Community-embedded (adjunct) faculty
Practicing professionals bring real-world experience.
Our teaching ranks are bolstered by community-embedded (adjunct) faculty who teach across our B.S.W. and M.S.W. programs and serve as field liaisons through our Office of Field Education. Many of these faculty are VCU social work alumni who have maintained close ties with the school and continue the tradition of teaching excellence they experienced as students.
Community-embedded faculty are primarily practicing and working professionals whose perspectives are informed by their life and work and who bring that expertise and lived experience to our campus and virtual classrooms. Most semesters, one or more of our current Ph.D. students teach in the B.S.W. or M.S.W. programs after successfully completing a third-year teaching practicum.
Together, all these faculty help prepare the next generation of social workers.
Fall 2023
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
SSW alum: M.S.W.'10
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I love exchanging knowledge with students – we all have so much to offer in the classroom!
SSW alum: M.S.W.'08
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? I love engaging with students and helping them strengthen their foundation as they work toward transforming into an effective social worker. I love encouraging students to harness the power of their voice to advocate for marginalized populations and speak boldly about issues of social justice.
About me: After receiving my M.S.W. from VCU in 2008, I worked as a school social worker for 12 years. Currently, I have served as the director of student support at an independent school for the past three years. Additionally, I am a doctoral candidate in educational policy, planning and leadership. I am passionate about empowering student learners to take full advantage of the learning opportunities presented through their field experience to support their success.
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? The quality of teaching and learning remains the true measure of university education. Diversity of the student population, staff and faculty; variety and availability of programs; support for research and leadership in pioneering areas; promotion of individual creativity; and focus on learning that adds value to human growth and development and societal progress set VCU apart from other universities. This value-added approach to learning aligns well with my personal goals, professional objectives and social work principles; hence, my decision to become part of the VCU faculty.
About me: In 2022, I was selected as the School Social Worker of the Year by the Virginia Association of School Social Workers. Also in 2022, I was appointed to a three-year term as an ambassador for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? Working with students! VCU's social work program strives toward accessibility and inclusivity, which are both values at the core of my approach to education. I aim to support students with these ideals in mind and to help them achieve their goals.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'99
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I love the opportunity to work with new social workers. They are often energized and excited to learn. They push me to stretch and to continue growing. It's an honor and a privilege to support new social work students grow and flourish in the profession.
About me: I'm a United States Air Force Veteran and absolutely love my two dogs, Kuruk and Takoda.
SSW alum: M.S.W.’19
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. on-campus format
What excites you about teaching with the school? Working with and getting to know my future colleagues!
SSW alum: B.S.W.'20; M.S.W.'21
Fall 2023 program designation: B.S.W.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'98
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I am thrilled to share my excitement and passion for social work at VCU, my alma mater!
About me: I have worked in public schools for the past 25 years as a school social worker. I earned a Doctor of Social Work degree at California Baptist University and completed my final research project on culturally adapting an evidence-based trauma intervention for use in local schools. I served as a subject matter expert for the national certification program, Culturally Informed Responses to Grief and Loss, at Dominican University.
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? Being a small piece of each student's journey toward the development of a professional identity in the field of social work.
About me: Dr. Bekele is a licensed social worker with over 10 years of experience in child welfare, foster care and adoption, trauma-informed practices, equine-assisted therapeutic techniques, social work in international contexts, and social work in urban schools. She has earned a human services management certificate from The Network for Social Work Management and a school social work, educational specialist certificate through the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Dr. Bekele has a passion for coming alongside social work students as they develop in their professional identities as social workers, and a strong belief in the healing power of relationships.
In addition to teaching, Dr. Bekele enjoys spending time with her family and loved ones. She is active in her church, St. Monica & St. Augustine’s Coptic Orthodox Church in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Bekele serves as the executive director of KIND Association, a nonprofit organization in Elizabethtown that seeks to meet the needs of the local community. She also serves as the vice president for the Pennsylvania Association of School Social Work Personnel and as a professional and scientific associate for the Center for the Study of School Social Work.
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? I love supporting and meeting students where they are and watching the transformation into social work professionals.
About me: I educate my students that a positive mindset and utilizing resources and community can empower a successful future in all walks of life. I am certified in administration and supervision; a certified sex offender treatment provider; a certified mediator with the Virginia Supreme Court, juvenile and domestic court; and a certified facilitator of Stewards of Children training. Bentley specializes in mental health, coaching, consulting, education, leadership, school social work, advocacy, exceptional education, crisis/emergency services, autism, mediation, trauma-informed care, treatment foster care, child protective services, and community-based social work.
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? I'm absolutely committed to development and well-being of the human services workforce. And, honored that at this time in a 35-year history, I'm able to give back in this way.
About me: Glenda has 35 years of deep, intentional experience in human services. She has spent a significant part of her career in executive leadership roles in public and private agencies in rural, suburban and urban settings. Glenda holds graduate degrees from Columbia University’s School of Social Work in NYC (M.S.W.) and Virginia Tech’s Center for Public Administration and Policy in Blacksburg (M.P.A.). She also holds a B.S.W. from Norfolk State University and is proud to have attended a Virginia HBCU.
She has practiced at Harlem Hospital in New York City and the New York Urban League in Manhattan. She also worked in suburban and rural areas of Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina. Her work includes policy development, strategic planning, affordable housing supportive services, community development, human services administration and direct care practice.
Glenda is committed to community-based service delivery that lifts individuals and families out of generational poverty. She believes all individuals, families and communities have strengths. She supports interventions that apply a racial equity lens, are trauma-informed and ensures those served make decisions about their own lives. She also cares deeply about the development and well-being of the human services workforce and has been an advocate for additional resources that support this effort. She has participated in a number of local and regional conversations and workgroups focused on addressing critical human service issues, race and equity, housing needs for vulnerable communities of color, and integrated human services strategic planning.
She also completed a transformative race and equity learning program organized by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments/Government Alliance on Race and Equity. She is a graduate of Leadership Arlington and served on Fairfax County’s Park Authority Board. She has worked as an adjunct instructor and field liaison at GMU’s School of Social Work and is currently an adjunct at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work.
Currently, she is also active on a number of boards and advisory groups. In addition to her human services heart, Glenda is passionate about environmental justice, well-being healing, arts, textiles, travel, interior spaces, African American history and genealogy.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'02
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. on-campus format
What excited you about teaching with the school? I enjoy being in a learning environment and teaching others about the field of interpersonal violence.
