College of Social Work

Angela Thomas

  • UTCSW Alumna Leads the Charge in Expanding Access to Essential Baby Supplies

    When Jamie Lackey (BSW ’00) thinks back on what led her to social work, the path feels almost inevitable. Raised by a single mother who often brought her along to nonprofit board meetings, she grew up observing the impact of community work from behind the scenes. “I got behind-the-scenes knowledge into how important nonprofits were…

  • UTCSW VIPHEC Partnership Transforms Graduate Education in Nashville

    The University of Tennessee College of Social Work (UTCSW) is excited to announce an innovative, interprofessional partnership with Vanderbilt University and Lipscomb University. The Vanderbilt Interprofessional Health Education Collaborative (VIPHEC) is a groundbreaking initiative that brings together students from social work, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, counseling, and marriage and family therapy to engage in collaborative learning,…

  • Leading the Way: UTCSW’s Outstanding Faculty Drive Social Work Innovation

    University of Tennessee College of Social Work (UTCSW) faculty members are at the forefront of groundbreaking research and innovation that shape the future of social work education, practice, and policy. Their dedication to advancing knowledge is evident in innovative studies, influential publications, and collaborative projects that address pressing social challenges. By combining expertise with passion,…

  • UTK and Knoxville Family Justice Center’s Partnership Focuses on Domestic Violence Awareness  

    UT College of Social Work (UTCSW), UT College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (CEHHS), and the Knoxville Family Justice Center (KFJC) partnered to lead the community in recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) 2025 through a powerful lineup of events, outreach initiatives, and a renewed focus on survivor-centered care. Although emphasized in…

  • Giving Back to Knoxville: UTCSW Alumna Brittney Dunn Champions Youth Mental Health

    For Knoxville native Brittney Dunn (MSSW ’25), a lifelong passion for helping others eventually led her from the world of speech pathology to social work. After spending 15 years as a speech therapist, Dunn said she began to see that social work was where she truly wanted to be. “I’ve always been a social worker…

  • UTCSW eVOLve Keynote Speaker Aspires to Help Others by Sharing Lessons Learned

    Kristie Hammonds, president & CEO of Frontier Health, the region’s leading provider of behavioral health services, will serve as the keynote speaker for the University of Tennessee College of Social Work’s (UTCSW) 2026 conference eVOLve: The Future of Behavioral Health. Her talk, titled Innovation and Impact: Balancing Heart, Innovation, and Quality, will explore the critical…

  • PhD Student Ilana Shtivelman Brings Valuable Insights Back from the ISGAP Oxford Summer Institute

    UTCSW PhD student Ilana Shtivelman attended the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP) in the United Kingdom over the past summer. The institute is committed to fighting antisemitism and is dedicated to scholarly research into the origins, processes, and manifestations of global antisemitism and of other forms of prejudice, including various…

  • Connection, Community, Education: A First-Generation Journey

    Many talented practicing social workers have considered getting a doctoral degree but aren’t sure whether to actually pursue the degree. First-generation scholars— those who don’t have a parent with a graduate degree—may have even more questions about advanced study. What is the benefit of the degree? What is the difference between a Doctor of Social…

  • SWORPS at 50: Celebrating a Legacy of Impact

    The Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS) has been an integral part of the University of Tennessee College of Social Work since its establishment in 1975. Originally founded as the Office of Continuing Social Work Education (OCSWE), SWORPS has evolved into a research center that provides specialized professional education, research, and evaluation…

  • 2025 Annual Report Message from the Dean

    Building Stronger Communities Through Social Work Excellence At the College of Social Work, our commitment to fostering impactful relationships with communities remains at the heart of everything we do. With campuses in Nashville and Knoxville, and a global presence through partnerships and initiatives, our reach is extensive. Faculty, staff, and students collaborate closely with community…