UNC Social Work

09/02/2026

Please join us in welcoming Associate Professor Yura Lee to ! 🐏

Lee’s passion for understanding aging and supporting older adults is deeply personal. After caring for her grandfather while he lived with dementia, she became inspired to advance research that helps individuals living with dementia and their families.

Now, as an associate professor at UNC, she’s continuing her innovative “Going Home” project, which uses virtual reality, sensory prompts and technology to help people living with dementia reconnect with meaningful memories of home with a particular focus on immigrant families.

Her work sits at the intersection of family, culture, technology and compassionate dementia care. We’re excited to have her bring her expertise and perspective to Carolina!

Read more about Lee, her research and what’s ahead ⬇

Joining the UNC School of social work this summer, Yura Lee's research focuses on advancing the well-being of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

08/31/2026

JOB ALERT 🚨 invites applications for two open-rank tenure-track faculty positions. By applying, candidates will be considered for all available vacancies.

We seek scholars whose research addresses pressing social challenges and advances social well- being through research, teaching, and community engagement. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, substance use prevention and treatment, gender-based and intimate partner violence, and child and family well-being. We also welcome expertise in related areas that may inform prevention and intervention strategies, including social policy and service systems, economic security, behavioral and mental health, and community-based interventions.

Successful candidates will contribute to the School’s nationally recognized missions of research, teaching, and community engagement through the development of rigorous and impactful programs of scholarship that advance social work knowledge, practice, and policy. Faculty appointed to these positions will have opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across the University and with community partners, mentor MSW and PhD students, and contribute to curriculum development and instruction across the School’s growing portfolio of academic programs.

Minimum experience includes a doctoral degree in social work or a related field relevant to the School’s mission and evidence of research, scholarship, and practice or policy expertise that advances social well-being and contributes to meaningful social impact.

The application closes on Monday, Nov. 2. For more information or to apply, view the application ➡️ https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/324610

08/28/2026

What a sweet success! 🥤✨

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for Sips and Perspectives: A Social Work Soda Social! We loved seeing so many prospective students and members of our community come together to create their own dirty sodas, try social-work-inspired flavors and share their perspectives on what social work means to them.

A huge thank-you to everyone who helped make the event possible and to all who stopped by to connect with our team, learn more about ’s BSW program and add their voice to the conversation.

08/27/2026

JOB ALERT 🚨 invites applications for three open-rank Practicum Education fixed-term clinical faculty positions. By applying, applicants will be considered for all available vacancies.

The Clinical Fixed-Term Faculty positions will coordinate practicum education and teach graduate-level social work courses. Successful applicants will contribute to practicum education across a range of social work practice areas and teach up to four graduate courses per year. Candidates should possess broad social work practice experience and expertise, with the ability to teach in generalist practice and either direct practice or macro practice specialization courses

Preferred qualifications may vary across positions and may include expertise in assessment and intervention with individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations; experience in practicum education; an LCSW credential; macro-level practice experience; and demonstrated success teaching graduate-level courses or professional training programs. These positions have a standard distribution of effort consisting of 90% teaching and instruction and 10% service and community engagement.

The application closes on Thursday, Oct. 1. For more information or to apply, view the application ➡️ https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/324372

08/21/2026

Making it through the first week of classes calls for a sweet treat 🍦

This afternoon, students in our building were rewarded with a visit from Alsies Ice Cream Truck courtesy of our Academic and Student Affairs team.

The fall 2026 semester is off to a great start!

08/21/2026

🎉 What a week! welcomed students, faculty and staff back for the start of the 2026-27 academic year during our annual Welcome Week, Aug. 10-14.

From our all-school retreat and faculty and staff gatherings to student welcome events and JumpStart! MSW orientation, the week was all about connection, community and preparing for the year ahead.

We also celebrated the accomplishments of our previous strategic plan and began laying the groundwork for our next chapter. We’re excited for what’s ahead!

Read more about our Welcome Week events in the full story ⬇ https://ssw.unc.edu/2026/08/school-celebrates-start-of-new-academic-year-begins-next-strategic-plan/

08/20/2026

From MSW graduate to scholarship and program officer, Katherin Castillo, ’23 (MSW), is putting her skills to work in the Triangle.

After discovering social work through a colleague, Castillo found her path at , where she built lasting connections, strengthened her policy and community engagement skills, and discovered an interest in macro social work.

Today, Castillo serves as a scholarship and program officer at Triangle Community Foundation, managing more than 40 scholarship funds supporting roughly 120 students each year and helping fund nonprofits that support youth and education across the Triangle.

Now, she’s paying it forward as a practicum supervisor and mentor for MSW students.

“I’m very glad I took that path to go to UNC School of Social Work,” Castillo said. “It’s made a huge impact on my life and where I’m at right now.”

Read the full story at the link ⬇

Katherin Castillo’s ’23 (MSW) time at the school set her on a career arc that led her to Triangle Community Foundation as a scholarship and program officer managing grant cycles to support nonprofits and scholarship allocation for students seeking higher education opportunities.

08/18/2026

Are you interested in a profession rooted in social justice, connection and service? 🤝 🌎 ✨

Hear why you should consider pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work degree from current Advanced Standing MSW student Katherine Matthes!

“With my BSW, I’ve been able to engage directly with individuals and groups, support communities, advocate for policy change and research pressing social issues,” Matthes said.

Our BSW program will welcome its first cohort of students in August 2027, and you could be one of them. Learn more at bsw.unc.edu.

08/17/2026

On Friday, August 14, more than 150 incoming MSW students kicked off their journey at JumpStart! Orientation. The day included meeting faculty and staff, exploring what’s ahead and, of course, starting to build the community that will carry them through their time in the program.

And now… it’s the first day of classes! 📚✨

“This is a highly ranked and rigorous program. You belong here. You worked hard to get here, and we’re happy that you’re here,” said Associate Dean for MSW Education Andrea Murray-Lichtman.

We’re so excited to see where this next chapter takes our incoming students. Welcome to the family, future social workers! 🐏 💙

Read more and see all photos in the full photo essay ➡ https://ssw.unc.edu/2026/08/school-of-social-work-welcomes-incoming-msw-students/

08/12/2026

Double Tar Heel Deanna Gibson, ’25 (MSW), is turning her experiences into a passion for helping North Carolina families. ❤️

As a clinical therapist with Alamance United, Gibson provides community-centered behavioral health services to youth and families, using family-based therapy to help break cycles of trauma and create lasting change.

Gibson credits the support of UNC mentors and her experiences at the with helping to shape her into the leader she is today.

“Carolina set me up to be that person,” Gibson said. “Carolina crafts leaders.”

Read the full story at the link. 🔗

Double Tar Heel Deanna Gibson is helping give back to North Carolina families as a clinical therapist with Alamance United.