About me: Beth has worked in the interpersonal violence field for approximately 20 years. She provides direct services, advocacy, program management and leadership to coordinated initiatives. She is a VCU M.S.W. Program graduate and a graduate of the University of Richmond's culinary arts program. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her Bernese Mountain Dog, Legend.
SSW alum: Ph.D.'22
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
SSW alum: B.S.W.'05; M.S.W.'08
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? I enjoy supporting students in becoming competent, ethical and professional social work practitioners. I also appreciate the opportunity to learn from students. I value the importance of field education, and I enjoy connecting with students and community partners.
About me: I have nearly 20 years of social work experience at the state and local levels, including two years of international social work practice and training in the United Kingdom. I am a senior director at a local community services board. In this role, I plan, prioritize and coordinate services for individuals with developmental disabilities and serious mental illness. Outside of social work practice, I enjoy traveling and spending time with my family and friends.
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online and on-campus formats
What excites you about teaching with the school? Something that I enjoy about teaching is having the opportunity to discuss course material and learn from students. I love hearing about students’ experiences, the work they are doing and what is happening in the community.
About me: I have been teaching with VCU since 2008. I have covered several courses over the years but have primarily taught Core Concepts of Child and Adolescent Trauma in recent years. I also teach a similar online trauma course for Fordham University.
In addition to teaching, I have a private clinical practice, providing individual and family therapy. I work primarily with adults and adolescents at this time, but have a history of working with children and adolescents in residential treatment, crisis intervention and assessment, and therapeutic school programs.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'13
Fall 2023 program designation: B.S.W.
What excites you about teaching with the school? The vibrant community of students and faculty! I love engaging with students in their educational journey and connecting students with hands-on learning through service to RVA (Richmond). I love maintaining the connection as an alum of VCU and continued learning of best practices in the profession of social work.
About me: My main interests involve the continuum of oncology care, along with reducing social determinants of health and health care disparities that may impact a cancer diagnosis. My research has consisted of reducing psychosocial barriers to care and the importance of effective communication among the interdisciplinary health care team to improve patient care.
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I am excited to engage, empower, collaborate and challenge the next generation of social work leaders and practitioners!
SSW alum: B.S.W.'15; M.S.W.'17
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. on-campus format
What excites you about teaching with the school? What excites me is being able to learn from students. They are a wealth of knowledge, and their life experiences shape how I teach and how we learn together. It is nice being able to create a space that draws from who we are collectively and individually.
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? I received my M.S.W. at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee in 2004 with a focus in mental health, and have worked in various settings and cities since then. I'm currently in the field as a child and family therapist and have seen how my experiences have led me to my current role, which I very much enjoy. I'm excited to help support students in their journey to becoming social workers, and learning more about their interests, passions and abilities.
About me: I have experience working with children and families in various capacities; foster care and adoption; program management and supervision of staff; and mental health services. I enjoy using play, as well as creative and expressive arts, in my work with children, supervisees and adults.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'17
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? One of the main reasons I pursued a career in social work is my heart for serving underrepresented communities and increasing access to mental health services that are effective, evidence-based and equitable. I enjoy working with future professionals and have had the opportunity to supervise B.S.W. and M.S.W. interns. I value student-centered learning and have a passion for connecting classroom learning to clinical practice. I truly enjoy being a life-long learner and contributing to the future of social work through service, teaching and mentorship.
About me: I have a passion for working with children and families while supporting the goal of healing and transformation from a solution-focused and strengths-based approach. I have experience in treating complex trauma, anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, parent-child relational concerns and low self-esteem/confidence.
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I love the opportunity to discuss social justice topics with new social work students.
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? I enjoy building community with the students and seeing their growth as future social workers!
About me: I live in Northern Virginia, but I feel at home when I go to the VCUSSW building, thanks to our VCUSSW colleagues! Go VCU Rams!
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I am excited about teaching in the VCU School of Social Work because I want to create space for new social workers to explore a class like Power, Privilege and Oppression and gain deeper knowledge about the experiences of their future clients so they can approach the work from a more empathetic and loving place and commit to actively dismantling broken systems.
About me: I received my social work degree from Columbia University with a specialization in practice and programming. I interned at an elementary school in the Bronx and then a college readiness program in Harlem, where I went on to eventually become the senior academic director and director of diversity, equity and inclusion. I then transitioned to the JED Foundation and supported school administrators in assessing and improving their mental health systems. I now work as a community enablement manager for a tech wellness start-up, supporting communities in sharing their stories to better improve self-reflection skills and provide communities with population insights to better deploy resources. All the work I do is always with an equity lens, ensuring that the voices of the most marginalized are uplifted.
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
SSW alum: M.S.W.'00
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. on-campus format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I'm excited to share my career and life experiences with the social work students!
About me: As an alum of the M.S.W. Program, I am very excited to be back in a teaching role. I bring over 20 years of experience in government, nonprofit and public health care experience.
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. on-campus format
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? What excites me the most about being a field instructor for VCU School of Social Work is having the opportunity to enhance students' knowledge and skills.
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. on-campus format
What excites you about teaching with the school? The collective energy and passion that social work students bring into the classroom is simply remarkable and inspirational. It is a pleasure to facilitate open dialogue, learning from and sharing with each other. I am reminded constantly why I chose this profession, and find inspiration from my future social work colleagues.
About me: My husband and I relocated to Richmond in summer 2021, after living in Atlanta for many years, where I worked as a social worker at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. That experience provides deep and rich context to my work with Virginia Department of Health as the state's maternal and child health director, switching from micro to macro-focused work. The opportunity to serve as community-embedded faculty not only allows me to share my experiences, but also allows me to learn more, and engage at a deeper level, with the social work community.
SSW alum: B.S.W.'05; M.S.W.'08
Fall 2023 program designation: B.S.W.
What excites you about teaching with the school? What I love most about teaching social work students is the opportunity to awaken perspective and guide the trajectory of students' journeys as they navigate and negotiate how they truly "fit" into their chosen path as a helper within and beyond the field of social work.
