Alumni
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New Volunteer Outreach Program Aims to Reduce Isolation Among Older Adults
A new volunteer outreach initiative in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is helping connect older and vulnerable adults with critical resources, social support, and community services through trained volunteers and community partnerships. The Resources for Senior and Vulnerable Persons (RSVP) Program was developed with support from Dr. Lizzie Bowland, associate professor at the UT College of Social…
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Recent MSSW Grad Haylie Roberts Heads to Cambodia While Keeping an Eye on Food Insecurity in Knoxville
Haylie Roberts is a recent 2026 MSSW graduate who will be embarking on a Fulbright Fellowship in Cambodia where she will serve as an English teaching assistant to local schools. She has a strong interest in, and has conducted research on, food insecurity among older adults in Knoxville housing communities, and hopes to continue working…
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From Crisis Calls to Community Leaders: The Inspiring Journey of Linda and Marcos Garza
Linda Garza, MSSW 1991; Marcos Garza, MSSW 1998, JD 2001 Linda Garza never planned to become a social worker, but life had other plans. From supervising a telephone help line to earning her master’s degree in social work (MSSW) at UT, Linda’s journey is a testament to the power of embracing new opportunities. But the…
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UTCSW Alumna Creates Space for Healing Through Magnolia Harbor Carefarm
In Powell, Tennessee, Magnolia Harbor Carefarm offers something many people navigating grief struggle to find: a space for connection. Founded by UT College of Social Work alumna Dr. Bree Conklin (DSW ‘17), the care farm is a therapeutic program designed for individuals experiencing traumatic grief and loss. Located on a property filled with more than…
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UTCSW Alum Reflects on Leading One of the Nation’s Largest Behavioral Health Systems
David Guth (MSSW ‘81) wears a Centerstone lapel pin nearly every day. It’s a small symbol of the pride he feels in the work Centerstone does. And sometimes when people notice it, they’ll say something. “I get stopped frequently by people who say, ‘You’re with Centerstone? You saved my life,” he said. Guth is quick…
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UTCSW Alumna Leads Effort to Bring Mental Health Court to Five Tennessee Counties
When Crissie Carpenter (MSSW 16’) saw gaps in how the justice system was responding to individuals with mental health needs, she got to work advocating for a different approach. That work is now taking shape through the 23rd Judicial District Mental Health Court, a treatment-focused program Carpenter is helping bring to the region, expanding access…
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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…
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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…
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From Outreach to Impact: Collaboration is a Key Factor Toward Success
Community Outreach and Engaged Research are both important aspects of any college or institution. Often, they are independent entities with little intersection. But sometimes, in a perfect scenario, they not only intersect but also complement the outcome by incorporating multiple departments, making for a full circle moment. One example of this is a recent partnership…
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From Classroom to Courtroom: A UTCSW Graduate’s Journey to Forensic Social Work
When Megan Riedinger arrived at the University of Tennessee as a pre-law major in 2020, she didn’t yet know her heart was pulling her in a different direction. After a conversation with an advisor from the UT College of Social Work (UTCSW), everything changed. “I wanted a more hands-on education and to feel like I…