project, where she trained Chinese counterparts in building a curriculum and teaching agendas in the areas of child welfare and family practice. She has been active in providing mentorship to visiting scholars and students to advance the development of the social work profession in China.

Sela-Amit is interested in supporting community organizations in empowering youth through the arts and has served as a board member of the Unusual Suspects Theater Company, a nonprofit that arose after the LA Riots to empower incarcerated and at-risk youth in the most challenged communities in Los Angeles through mentoring, the arts and theater workshops. Her latest book (2024), “Social Work & The Arts: Expanding Horizons” from Oxford University Publications, reflects her research interests in the power of the arts for the wellbeing of individuals and society.