Annual Report 2025
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Two Nashville Faculty Members To Retire in Fall 2025
Dr. Thereasa (Teri) Abrams Dr. Thereasa (Teri) Abrams has been with the UT College of Social Work for eight years. As an assistant professor, Abrams taught in both the DSW and MSSW programs. Outside of the UTCSW, she was a six-year member of the quality committee of the American Burn Association, served two years as…
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Pilot Study to Assess Drinking at Bars or Events Located within Grocery Stores
A newly accepted manuscript by UTCSW Cooper-Herron Endowed Professor in Mental Health Dr. Bridget Freisthler, was completed with Honors Undergraduate students as part of a research class when Freisthler worked at Ohio State University. The novel piece is that grocery stores have been increasingly serving alcohol at bars located within the stores and creating events…
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PhD Candidate Kenyette Garrett Receives Yates Dissertation Fellowship
UTCSW PhD Candidate Kenyette Garrett was recently selected as a recipient of the 2025-2026 Yates Dissertation Fellowship. The Yates Graduate Fellowship Endowment is a legacy of the generosity of the estate of Arthur E. Yates (1915–1977), former president of Yates Bleachery Company and a dedicated friend of the University of Tennessee. Established in June 2000,…
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Tennessee Behavioral Health Pathways Scholarship Benefits UTCSW MSSW Students
The Tennessee Behavioral Health Pathways Scholarship was established in 2023 by the Tennessee General Assembly and Governor Bill Lee to address the growing demand for more behavioral health professionals. In partnership with the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS), the scholarship program is jointly administered by the Tennessee Association of Mental…
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Mobile Interprofessional Tandem Service Model Brings Services Directly to Rural Areas
A new mobile interprofessional tandem service model to enhance Social Work/Audiology/Speech Pathology Care in Rural East Tennessee counties is being implemented which will bring these services directly to rural areas. Many rural Tennesseans lack access to audiology (A) and speech pathology (SP) services due to a shortage of professionals, resulting in untreated impairments that burden…
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International Social Work Class Built to Enhance Student Experience
A new course was implemented this spring which allowed students an opportunity for real-world experience in the international realm. The course “International Social Work: Exploring Challenges and Opportunities through a UN Sustainable Development Goal Lens” highlights the global role of social workers, emphasizing how international social issues influence their work. Dr. Mary Gitau, UT College…
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Social Work Students Dive Deep into Advocacy in Washington, D.C.
The social work program took a Legislative Education and Advocacy Day (LEAD) trip to Washington, D.C. during spring break. This trip provided students with invaluable first-hand experience in legislative and advocacy processes. The trip focused on real-world policy impact, empowering the social work students to become effective. Students met with the National Association of Social…
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Dr. Michael Blackwell Receives Award and Grant from Blue Buffalo
Dr. Michael J. Blackwell, director of the Program for Pet Health Equity at the University of Tennessee, recently received the Together for Pets Award, which was accompanied by a $10,000 grant from Blue Buffalo. Through this initiative, Dr. Blackwell aims to improve access to veterinary care, focusing on supporting underserved families and those with limited…
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The UT College of Social Work DSW Program Earns an Eight-Year Accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education
The UT College of Social Work proudly announces that our Doctor of Social Work (DSW) degree program was recently awarded an eight-year accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA), reinforcing the college’s commitment to academic excellence and professional preparation in social work. The UTCSW DSW program is one of only three…
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UTCSW PhD student Sangmi Kim Selected for National Fellowship
PhD student Sangmi Kim has been selected for the CSWE Doctoral Student Policy Fellowship. The goal of this national fellowship through the CSWE is to develop a cohort of doctoral-level social workers who influence social policy through the federal legislative policy process. “I am thrilled to begin the CSWE Doctoral Student Policy Fellowship,” Kim stated.…