With the support of The University of Alabama Graduate School, the School of Social Work is proud to host four outstanding students in the MSW Program through the SGPI Summer REU Program. This highly competitive, 10-week residential program is designed to strengthen academic pathways between undergraduate institutions, particularly those in Alabama and the Southeast, and UA’s graduate programs.
Throughout the summer, students receive intensive training in research, academic writing, and professional development all aimed at preparing them for the rigors of graduate school. Each student works directly with a faculty mentor, attends graduate-level MSW courses, and engages in research and scholarship unique to their interests and goals. This year’s faculty mentors include Drs. Dalila John, Dione King, Hyunjune Lee, and Lindamarie Olson.
Students began the program in May and spend their summer immersed in research, culminating in a poster presentation and luncheon on Friday, July 24 where they will showcase the work they have developed alongside their mentors.
Nicky Black
An incoming senior at Mary Baldwin University, Nicky Black joined this REU program to gain hands-on research experience and strengthen her preparation for graduate school. Her research interests are wide-ranging, with particular focus on environmental concerns, substance abuse, intellectual disability, and neurodivergence.
She has enjoyed working closely with her mentor, Dr. Lee, engaging with graduate-level coursework, and immersing herself in the UA campus and Tuscaloosa community.
Keaira Carr
Keaira Carr is a rising senior at Tuskegee University. She pursued this REU program with two clear goals: to advance her research capabilities and to prepare for graduate study in social work. Her research interests lie at the intersection of environmental justice and artificial intelligence, as well as improving mental health services and access for Black communities areas she sees as deeply interconnected and urgently in need of social work advocacy.
Keaira shared that the program has been a meaningful and eye-opening experience. Through it, Keaira has gained a clearer understanding of graduate-level social work education and the diverse ways social workers can show up for and serve their communities. She indicates that these insights that have sharpened her vision for the path ahead.
McKayla Crittendon
As a rising senior at Alabama A&M University, McKayla Crittendon was drawn to this REU program for the opportunity to gain firsthand research experience in social work. Her research interests focus on the intersection of rural communities and mental health — specifically, how geographic isolation and rural context shape mental health outcomes and access to care. She concludes that the program has been transformative, igniting a passion for research and laying a meaningful foundation for her graduate school journey.
Brittyn Glover
Brittyn Glover is a senior at The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, graduating this December with her Bachelor of Social Work.
She pursued this REU program to grow both personally and professionally — gaining research experience, building connections with students, faculty, and practitioners, and strengthening the skills needed for graduate school and beyond. Brittyn plans to earn her MSW and pursue licensure, and programs like this are an important part of that path.
Her research interests center on foster care, adolescent mental health, and trauma. Drawn from personal experience, her work is driven by a desire to understand how early trauma shapes young people emotionally, socially, and developmentally and how social workers can intervene in ways that genuinely matter. She is particularly committed to advocating for vulnerable youth and building more trauma-informed systems.
Brittyn states that this program has been one of the most rewarding experiences of her academic career. Engaging with the research process firsthand, collaborating with like-minded peers, and learning from professionals passionate about social work has only deepened her commitment to the field and confirmed that pursuing her MSW is the right next step.
The SGPI Summer REU Program continues to provide valuable opportunities for aspiring social workers to explore research, strengthen their academic skills, and envision future pathways in graduate education. Through mentorship, hands-on scholarship, and immersive learning experiences, Nicky, Keaira, McKayla, and Brittyn have each expanded their understanding of social work research while contributing their unique perspectives and interests to the field. As they return to their home institutions, they carry with them new knowledge, meaningful connections, and a stronger foundation for future graduate study and professional leadership in social work.