About me: Kim Flournoy DiJoseph, M.S.W., of the intuitive shadow work integration practice, Hot Mess Work, has worked for 30 years with those impacted by trauma at nearly every point on the professional continuum: clinician, court advocate, founding director of children’s services at Richmond’s Safe Harbor, and non-profit organizational consultant. As an associate professor in teaching at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work, she developed and taught graduate courses in vicarious trauma, grief/loss, trauma across the lifespan and child-centered play therapy.
As the result of the murder of her mother in 2012, Kim carries the role of co-victim of homicide and trains locally and nationally from a unique dual-personal/professional perspective on traumatic grief, the criminal justice system and the healing process. Most recent workshops were at the National Crime Victim Law Institute and for the Virginia Society for Clinical Social Work.
Catalyzed by the dharmic-jolting awakening of her mother’s death, Kim’s personal healing path, and subsequent work as a facilitator of healing, evolved and transmuted into a calling to not only serve as a guide to seekers, but to contribute to the shift in collective consciousness these times are calling for. In addition to shadow work readings, Kim facilitates intuitive and ancestrally-guided meditation offerings locally and nationally with individuals, groups, victim-advocates/therapists and for organizations like Everytown and the National Council of Juvenile & Family Court Judges.
She is the lead facilitator for the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance’s V.O.I.C.E.S. Project, a survivor-focused leadership council; an advocate wellness consultant for the Virginia Victim Assistance Network; and adjunct faculty at VCU. She is a 2020 recipient of an Unsung Hero Award from the Virginia Office of the Attorney General.
Kim is a Chinese-American mother, healer, poet, partner, teacher, inner-work activist and former punk and personal chef who lives in Richmond and loves with a Carolina sky-blue heart. She is especially grateful for time in the kitchen and the ocean.
Her credentials also include Advanced Practitioner Mind-Body Training (Center for Mind-Body Medicine).
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? I really enjoy partnering with students as they prepare to embark on their field work. I am a field liaison for two M.S.W. programs (VCU and Simmons University) and think VCU has an exceptional curriculum for generalist and specialist students.
About me: I went to undergrad at the University of Michigan and received my M.S.W at Boston College in 2008. I have worked at the VA for nearly 14 years in various capacities (inpatient psych/detox, homeless services and currently overseeing our facility’s M.S.W. student program and working with student veterans at local colleges/universities). I live in southern New Hampshire with my husband and three kids, and together we love skiing, spending time with family in the Midwest and being active.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'19
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. on-campus format
SSW alum: B.S.W.'09; M.S.W.'13
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. on-campus format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I am passionate about working with interns and helping students connect learning to the real world.
About me: Nicole Durose, M.S.W. is an advocate at disAbility Law of Virginia (dLCV), the state’s protection and advocacy system for people with disabilities. She received her bachelor and master of social work (SWAPPP specialization) degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University and has over a decade of experience in the field working with different populations, including unhoused, HIV, mental health, LGBTQ+, and intellectual/developmental disabilities. Aside from social work, Nicole lives in Richmond with her menagerie of pets, and enjoys video games, the summer and finding great boba teas.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'13
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format and field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? I enjoy hearing the fresh perspectives of my students and how they are connecting their coursework to their practice.
About me: I received my B.S.W. from James Madison University and my M.S.W. from Virginia Commonwealth University. I've been an adjunct faculty with VCU since 2019, primarily teaching the practice classes as well as being a field liaison. My professional background has primarily been in child welfare and mental health.
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? I'm excited about working with diverse populations.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'99
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
SSW alum: M.S.W.'20
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. on-campus format
What excited you about teaching with the school? It gives me joy knowing that I can help shape future social workers!
About me: This is my second semester teaching. I am excited!
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I have been so impressed with VCU's personification of social work values! I am so excited to join this team and help nurture a new cohort of social workers.
About me: Olivia Gerrish (she/her/hers) is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in working with survivors of trauma. She holds an M.S.W. degree from the University of Wyoming and a B.S.W. degree from Weber State University. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in social work at the University of Illinois.
Throughout her social work career, Livvy has served as an advocate, counselor, educator and organizer. She specializes in trauma-focused work; power-based and gender-based violence; and is passionate about trauma and violence prevention for individuals, families and communities. Livvy's research interests include power-based violence, masculinity and applied mental health practice. She is dedicated to advancing the field of social work through continuous learning and research and social worker mentorship.
When Livvy is not in the office, she can be found drinking far too much Diet Coke, watching scary movies, volunteering or creating plans for projects that she will never have enough time to complete.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'16
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? I had very few teachers of color throughout my academic career, and I love being that for my students. Additionally, I feel that part of my life purpose is to help others discover theirs. I'd like to think that after a student is in my class I have played a small role in creating a ripple effect of changemakers.
About me: Allison Gilbreath is the senior director of policy and programs at Voices for Virginia’s Children. She leads the organization’s child welfare policy work as well as the implementation of advocacy programs, elevating policy conversations across all policy areas.
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching in the VCU School of Social Work? Some of the most gratifying experiences throughout my social work career have revolved around my involvement with student learning. I began by serving as a task supervisor and progressed to become a field instructor. I also developed new field placement opportunities within various organizations.
I am honored to join the VCU School of Social Work as a field liaison, a role that allows me to engage with and support students in different settings. I respect and admire VCU’s program, faculty and staff, and the graduates with whom I’ve worked alongside and am grateful to join in this learning community.
About me: I am joining the VCU community with a background in medical social work and program administration. My practice focus includes aging, HIV care, oncology and end-of-life care; and I am particularly committed to health equity and trauma-focused, stigma-free, anti-racist care. I hold a Master of Social Work degree from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College and a Bachelor of Science in psychology from James Madison University.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'17
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? I love the opportunity to help students discover the skills and strengths that they bring to this field. I was fortunate to have great mentors along my journey, and it feels good to be able to support students in theirs.
About me: Audrey Hajek serves as the child and family advocate services coordinator at the Greater Richmond Child Advocacy Center. Audrey works to serve children and their families who have experienced trauma and are actively part of a criminal investigation. Audrey received her master's degree in social work in 2017 from VCU and became a licensed clinical social worker in 2022. Audrey utilizes the various skills learned through her social work background to provide safety, support and hope for those she serves.
SSW alum: B.S.W.'19; M.S.W.'20
Fall 2023 program designation: B.S.W.
