Dr. Kate Chaffin, Assistant Dean for Faculty Development and Clinical Professor at the University of Tennessee College of Social Work (UTCSW), earned statewide recognition as the 2025 Social Work Educator of the Year from the National Association of Social Workers Tennessee Chapter (NASW-TN).
The award highlights Chaffin’s dedication to preparing future social workers through innovative teaching, meaningful mentorship, and her commitment to student success.
“Being recognized as Social Work Educator of the Year is such an incredible honor,” Chaffin said. “Teaching and mentoring students is truly the heart of my work, and I’m grateful every day for the opportunity to help shape the next generation of social workers.”
Since joining the College of Social Work in 2008, Chaffin has built her career around educating and guiding students. She helped design and launch one of the nation’s first online Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) programs, expanding access to high-quality social work education across the state and beyond. In the classroom, she teaches courses such as Social Welfare Policy, Research Methods, and Teaching Methods in Social Work, bringing energy, innovation, and a student-centered approach to each. She is also leading a grant-funded project through the Fred Roddy Foundation to develop and test virtual reality technology for use in the social work skills lab, positioning the UTCSW as a leader in integrating this technology into the classroom.
Chaffin was recognized alongside other leaders in the profession during the 2025 NASW-TN Awards Ceremony, held virtually on September 25. Two UTCSW alumni were also honored this year: Kellie Garrett (MSSW ’05, Nashville) and Sarah Lebovitz (MSSW ’87, Knoxville).
Together, these recognitions highlight not only Chaffin’s excellence as an educator but also the impact UTCSW faculty and graduates continue to make in advancing the field of social work.