News
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Social Work as a Second Career
A series on UTCSW students who chose to start a second career in social work.Article two in the series Social Work is often referred to as a “found” major or career, meaning it is not the major or career that someone started out to do, but was later found through personal experience or on the…
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Taking the College to the Next Level: UTCSW Faculty Present at the UT Grand Challenges Summit
The UT College of Social Work and SWORPS are taking the college to the next level by sharing their expertise at the UT Grand Challenges Summit. The summit held mid-February in Murfreesboro, TN, aims at addressing Tennessee’s most pressing issues. By convening a diverse group of experts and stakeholders, and by thinking in terms of…
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Over 25 UTCSW Faculty & Students to Present Research at 2025 SSWR Conference
The University of Tennessee College of Social Work (UTCSW) is proud to announce its robust presence at the 2025 Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Conference, taking place January 15-19 in Seattle. This year, a group of UTCSW faculty members, PhD candidates, and students will present their innovative research, showcasing the College’s commitment to…
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First Gen Docs Program: Supporting First-Generation Scholars on Their Doctoral Journey in Social Work
What is the First Gen Docs Program? It’s an intensive training initiative designed to prepare first-generation scholars for successful matriculation into a doctoral program in social work. The program emphasizes three key pillars: Connection, Community, and Education. This program is FREE to all selected participants. This hybrid program offers selected scholars’ workshops, networking opportunities, family…
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Drinking During Holidays and Special Occasions Could Affect How You Parent Your Kids
Dr. Bridget Freisthler, UTCSW Cooper-Herron Endowed Professor in Mental Health, recently did a study on drinking during the holidays. An article was published in The Conversation. Read the full article with the links and data here. Drinking during holidays and special occasions could affect how you parent your kids How much alcohol do you typically drink…
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CSW and CEHHS Faculty Secure Grant Funding for Prevention of Domestic Violence
Dr. Kristen Ravi, College of Social Work (CSW) and Dr. Megan Haselschwerdt, College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (CEHHS), along with their community partners, the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence (Nashville) and The Mary Parrish Center (a housing focused nonprofit serving survivors of interpersonal violence in Nashville), received over $695,000 in…
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Breaking Barriers: Empowering the Deaf Community in the Dominican Republic
In the Dominican Republic, many deaf individuals face profound challenges due to limited education, isolation, and barriers to communication — even within their own families. Recognizing these needs and in an effort to help, Drs. Doug Coatsworth and Mary Held from the UT College of Social Work, along with Dr. Nicole McFarlane from the UT…
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Adaptive Teacher Empathy Article Published
Dr. Jeff Vomund, Director of the Division of Applied Research and Evaluation (DARE) at SWORPS, recently published his first article since joining the team, shedding new light on the role of empathy in education. The article, co-authored with Angela D. Miller of George Mason University, is titled “Adaptive Teacher Empathy: A Framework for Equitable Instructional…
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New COIL Faculty Projects Enhance Global Learning at UT
Two UTCSW faculty members are spearheading innovative Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) projects in the 2024-2025 academic year. Dr. Mary Gitau and Dr. Phyllis Thompson, along with Distinguished Lecturer of Italian Dr. Renée D’Elia-Zunino, are aiming to enhance global learning and foster international partnerships, bringing diverse perspectives into the classroom and promoting intercultural dialogue. Each…
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Social Justice Innovation Initiative Projects Announced
For the 2024-2025 academic year, five Social Justice Innovation Initiative projects were funded. Aging Rainbow Coalition LGBTQ+ Outreach & Training InitiativeAwardees: Dr. Lizzie Bowland, UTK, Co-Chair, Aging Rainbow Coalition (ARC); Dr. Jennifer Smith, College of Nursing, UTK; Ms. Namrata Mukherjee, UTK, PhD Doctoral Candidate; Dr. Joseph Winberry, Chair of ARC, UNC; Jason Davis, UTK, administrative…