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SSW alum: M.S.W.'94
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. on-campus format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I enjoy the classroom. The joy of teaching is found in learning from others in a community where everyone's voice is a part of the learning journey. I have learned so much from the School of Social Work and leadership. As an adjunct, my work within the field comes alive in the classroom. Application of our work to help others and make a difference one relationship at a time and using our voice to influence policy are key components within my approach as an instructor.
About me: I am the local education lead and systems coach for Virginia Tiered Systems of Support (VTSS). As a licensed clinical social worker and certified school social worker, I have over 25 years of practice in school social work, PK-12 education and social-emotional wellness for staff, students and families.
I am best known for my work on trauma-sensitive schools, systems change, risk assessment process and support, collective care for students and staff, and implementation of multi-tiered systems of support. I love to journal, hike unique trails in Virginia, travel, sing and engage in opportunities that combine creativity and learning. As a mom and Gigi, I'm always learning and laughing. My passion for teaching comes from my joy of learning from others and learning from different perspectives and experiences.
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
SSW alum: M.S.W.'15
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? As a graduate of VCU, I love that I’m able to help support and lead the future social workers.
About me: Hey everyone! I’m Angela Hill, and I’ve been a school social worker on the Peninsula (southeast Virginia) for over seven years. I graduated from VCU with my M.S.W. in May 2017 and started working as a medical-based social worker. I served as a field instructor with VCU for three years prior to becoming a field liaison.
I’m married and have two girls that I enjoy spending time with. When I’m able to get away, my husband and I love to go hiking around Virginia. Otherwise, you’ll probably see me at the pool in the summer!
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? Reconnecting with the social work community and engaging with the next gen of SWers!
About me: This will be my first time as a field liaison, but I have been a field instructor for many years. I am looking forward to understanding the other side of training.
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
Fall 2023 program designation: B.S.W. online classes
SSW alum: M.S.W.'04
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? Seeing the field of social work again through the eyes of our students while simultaneously learning from them! Also, being able to use my field knowledge to prepare our future social workers for graduation and beyond.
About me: I am a graduate of Old Dominion University with a degree in sociology-criminal justice minor; I then obtained my M.S.W. from Virginia Commonwealth University. I have been a school social worker for 17 years, and train others within the school system on understanding behavioral assessments and implementing appropriate behavior plans. I have been a field instructor for VCU for several years. Outside of the world of social work, I can be found traveling, cooking or engrossed in plus-size fashion.
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? Teaching and learning are collaborative efforts, and I seek to create a space where everyone in my classroom serves as both the teacher and the learner! This is when we all grow, and the magic really happens!
About me: I am a forensic social worker of over 20 years and specialize in criminal indigent defense, serving as a capital mitigation specialist. My research interests include the intersection of neuroscience, social science and the criminal justice system as well as combatting the racial and economic disparities that exist within the United States penal system.
I teach direct practice social work classes in both the foundation and concentration years. I also teach Human Behavior and the Social Environment, Trauma Theory, and Forensic Social Work. I am a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, having earned a bachelor's degree in Spanish, a bachelor's in religious studies and a Master of Social Work. I earned my Doctor of Social Work degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? I love engaging with students around different perspectives, experiences and ways of being in the world and in social work. I learn something every class, with every interaction, and am honored to be a part of collectively moving the way we think about and practice social work, and child and family well-being, specifically, into new realms.
About me: I have about 15 years of experience in direct practice, clinical, mezzo and macro settings, largely focused on child and family well-being, including mental health, housing advocacy, child welfare and state social services systems. Currently, I lead special projects within the Child Welfare Information Gateway, a service of the Children’s Bureau. I live outside of Richmond with my children, who never cease to amaze and inspire me!
SSW alum: B.S.W.'02; M.S.W.'06
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online field liaison
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
SSW alum: M.S.W.'14
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I love to engage with my students and learn from them. It is such a humbling experience, and I am so privileged to be able to teach in a place that I love, VCU!
About me: I am a VCU Ram x2!! When I am not practicing social work, or teaching, I am spending time with my family and friends, cooking new recipes from Pinterest, baking, and slowly pushing my cart through Target!
SSW alum: M.S.W.'14
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
SSW alum: M.S.W.'13
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online and on-campus formats
What excites you about teaching with the school? I love the field of social work and am so grateful to work with and connect with future social workers.
About me: I am a middle school teacher turned social worker, and most of my experience has been in education as a school social worker. I now work for the Virginia Department of Education as the student services specialist, where I have the opportunity to collaborate with social workers throughout the commonwealth of Virginia.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'13
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online and on-campus formats
What excites you about teaching with the school? I have a passion for class discussions and discourse. I enjoy interacting with students and helping them reach their potential.
About me: I'm just a regular guy living in Richmond with my beautiful wife, amazing son and daughter, and two loveable dogs. I own and operate a private outpatient practice that focuses on treatment for addiction, chronic pain, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. I’ve been teaching at VCU since 2019. You’ll rarely find me without a coffee.
SSW alum: B.S.W.'98; M.S.W.'00
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? Watching the growth of future social workers as they apply coursework, literature review and field work to classroom discussion, peer supervision and case formulation.
About me: I’m a licensed clinical social worker; registered play therapist-supervisor; certified trauma practitioner; and author. I am also in private practice and the owner of Replay Counseling Center, LLC, also known as Replay Counseling and Consulting. I am passionate about working with children, adolescents and their families focusing on trauma, anxiety and depression. I also enjoy teaching in the M.S.W. Program and training other clinicians to become clinical supervisors, LCSWs and play therapists.
» Meet instructors in our B.S.W. Program: Learn more about Nikole R. Jiggetts.
SSW alum: B.S.W.’97
Fall 2023 program designation: B.S.W.
What excites you about teaching with the school? As a graduate from the B.S.W. Program, I am deeply committed to preparing undergraduate social work candidates for real-life experiences in the social work field through theory instruction, self-actualization and insight building, and reality-based education for application.
About me: I have enjoyed the privilege of teaching students since 2021. They have been a joy to meet and work with and have given me continued motivation to make an impact in the field of social work through education and passing on real-life experiences. The students are the reason I do this, and I am excited to meet and work with a new group this fall semester.
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I am passionate about the work that social workers do and the role that they can play in helping individuals and the community. I love being able to share that with new professionals.
