The University of Alabama School of Social Work is proud to celebrate an extraordinary summer of scholarship, mentorship, and student success.
For the second year, the MSW Program welcomed students to campus for The University of Alabama Graduate School’s Strategic Graduate Partnership Initiative (SGPI) Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (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. This summer, the MSW Program had the privilege of welcoming four outstanding students from across the region to participate in this initiative. Dr. Dalila John served as Program Liaison, playing a central role in building and shaping the program to meet the unique needs of social work students.
With the support of The University of Alabama Graduate School’s SGPI, the program hosted Nicky Black (Mary Baldwin University), Kiera Carr (Tuskegee University), McKayla Crittendon (Tuskegee University), and Brittyn Glover (University of Mary Hardin-Baylor). Over ten weeks, students received intensive training in research, academic writing, and professional development, working directly with faculty mentors, attending graduate-level MSW courses, and conducting research aligned with their personal and professional goals. Their work addressed critical and timely issues facing individuals and communities, including cultural and structural barriers to mental health treatment in rural communities, substance use disorder treatment for individuals with mild or borderline intellectual disabilities, environmental health advocacy in social work, and the impact of trauma on the brain and the body. Each student presented their research findings at a final poster presentation recognizing the depth and rigor of their work.
The program’s impact was honored at the highest level during the concluding awards ceremony held last month. Brittyn Glover won the SGPI Summer REU Program inaugural Student Spirit Award for her passion, energy, dedication, and commitment to the program. Dr. Lindamarie Olson received the inaugural Best Research Mentor Award, honored for her exceptional commitment to inspiring growth, confidence, and student success. In addition, Social Work was named the inaugural SGPI Program of the Year, a distinction earned through its dedication to professional development, meaningful research opportunities, and strong campus and community partnerships.
This recognition reflects the vision and dedication of Dr. Dalila John and the entire faculty mentor team, Drs. Dalila John, Dione King, Hyunjune Lee, and Lindamarie Olson. Each faculty mentor brought a deep commitment to research and scholarship, investing their time and expertise to ensure students had a rigorous, and meaningful experience. Over ten transformative weeks, the program not only prepared students for graduate school but it also affirmed that social work research and scholarship are powerful forces helping to improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities.