Ashley Blamey
Title IX Coordinator
Ashley Blamey, UT’s Title IX coordinator, has expertise including distressed students, crisis management, bystander intervention, and sexual assault.
Sharon Bowland
Associate Professor of Social Work
Sharon Bowland is an expert in mental-health practice and trauma-informed approaches to care and aging.
Kate M. Chaffin
Associate Professor of Practice
Kate Chaffin researches best practices in online social work education, focusing on mentorship of adjunct faculty teaching online.
Courtney Cronley
Associate Professor of Social Work
Courtney Cronley studies the experiences of women, youth and families in situations of homelessness and housing insecurity.
Kim Denton
Associate Professor of Social Work Practice
Kim Denton’s areas of expertise are field education, child welfare, and community mental health.
Gretchen Ely
Professor of Social Work
Gretchen Ely studies vulnerable populations and their access to reproductive health, including abortion and contraception, trauma-informed reproductive healthcare, and rural and Appalachian populations.
Jennifer First
Assistant Professor of Social Work
Jennifer First’s research focuses on addressing the unequal impacts of climate hazards and severe weather events such as tornadoes, floods and extreme heat, particularly in the southeastern U.S.
Shandra Forrest-Bank
Associate Professor of Social Work
Shandra Forrest-Bank has expertise in the transition to adulthood, risk and resilience, positive youth development, racial microaggression, and how poverty and racism impact young adult trajectories.
Mary Lehman Held
Associate Professor of Social Work
Mary Lehman Held’s research is centered on the mental health and well-being of vulnerable populations, including Latino immigrants.
Andrea Joseph
Assistant Professor of Social Work
Andrea Joseph’s research uses Critical Race Theory to address racial inequities in education, notably racially disproportional school suspensions.