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
SSW alum: M.S.W.'20
Fall 2023 program designation: B.S.W. online classes
SSW alum: M.S.W.'15
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. on-campus format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I think that it is very important to understand the realistic aspects of working within the social work field. We have the privilege of witnessing the beauty and heartbreak of humans. We see the best and worst of people and humanity. I am excited to teach our future social workers in order for them to be fully prepared for every aspect of our profession.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'00
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? I graduated from VCU SSW in 2000. My field concentration field placement was at Richmond Behavioral Health Authority in the crisis unit. My placement was a wonderful experience, and my field instructor was awesome. I have served as a field instructor in the past, and serving as a field liaison gives me an opportunity to continue to give back to the profession. It's a privilege to be able to pass on what I have learned over the years and to help cultivate future social work professionals.
About me: I attained my M.S.W. from Virginia Commonwealth University. I completed my first year of the D.S.W. program at Barry University. Most of my career has been in direct practice, providing or supervising mental health services. A lot of my career has been working in intensive services which would include community mental health, PACT/ACT services, homeless services, crisis services and court-ordered substance abuse programming.
Working and/or supervising those programs was challenging, but I found the work most rewarding. In the last couple of years, I have switched gears a bit, and I am now working as a behavioral healthcare coordinator at a Medicaid managed care organization. While this position is very different from what I have been used to in the previous years, I have learned to appreciate the service I provide to members in helping them to understand and utilize their Medicaid benefits in ways that positively impact their mental health and overall well-being. I also have a small caseload of outpatient counseling clients that I provide therapy services to via telehealth.
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? What I look forward to most is connecting with our graduate students. I enjoy providing them with new learning opportunities and watching them learn and grow as professional social workers. Although my role is primarily as an adjunct liaison, I seek moments where I can teach what I've learned during the past 15 years in the field. This is my personal contribution to this important role.
About me: I recently moved to Florida from Virginia with my husband and 5-year-old Weimaraner, Charlie Blue, and appreciate the opportunity VCU has given me to continue working with the School of Social Work through their online program.
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? There’s no doubt policy practice is a necessity for social workers in our world today, and I’m thrilled to be a part of helping students understand the power they have to be effective!
Every semester, I look forward to making connections with students in the online environment. Building a sense of community is imperative in the virtual classroom, but it can be challenging, too. I try to inspire students to imagine themselves as macro-level change agents in their communities and their organizations. Yet more often than not, VCU’s M.S.W. students inspire me!
About me: My student-centric approach to teaching draws heavily from my experiences in the field. I “grew up” in the nonprofit sector, where I spent my early career as a licensed social worker. I am a lifelong volunteer as well. I have volunteered at various non-profit organizations since the age of 16, when I was a candy striper at Akron Children’s Hospital in Northeast Ohio. In addition to my doctorate, I have a Master of Science in Social Administration (M.S.S.A.) degree.
SSW alum: B.S.W.'09; M.S.W.'10
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? Sharing my passion for clinical social work with others, and seeing students grow into successful clinicians.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'02
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
SSW alum: M.S.W.'19
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I am particularly excited about sharing my professional experiences as a social worker with my students, to give them a real-world perspective to apply to what they learn in the class. I am also excited to learn from my students how I can be a better instructor and social worker. I love working with my class to create a learning environment that is compassionate, interactive, rigorous and fun!
About me: Patrick Link currently works as a community-embedded instructor part-time for the VCU School of Social Work and full-time as program consultant, senior/child welfare stipend coordinator at the Virginia Department of Social Services (please reach out if you have any questions about the Child Welfare Stipend Program!).
Previously, Patrick was the family services & operations manager at AFOI, a small, Richmond-based nonprofit dedicated to helping those impacted by the incarceration of a loved one. Patrick earned a B.S. in psychology and English from Virginia Tech in 2010. Following his graduation from college, he served in AmeriCorps for two years in Sonoma County, California, where he worked with ESL students in struggling schools, and also helped nonprofits and educational organizations build volunteer capacity. Following his service in AmeriCorps, he worked for years in fundraising for major HIV/AIDS service organizations in Los Angeles and New York. Wanting to leave the fundraising game, he enrolled in the M.S.W. Program at VCU, with a concentration in clinical social work. He graduated in 2019, but immediately decided to pursue mezzo/macro social work instead of clinical – he can't get enough of it! Courses he has taught include Concentration Social Policy: Child Mental Health; Research for Social Work Practice; Social Work Policy (606); Macro Social Work (602); and Human Behavior I and II.
In his spare time, Patrick enjoys reading high fantasy, doing the New York Times crossword and Spelling Bee, creatively writing, riding roller coasters, spending time with friends and family, pugs, beagles, carnivorous plants and just enjoying Richmond!
SSW alum: B.S.W.'15; M.S.W.'17
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
SSW alum: M.S.W.'00
Fall 2023 program designation: B.S.W. on-campus format and online classes
What excites you about teaching with the school? I get to contribute to the learning of our up-and-coming social workers.
About me: I am a VCU alum with 23 years of social work experience with the VCU Health system, where I did my field placement. I am mom to a wonderfully energetic 14-year-old daughter. We have two dogs and just adopted a kitten who was found at the hospital this summer.
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I am excited about helping to shape the future of the social work profession through my teaching.
About me: I enjoy engaging with students and supporting them as they prepare for a career in the field. An M.S.W. can lead to many different career paths!
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
SSW alum: M.S.W.'02
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format and field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? I am very passionate about growing future social workers and helping them to discover their unique passions within the field. VCU provided me with the skills to give back to the field of social work, and I am thrilled to be back home at the School of Social Work.
About me: In addition to my M.S.W., I graduated in May 2023 with my Doctorate in Social Work with a focus in administration and leadership. I have over 20 years of experience in social work practicing at the individual, group and system-levels across various settings including foster care, adoption, public and private mental health, juvenile corrections and public education. I am currently the director of student services at Stafford County Schools, where I was the coordinator of school social work services for five years. I am a licensed clinical social worker specializing in attachment and trauma work with children and adolescents. I love helping social workers bring theory and policy into the practice sphere to create opportunities for change.
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? VCU has provided me an opportunity to empower students, build relationships and teach students those essential skills needed to enjoy a great career when they depart the school.
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. on-campus format
What excites you about teaching with the school? The students are passionate about their goals and the desire to do good work.
About me: I’m most passionate about helping students address their personal view of success.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'00
Fall 2023 program designation: B.S.W.
