Dr. Bridget Freisthler joins the University of Tennessee College of Social Work (UTCSW) as the new Cooper-Herron Professor in mental health for fall 2024. The Cooper-Herron Endowed Professorship was established through the generosity of long-time College of Social Work supporters Susan Cooper and Dr. Freida Herron. Freisthler comes to UTCSW from Ohio State University and will begin this position on September 1, 2024.

Freisthler grew up in a small rural Ohio town and was a first-generation college graduate. Not fully understanding what social work was about, she started out pursuing clinical psychology.  “I thought clinical psychology was my path but was paired with a mentor my first year of undergrad who was chair of the Sociology program and told me I think ‘too big’ to be a psychologist,” she said. “What he meant, I realized, is that I looked at systems and communities, not just individuals. Social work seemed like a nice balance between the two.”

Her recent research focuses on reducing trauma symptoms and preventing additional trauma related to parental drug use among families involved in the child welfare system. Additionally, she looks at the context of substance use and parenting to develop, implement, and evaluate interventions to prevent and reduce problems that arise from early adversity and trauma. “With the federal government looking to reclassify cannabis, I have many opportunities to see how this change will affect cannabis use and related problems in Tennessee,” she explained. “I will explore the role of trauma in self-medicating using mind-altering substances and how that affects parenting. My work in Ohio on the HEALing Communities Study, designed to reduce opioid overdose deaths, can be used to help Tennessee respond to the opioid crisis that remains entrenched across the U.S.”

“I am delighted that Dr. Bridget Freisthler will be joining us as the Cooper-Herron Professor in mental health for fall 2024,” Dean Lori Messinger said. “Dr. Freisthler is a powerhouse in the field of mental health and addiction research. With expertise in areas such as alcohol usage, drug abuse, and overdose prevention, she brings a wealth of knowledge and a stellar national reputation. We are eagerly anticipating the innovative contributions she will make to our college and the field at large.”