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Samantha Guz

Assistant Professor Contact Information Email: srguz@ua.edu Research Areas and Expertise Education Bio I am a critical social work scholar with extensive direct practice experience who uses research to disentangle youth serving systems from the prison industrial complex. My research examines how social forces and organizational dynamics impact school practitioners and the experiences of families. Research on…


Brian Bride

Hill Crest Endowed Chair in Mental Health Contact Information Email: bebride@ua.edu Research Areas and Expertise Education Bio Brian E. Bride, Ph.D., M.S.W., M.P.H. is the Hill Crest Foundation Endowed Chair in Mental Health in the School of Social Work at the University of Alabama. His research has focused  on the development, implementation, and evaluation of innovative…


Dr. Brian E. Bride Named New Hill Crest Endowed Chair in Mental Health

August 1, 2024 The University of Alabama School of Social Work is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Brian E. Bride as the Hill Crest Foundation Endowed Chair in Mental Health. Dr. Bride brings a wealth of expertise, dedication, and leadership to our community, marking an exciting new chapter in our commitment to advancing…


A Salute to Dr. Debra Nelson-Gardell: Fundraiser for First Gen Success

July 31, 2024 Join us in celebrating the remarkable career and retirement of Dr. Debra Nelson-Gardell, a dedicated member of the School of Social Work faculty at The University of Alabama. Over the past 30 years, Dr. Nelson-Gardell has significantly contributed to our community through her various roles, leaving a lasting impact on both colleagues…


Q and A with Shakima Tozay

Shakima Tozay, a Doctoral candidate at the University of Alabama School of Social Work, has not had the usual pathway to navigate the field of social work. Self-described as a “military social worker,” Tozay is well-versed in multiple different social work disciplines and social work-adjacent fields. Her introduction to the field of social work started…


Emily Stevens

Administrative Assistant II, Development, Events, and Strategic Initiatives Contact Information Email: epstevens1@ua.eduOffice: 1025 Little HallPhone: 205-348-2509 Education Bachelor’s in Commerce and Business Administration


Change Agents: Social Work Interns Serve Rural Alabama

May 15, 2024 | UA News Center – Written by Jennifer Brady Tuscaloosa native and graduate student Aisha Winston spent the past academic year serving her local community and others in rural Alabama as part of the UA School of Social Work’s new Black Belt Internship Initiative.  “Alabama’s Black Belt holds a rich history of migration…


Bell, Renee’

Administrative Assistant II, BSW Contact Information Email: renee.bell@ua.edu


2024 Buford Peace Award Recipient

Date: May 7th, 2024 By Ambre Adams At the end of each academic year, The University of Alabama School of Social Work hosts its annual Awards Ceremony, during which the school’s premier award, the Lahoma Adams Buford Peace Award, is presented.  The Lahoma Adams Buford Endowed Peace Award is a university-wide recognition designed to honor…


CALL FOR PAPERS – IOP Writing Contest

The UA School of Social Work invites submissions from UA and UAB students for the 2024 IOP Services Essay Writing Contest. Last year, IOP Services sponsored an essay contest on the topic of “Barriers to Mental Health Care in Alabama.” According to the winning essay, underserved rural populations confront a significant accessibility barrier, and a…