What excites you about teaching with the school? I am excited to join with the students to create an interactive, facilitative learning experience. It will be a great opportunity to return to the university as a professor to share my knowledge and work experiences. It will offer a great opportunity to give back to future social workers.
About me: I have a trauma-focused certification.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'04
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online and on-campus format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I am passionate about finding the practical use for what is taught in the classroom. Making connections and forging understanding between theory and practice are what I most enjoy.
About me: I continue to enjoy working with students. It is a privilege to learn and collaborate with such wonderful people who are interested in bettering the lives of others. I currently provide clinical supervision for those seeking licensure as another way to ensure learning never stops.
SSW alum: Ph.D.'11
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. on-campus format
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? Helping students think critically about the world around them brings me joy. VCU offers students the opportunity to think critically and to apply their knowledge by using different modalities. I love the diverse environment and seeing students become comfortable with being uncomfortable as they challenge themselves as they learn and grow professionally.
About me: Melissa Peele, M.S.W., is an adjunct faculty (online). She has a master’s degree in social work from Norfolk State University and a Bachelor of Human Services Counseling from Old Dominion University. She served in the United States Air Force and Air National Guard. She is an honorably discharged veteran and counted it an honor to serve her country.
Melissa’s background experience includes almost 20 years of work in public and private social work agencies. In addition, her work experience includes mental health, individual and family counseling, triage for military families and curriculum and organization development.
She is the founder of a nonprofit organization for homeless mothers with children and expectant women in Portsmouth, Virginia, Firm Foundation of Virginia. She is devoted to serving locally and desires to inspire the next generation to become the best they can. For rest and enjoyment, she enjoys playing Scrabble, watching Star Trek, and outdoor activities.
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I love teaching in the online format and try to tailor each class experience to students' interests and long-term social work career goals. I enjoy connecting and co-learning with students and creating a safe space for critical discussion and inquiry.
About me: I am currently a Ph.D. candidate in the VCU SSW. I have taught several online courses across the M.S.W. curriculum and also serve as an online field liaison.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'10
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. on-campus format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I thrive on VCU's learning atmosphere, and I love our students! Teaching is not a one-way process. In the classroom, the process of co-creating knowledge with students results in rich, meaningful learning experiences for everyone and serves to feed our collective passion for social work.
About me: I have spent over a decade working in community mental health with folks living with serious mental illness. Currently, I am focusing on treating OCD and exploring virtual reality applications in private practice.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'15
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? As a community-embedded instructor, I'm excited to bring my experience and expertise to the classroom. Social work students come from a variety of backgrounds and come into the program with lots of valuable experience and expertise as well. I enjoy cultivating classroom environments where students and instructor learn from each other and grow together.
About me: I have a certificate in nonprofit management.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'97
Fall 2023 program designation: B.S.W. online classes
What excites you about teaching with the school? I have been teaching for the B.S.W. Program since 2007. I enjoy passing on the knowledge I have acquired as a practicing social worker in child welfare to my students, as well as learning from my students and colleagues. Teaching is another way I feel I can give back and help guide and support the next generation of social workers. I also love my SLWK 441/442 teaching team. We collaborate and share resources, and also provide a lot of peer support to one another when issues arise. I am very grateful for this team.
About me: I have worked at UMFS for over 21 years in the field of foster care and adoption. I am currently an adoption supervisor for the Regional Post Adoption Consortium Services (RPACS) program, which provides services to families, free of charge, and is funded by a generous grant from the Virginia Department of Social Services. I provide post-adoption services to families, including parent coaching and support in addressing adoption, attachment and trauma-related issues. I also provide consultation and training to adoptive families as well as providers who work with adoptive families. I am a contract therapist at C2Adopt and Full Circle Grief Center. I am a member of the Greater Richmond Trauma Informed Community Network (GRTICN), and I also currently serve as a board member for the Virginia Board of Social Work.
SSW alum: B.S.W.’08; M.S.W.’10
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. on-campus format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I'm always excited about the opportunity to engage students in community while expanding and challenging presenting patterns of thinking in an effort to produce transformative experiences!
About me: I am a two-time VCUSSW alum. VCU has been an integral part of both my professional and personal journey. It is at VCU that I experienced my own "aha" moments that led me not just to a job, but a profession that would prove to be both fulfilling and rewarding. Having engaged the curricula and the process here at VCU, I am always excited about aiding students to matriculate through their respective journeys! I can't wait to join you in community!
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? VCU is a perfect place for both teachers and students to engage in an action-packed, people-oriented learning environment.
About me: I currently reside in northwest Pennsylvania. I received my bachelor's degree at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. After graduation, I moved to Boston and completed a certification in addictions counseling from UMass Boston, and an M.S.W. program at Salem State University in Massachusetts. I am currently completing my dissertation at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.
Previous work experience includes 11 years working for the Department of Children and Families in Boston in the assessment, adoption and homeless Family units.
Due to medical challenges of my parents, I decided to return home, and I work full time as a medical social worker in the area of nephrology at an outpatient dialysis clinic in Pennsylvania. I have worked in this area for the past 10 years, advocating for patients rights, supporting them in making informed choices about their care and engaging other stakeholders in the community in providing resources to this vulnerable population.
I have been a field liaison for several years in addition to teaching Social Work Research, Policy, Substance Abuse, among others. My research interests include chronic illness and racial disparities in healthcare. I am also actively engaged in community efforts to promote equal access to voting and equal/equitable rights.
SSW alum: B.S.W.'12
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
SSW alum: M.S.W.’87
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I so appreciate the opportunity each semester to share the amazing theories, practices, and social justice concerns we social workers hold dear and honor. My students energize me each week to bring my best self to class, to create a forum for respectful and challenging discussion, and to welcome the thoughtful exchange of ideas, all in preparation for engaging future children, adults and families in our Richmond community and beyond through our practice of professional social work.
About me: With gratitude, I dedicate my teaching efforts each year to the memories of Edna Roth (VCU professor) and Susan Gottlieb (field instructor).
Fall 2023 program designation: B.S.W.
What excites you about teaching with the school? Teaching in the VCU School of Social Work fulfills a lifelong dream of engaging and empowering tomorrow's leaders who have a passion for making the world a better place through action.
About me: I am the author of The Metamorphic Journey. This page-turning novella explores three teenage mothers’ quest to succeed. The Metamorphic Journey is also the name of a movement I founded to provide individuals with opportunities to foster personal growth. I am a higher education administrator who uses my academic acumen, coupled with my expertise in transformational leadership, to empower young adults to embrace their purpose. In addition, I speak widely about the benefits of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.
