Category: Faculty News


New Co-Editors in Chief for Children and Adolescent Social Work Journal

As of January 1st, 2025, Drs. Brenda Smith and Leah Cheatham will be serving as co-Editors-in-Chief for the Children and Adolescent Social Work Journal, published by Springer Nature.  Within these new positions, Drs. Smith and Cheatham aim to build on the journal’s strong foundation set by Drs. Lisa Schelbe and Bruce Thyer by maintaining a high level of quality, upholding the journal’s commitment to…


SSW Welcomes New Faculty

The University of Alabama School of Social Work proudly hosts distinguished faculty renowned for their expertise, research, and dedication to advancing social change. Meet our new faculty beginning in Fall 2024. Our Mission The University of Alabama’s School of Social Work prepares scholar-practitioners and researchers committed to ending adverse social conditions and promoting societal well-being…


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…


Associate Professor Dr. Karen A. Johnson receives Deep South Mentored Career Development K Award

Associate Professor Dr. Karen A. Johnson has received the Deep South Mentored Career Development K Award, funded by the National Institutes of Health and awarded by the UAB Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS).  Dr. Johnson’s prior funded research has focused on refining and implementing the Empowering Black Women on the Road to Health (E-WORTH) intervention, which is an…


Dr. Tenesha Littleton receive grant from Resource Center on Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) Deep South

Dr. Tenesha Littleton has received a grant from the Resource Center on Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) Deep South! Her project will build on her previous work funded by the University of Alabama Research Grants Committee that examined child wellbeing in the Alabama Black Belt. For her current study, Dr. Littleton will examine social determinants of health (SDOH) among African American…


Dr. Hyunjin Noh selected as a Sojourns Scholar Leadership Fellow

January, 19, 2024 The Cambia Health Foundation has chosen UA School of Social Work’s Dr. Hyunjin Noh as a Sojourns Scholar Leadership Fellow.  This competitive fellowship, granted to scholars in the field of palliative care, aims to advance person-centered palliative care. Dr. Noh stands out among the 12 scholars selected this year, representing diverse disciplines.…


Dr. Hee Yun Lee (MPI) awarded grant from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s funding program Data Visualization of Structural Racism and Place

Dr. Hee Yun Lee (MPI) and her team were awarded a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s funding program Data Visualization of Structural Racism and Place.  Thier project will create graphic representations of complex data that can be used to help understand the influence of structural racism on anti-Asian hate crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The project will also examine…


School of Social Work Welcomes New Faculty Members

The University of Alabama School of Social Work is pleased to welcome the following new fall of 2023 Faculty Members: Clinical Assistant Professor (Assistant Professor of Practice) Degree ProgramsBS (University of South Carolina), MSW (University of South Carolina), DSW (University of Alabama) Research Areas Research Agenda Clinical Practice Experience Assistant Professor Degree ProgramsBSW (The University of…


Nominations Open for the 2022 Buford Peace Award

Feb. 11, 2022 Nominations are now being accepted for the School of Social Work’s 2022 Lahoma Adams Buford Peace Award. The deadline for UA students, faculty and staff to nominate a UA faculty member for the award is March 6.  Previously nominated candidates also may be nominated again. Highest priority will be given to faculty…