The UT College of Social Work welcomed seven new faculty members this fall. These new outstanding professors will teach at both the Knoxville and Nashville campuses, bringing with them a wealth of knowledge and innovative ideas.
Jessica Cameron, Clinical Assistant Professor, Nashville Campus
Jessica Cameron is a highly accomplished clinical social worker and educator with a strong foundation in evidence-based mental health care. She holds master’s degrees in social work and sustainable practice and has specialized training in trauma treatment and perinatal mental health. Cameron is the founder of a private psychotherapy practice and has held academic roles at Vanderbilt University and the UTCSW, where she taught and supervised students in clinical practice. Her expertise spans OCD, anxiety disorders, and acceptance and commitment therapy, and she is a frequent presenter on these topics.
Jane Crowe, Clinical Assistant Professor & MSSW Field Coordinator, Knoxville Campus
Jane Crowe holds an MSSW with experience in micro, mezzo, and macro social work practice. She is proficient in teaching and supervising BSSW/MSSW students, both in-person and online, with extensive connections to local and regional agencies. Crowe is skilled in building and maintaining community partnerships and has an abiding commitment to social work values and social justice. She also has experience working alongside diverse communities.
Fiona Doherty, Assistant Professor, Nashville Campus
Fiona Doherty received her PhD from Ohio State University. Her scholarship addresses interconnected social and environmental crises, drawing from critical theories to investigate contextual vulnerabilities and employing participatory methods to generate community-centered solutions that enhance the well-being of both people and the planet. Her methodological expertise includes systematic reviews, mixed-methods research, and media analyses in U.S. and global contexts. Doherty’s dissertation, Social Connectedness and Extreme Weather Adaptive Capacity in Appalachian Ohio: An Intergenerational Participatory Photo Mapping Study, explored the converging issues of social disconnectedness and extreme weather vulnerability in an underserved, rural region.
Areis A. Lurry, Clinical Assistant Professor, Nashville Campus
Areis Lurry is a seasoned leader in healthcare administration and higher education with a passion for equity and student well-being. He recently completed his Doctor of Healthcare Administration at Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences. His diverse background includes executive leadership in university housing operations, clinical social work, and teaching in social work and business programs. Lurry has led multimillion-dollar initiatives, championed inclusive practices, and contributed to impactful research on healthcare access and student support. His career reflects a deep commitment to service, innovation, and empowering communities through education and health equity.
Akeem Modeste-James, Assistant Professor, Knoxville Campus
Akeem Modeste-James is from the twin Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean, where he received his MSSW from the University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus. He earned his PhD from the University of Denver, where his research interests include the intersections of race, class, and gender; mental well-being, mental health disparities, and suicidology among Black women. His research aims to develop innovative, culturally sensitive interventions that improve the experiences of Black individuals.
Barbara Mendez Campos Love, Assistant Professor, Knoxville Campus
Barbara Mendez Campos Love received her PhD from Boston College and acknowledges that she is on a mission to help end racism and discrimination in the United States healthcare system. Her dissertation focused on how Hispanic patients with dementia and their caregivers have experienced this pair of problems in clinics and hospitals, with an emphasis on how access to treatment affects health. While previous studies have found that environmental factors, such as smoking and air pollution, can increase the risk of dementia, Mendez Campos Love’s study is the first to explore the potential link between healthcare discrimination and the condition.
Jo Willey, Clinical Assistant Professor, Knoxville Campus
Jo Willey brings over two decades of experience in clinical social work, higher education, and therapeutic program leadership to the college. She has served as an adjunct professor, teaching a wide range of social work practice courses. Willey has provided trauma-informed therapy across outpatient, residential, and private practice settings, specializing in evidence-based approaches like CBT, DBT, and motivational interviewing. Her leadership roles have included program development, clinical supervision, and interdisciplinary collaboration to support individuals and families facing complex mental health and substance use challenges.