More than a decade ago, I established Wailing Women Ministries, a nonprofit organization that distributes book scholarships to female high school seniors. Despite being a teen mom and first-generation college student, I hold a Doctor of Education with a concentration in leadership, Master of Public Administration with a concentration in nonprofit management, Bachelor of Religious Studies, Bachelor of Business Administration and Associate in Business Administration.
Because of my accomplishments and contributions to the community, I have been named a Virginia Commonwealth University Alumni Star, Central Virginia Remarkable Woman finalist and Richmond Free Press Person of the Week. I enjoy traveling, retreats with my sister-friends, and self-care activities that allow me to remain sane when engaging in the hustle and bustle of my busy life.
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. on-campus format and field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? I love having the opportunity to work with students as they enter the field of social work. They bring so many fresh perspectives and are eager to learn!
About me: Sarah Rohrer is a Richmond native and licensed clinical social worker currently teaching in VCU's M.S.W. Program and running a clinical supervision practice. She received her bachelor's degree from James Madison University and her M.S.W. at Columbia University in New York City. She focused on clinical social work with a concentration in health, mental health and disabilities as well as a minor in international social welfare.
She is a two-year AmeriCorps alum with a passion for both education and the medical field. Since 2012, she has worked in various level 1, 2 and 3 trauma centers doing trauma social work, medical social work and palliative care in both New York City and Richmond. She most recently served with the hospice and palliative care consult service at the Richmond VA Medical Center until 2021.
She is married to her husband, Jon, has four children and lives on the Southside of Richmond. Her teaching style is collaborative and compassionate – she chooses to teach mainly to give back to the profession and lift up new leaders in the field.
SSW alum: Ph.D.'18
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I love guiding students through macro practice and research courses. It allows me to work with students on approaches to harness research and policy to create meaningful change in communities. Learning with students is rewarding and always influences the way I approach my work.
About me: I am a senior research scientist at Child Trends, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research firm. My work focuses on the transition to adulthood for youth aging out of the foster care system.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'11
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. on-campus format
What excites you about teaching with the school? Being able to meet and equip the future generations of social workers excites me the most about teaching with the VCU School of Social Work. Turning back and lending a hand to those coming up after me is one of my passions.
About me: I have 12 years of experience with working in the mental health field. I’ve owned my own private practice, called Soul Care, since 2021 where I treat individuals with anxiety, depression and trauma. This semester I will be teaching SLWK-704 Clinical Social Work Practice I.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'12
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? At my core, I am a learner. I love being in community with other learners – especially social workers, because we care about humans, systems and community. I am excited to have meaningful conversations with students and support their development of policy-related skills.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'02
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. on-campus and online formats
What excites you about teaching with the school? Teaching in the VCU School of Social Work allows me to give back to the school that helped build the foundation of my social work career. It provides me an opportunity to help students develop and enhance their social work skills, and it allows me to continue to grow and learn.
About me: I have been in the field of forensic social work for 20 years. Since 2015, I have worked full time as a mitigation specialist at the Office of the Federal Public Defender in Richmond. Prior to this position, I worked at the Capital Defender Office in Norfolk, Virginia, for 11 years as a member of defense teams for individuals who were indigent, charged with capital murder and faced the death penalty. I love to learn and grow, and I am restored by spending time with my family, relaxing at the beach and hiking in the mountains.
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. on-campus format
SSW alum: B.S.W.'14
Fall 2023 program designation: B.S.W.
About me: I am a graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University with a Master of Public Administration and a certification in nonprofit & nongovernmental organization management. I also have a Bachelor of Social Work and a minor in psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University, where I focused my studies on reentry programs and recidivism in Virginia.
I am a certified forensic peer support specialist and peer support-T. I have studied at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College working toward my certification in substance abuse counseling with a concentration on dual diagnosis adults suffering with substance addiction and mental health issues. I have had the privilege to work with Gov. Terence McAuliffe under his administration and be an integral part of the historic restoration of rights initiative where over 170,000 Virginians gained their civil rights back. I continued my work under Gov. Ralph Northam until my appointment as the confidential special assistant to the director of the Virginia Department of Corrections working as the reentry outreach coordinator.
My work was to ensure the successful reintegration of system-involved persons through the creation and maintenance of reentry councils for the commonwealth of Virginia, and was the coordinator of VADOC Peer Recovery Support statewide grant. I am currently employed as the restorative justice program coordinator for the City of Richmond’s Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney. This position allows for the development of a community diversion program with the City of Richmond’s adult and juvenile court using restorative justice practices as an alternative to incarceration.
I have also worked with elected officials, community partners and advocates to develop policies, opportunities and programs for system-involved persons. I have assisted Richmond City’s Mayor Stoney as a member of his Taskforce for Reimagining Policing; Henrico County Drug Court; and the Opportunity Alliance & Reentry (OAR) of Richmond as a reentry program facilitator at local and regional jails. I continue my dedication to service as the president of the Richmond Association of Black Social Workers; chair of the Mass Incarceration/Reentry Committee of the National Association of Black Social Workers; and lead organizer of the Richmond-Aging People in Prison-Human Rights Campaign. I also sit on the board of Storefront for Community Design, Virginia Center for Restorative Justice, and many organizations and nonprofits.
Fall 2023 program designation: B.S.W. online classes
What excites you about teaching with the school? The idea of bringing my real-world experience to the classroom, and having students gain practical knowledge from that is the most exciting part about teaching in the VCU School of Social Work! Knowing that students will be able to take what they learn in VCU social work courses and apply it to their professional lives for many years to come is such a fulfilling experience for me as a professor.
About me: As an epidemiologist and program manager with the Virginia Department of Health, I find it exciting to show students how fun, thought-provoking and translatable research can be. I also have a Master of Science in Public Health (M.S.P.H.) degree.
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. on-campus format
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. on-campus format
About me: I am also an adjunct in the VCU School of Population Health.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'98; Ph.D.'19
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
SSW alum: Ph.D.'21
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I love being a part of students' social work journeys. I enjoy helping students get excited about new topics and material and appreciate the ways that my students help me grow as a social worker and an educator each semester.
