Ryan Murr
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SSWR Presentations 2026
The UT College of Social Work faculty and PhD students are presenting their latest research and projects at the SSWR 2026 Annual Conference, Leading for Transformative Change: Aligning Social Work Science with Policy and Practice. Our presenters will share important insights and advance the field of social work on the national stage. Check the schedule…
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Oliver I. Eya
Oliver I. Eya is a PhD student and Graduate Research Assistant in the College of Social Work at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His research focuses on intimate partner violence (IPV), faith-based responses to IPV, and help-seeking behaviors among survivors. He is particularly interested in how community and religious leaders can serve as key facilitators…
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Ilana Shtivelman
Ilana Shtivelman is a second year international PhD student at the College of Social Work at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her research interests primarily encompass moral injury at the intersection of identity and ideology formation, military mental health, global social work (particularly concerning culture and ethics), and Jewish identity/history. In 2016, Ilana completed her…
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Jong Sung Kim
Jong Sung Kim is a PhD student in the College of Social Work at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His research centers on trauma-informed education and equity for adolescents from socio-economically disadvantaged communities in the U.S. and globally. He investigates how family, school, and neighborhood environments influence academic outcomes, executive function, sleep, and mental health—leveraging large-scale…
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Melissa Newman
Melissa is from St. Petersburg, Florida and earned her bachelor’s in social work from the University of South Florida, St. Pete and her master’s in social work from the University of South Florida, Tampa. Melissa has experience in community mental health, medical social work, juvenile justice, and spent the majority of her career in school…
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Vallee Vanover
Vallee is a sophomore in the BSSW program at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. She was born and raised in Knoxville. She is the president of our student ran Bachelor’s of Social Work club, BSWO. Vallee wants to do macro social work. She hopes to focus on community health or anything involving nonprofit work. Her…
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Caroline Beckman
Caroline Beckman is a second year student in the part time online MSSW program at UTK. She is on the clinical track and hopes to pursue the LCSW licensure after graduation and work in a non-profit setting. She is currently living in New Haven, CT and works at the Yale School of the Environment, but…
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Cat Steele
Cat Steele is a student in the Online Master of Social Work program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is also a program coordinator for the local Community Action Committee. The online program has allowed her the freedom to continue working full-time while obtaining an education. Being a Knoxville native has provided her with…
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Sequoia McCabe
Sequoia is an MSSW student from Knoxville. She transferred from Pellissippi State Community College in August of 2023. Her favorite thing about UTK’s social work program is the accepting and open-minded peers and professors she has interacted with. She became passionate about social work during her time working at KARM Stores in high school. She…
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Gracalynn Berg
Gracalynn or “Grace” Berg is a current MSSW student studying at the University of Tennessee – Nashville Campus. After graduating from the University of Tennessee – Knoxville Grace found Social Work would aid her in helping clients and communities grow through helpful therapeutic interventions. Grace is hoping to achieve after graduation her LCSW license so…