About me: Dr. Swan is a research scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Swan’s research is focused on improving reproductive health equity and increasing access to contraception and abortion, with an emphasis on eliminating discrimination and coercion in family planning care.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'01
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. on-campus format
SSW alum: M.S.W.'09
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. on-campus format
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. on-campus format
About me: Christina Tough, M.S.W., joined the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work in 2023, currently teaching in the M.S.W Program. Since earning her Master of Social Work degree in 2020, Christina has had experience working in a variety of settings, including the medical and psychiatric hospital, mental health, education and home settings, working with individuals and families from birth to end of life and their community support teams.
Christina’s primary interests and areas of expertise include trauma-informed practice, adolescent mental health, families, education and health. Christina is dedicated toward educating, supporting and guiding competent, compassionate and self-aware social workers. Christina believes that close communication, support and collaboration are key in creating a successful learning environment. In her spare time, Christina can typically be found spending time with her family, running, kayaking, enjoying the beach or riding roller coasters at local theme parks.
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. on-campus format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I love working with social work students and helping them develop the skills and tools to understand themselves and harness their power to make a positive difference in their world.
About me: I earned my M.S.W. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and my Ph.D. in adult learning from VCU. I am passionate about creating inclusive, trauma-informed and research-based content that makes communities safer for everyone. I've spent the majority of my career in the sexual and domestic violence field, as a survivor advocate, violence preventionist and researcher. When I’m not working, you can find me reading at a coffee shop or sewing in my craft room.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'14
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? Giving back to my profession, sharing ideas and inspiration with new generations of social workers, and continuously learning and growing in my field.
About me: I am a medical social worker who has worked in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings as a clinical social worker, case manager and behavioral health therapist. My research interests include health care policy, the impact of health literacy on health outcomes, gender and sexuality, field education and experiential learning, and photo-ethnography.
SSW alum: M.S.W.’09
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? Being part of the learning process and interacting with new social workers. I have always been amazed at being part of the growth process for students and watching the clinical skills and self confidence grow through the academic year.
About me: I have been a licensed clinical social worker in Virginia for the past 12 years, and I am currently providing video psychotherapy sessions through a local health care center. I also have a small private practice. My patients are older teens and adults who are dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, relationship and family issues, poor self-image, and academic and professional stressors.
I earned my master's degree in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2009, where I focused on the impact substance abuse and mental health challenges have on the individual across the lifespan.
I am married and have two adult children that I enjoy spending time with whenever possible. My husband and I have been traveling and have the goal of visiting every single state. I am down to 10 states and plan on finishing within the next few years.
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I enjoy the enthusiasm that VCU M.S.W. students bring to their educational journeys and appreciate the camaraderie of the VCU School of Social Work faculty family!
About me: My research interests include:
- Health services
- Health economics
- Program evaluation
- Behavioral health using quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods
SSW alum: M.S.W.'20
Fall 2023 program designation: B.S.W.
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I absolutely love meeting and mentoring future social workers! VCU is a wonderful, innovative program, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it!
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? What excites me about teaching in the program is the opportunity to collaborate with, learn from and guide students through their social work journey. I enjoy the supportive and collaborative environment VCU provides for adjunct instructors. I truly feel like I am a part of the program and a part of the VCU community.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'12
Fall 2023 program designation: M.S.W. online format
What excites you about teaching with the school? I love working with students to develop their knowledge about macro social work. I hope all of my students leave my class with the confidence that they can contribute to policy practice, no matter their career path.
About me: Emily Yeatts is a community-embedded (adjunct) faculty member with the School of Social Work and is passionate about reproductive justice and language access. After graduating with dual degrees in global studies and Spanish from VCU in 2009, she began working as a bilingual health educator/outreach specialist at the Minority Health Consortium, a community-based HIV/AIDS organization, which ignited her passion for sexual and reproductive health.
She earned a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) and Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) from VCU in 2012, after which she began working as the education director at the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood (VLPP). At VLPP, she was responsible for developing, implementing and evaluating sex education programs in Richmond and Hampton Roads.
That experience led her to her current position as the reproductive health unit supervisor at the Virginia Department of Health, where she manages statewide public health programs related to family planning, adolescent health, sex education, pregnancy loss and abortion. Yeatts teaches social work policy with the School of Social Work. She is a certified volunteer master naturalist and is pursuing a botanical illustration certificate at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.
SSW alum: M.S.W.'99
Fall 2023 program designation: Field liaison
What excites you about teaching with the school? I love working with students and seeing their on-going growth. The "aha moments" have been a highlight of my role as a field liaison. Students have incredible passion for learning, intuition and limitless potential. I am honored to be a part of their journey and continue to be passionate about empowering them as social workers.
About me: I am community-based practitioner with a special passion for children and youth, teen mothers and foster/adoptive/kin families. I have worked in various roles, including working currently as a caseworker as local Department of Social Services. I also have experience as an in-home supportive service (with families), and in a residential and educational setting.
In Colorado, I help create and run a free mentoring program for teen mothers. In my practice, I utilize strengths-based, trauma-informed communication skills, and incorporate humor and joy whenever appropriate. As a social worker, I have found that joy and hope have been integral parts of helping kids, teens and families heal.
I am community based practitioner with a special passion for children and youth, teen mothers and foster/adoptive/kin families. I have worked in various roles including working currently as a caseworker as local Department of Social Services. I also have experience as an in-home supportive service (with families), in a residential and educational setting. In Colorado, I help create and run a free mentoring program for teen mothers.
In my practice, I utilize strengths-based, trauma informed communication skills, and incorporate humor and joy whenever appropriate. As a social worker, I have found that joy and hope have been integral parts of helping kids, teens and families heal.
I employ energy and initiative to develop, plan, and create programming for youth and for team members. I love building and creating initiatives that help clients and other professionals feel supported, including mentoring programs (kindness club) and resiliency group.
I believe in partnership and finding creative ways to integrate businesses, non-profits and community partners to support kids, youth and families.
I have a passion for integrating health and fitness into my work with kids, teens and families, including broadening their opportunities to use movement to heal. Ask me about barre class and running as coping skills!
I am passionate about "helping the helper,” and providing tools for practitioners so they continue to have ability to do their work in productive, trauma-informed and refreshed ways. I always tell my students: Burnout is real for so many social workers. I believe we need to continue to build a community of social workers that supports one another in this beautiful and challenging work.