University of Montevallo Social Work Program

09/04/2026

The SWSP department loves celebrating UM in our purple and gold! 💜💛

Happy College Colors Day!

09/02/2026

The University of Montevallo Social Work program would like to congratulate alumnus Bill Kennedy on his accomplishments in the Social Work profession over the summer!

William (Bill) Kennedy, LICSW (BSW '93), recently joined 21 other national social work leaders and innovators in Dedham, MA, for a national summit titled Beyond Defence: Transforming Social Work During Dangerous Times. Hosted by Dr. Tami Gouveia, Director of the Center of Innovation in Social Work & Health at Boston University School of Social Work, the summit sought to confront the reality that social work education, values, and practice are under attack and the profession is often questioned for its value and relevance. The group, made up of social work educators, clinical social workers, researchers, and health professionals, discussed the political, economic, and structural challenges facing social work. Rather than defending traditional practices, the group focused on mapping the contemporary forces currently shaping the future of social work. The summit is just the beginning of a much-needed discussion of the profession of social work.

08/19/2026

Happy first day of classes! 💜💛

The Department of Social Work and Speech Pathology is excited and ready to begin the new school year!

08/15/2026

Moving in today?

Come see us in the Department of Social Work and Speech Pathology in the Wallace Speech and Language Building!

We will be happy to answer any questions about classes, directions, or general questions about UM! 💜💛

08/05/2026

Excited to celebrate 100 years of social work education at this year’s Advocacy Day Conference. Special thanks to Blair and Alana Kaplan from The Global Resilience Project and the Resilient AF podcast for delivering our Dr. Jeanine Cannon Bozeman Endowed Lecture!

08/01/2026

University of Montevallo
Social Work Alumni Club
invites you to a
Summer Social
following Advocacy Day

Monday, Aug. 3, 2026
5-7 p.m.
Hoover Grille
Embassy Suites by Hilton
2960 John Hawkins Pkwy.

All Social Work alumni are encouraged to stop by after work!
Event includes appetizers and cash bar.

07/21/2026

August 3rd is approaching and we are getting excited about Advocacy Day!

Maribeth Bowman will be delivering our afternoon lecture on child welfare practice.

Maribeth Parker Bowman, LICSW-S, is the Director of Program Services for the Alabama Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers (ANCAC), where she provides statewide leadership, training, technical assistance, and program support to Alabama’s 37 Children's Advocacy Centers and their multidisciplinary teams. She oversees initiatives related to forensic interviewing, family advocacy, mental health, MDT coordination, and workforce development while providing consultation to CAC leaders, MDT partners, and state agencies. Maribeth also serves on the Alabama State Child Death Review Team, the Northern District Human Trafficking Task Force, the Alabama Anti-Human Trafficking Alliance, and is an Adjunct Instructor for The University of Alabama School of Social Work.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/integrating-the-pieces-building-practice-skills-for-resilience-tickets-1990447870161?aff=oddtdtcreator

07/08/2026

Please join us on August 3, 2026 for this year’s Annual Social Work Advocacy Day. This year we are celebrating 100 years of social work education at the University of Montevallo.

Our theme is “Integrating the Pieces: Building Practice Skills for Resilience”.

Alana Kaplan from the Global Resilience Project and the Resilient AF Podcast series will deliver our Dr. Jeanine Cannon Bozeman keynote address on death, dying, grief, and loss.
https://theglobalresilienceproject.com/

Alana Kaplan, MSW, RSW, is a compassionate mental health professional based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with over a decade of experience. She’s a therapist who focuses on grief, loss and anxiety. Fueled by advocacy, Alana is known for standing up and speaking out for others. Passionate about de-stigmatizing and normalizing mental health, Alana brings her experience to The Global Resilience Project as the Mental Health Director, navigating the role one’s mental health plays in telling their story. Engaging in self-care and growth is what keeps her going, and her love for reading, travel, and personal relationships helps foster that.

07/07/2026

https://www.montevallo.edu/um-social-work-partners-with-childrens-aid-society-for-foster-youth-camp/

As the University of Montevallo’s Social Work Program celebrates 100 years of service, it has partnered with the Children’s Aid Society of Alabama (CAS) to support Camp Life, the nonprofit’s annual independent living summer camp that helps youth in foster care prepare for successful transition...

06/24/2026

Please join us on August 3rd at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Hoover for our 2026 Social Work Advocacy Day. We are excited to have Dr. Jay Miller deliver our afternoon Title IV-E keynote address on child welfare practice.

Justin “Jay” Miller was appointed Dean and Dorothy A. Miller Research Professor in Social Work Education in July 2019, becoming the youngest dean in the country. He holds degrees from Western Kentucky University, Spalding University, and the University of Louisville.

A dedicated scholar and advocate, Dean Miller’s work focuses on child welfare, juvenile justice, and self-care for helping professionals. His research has shaped policies and practices supporting foster youth and participatory engagement. In 2017, he founded The Self-Care Lab, the first known research lab dedicated to self-care among professionals in high-stress fields.

Beyond academia, Dean Miller has led key social work and juvenile justice initiatives, serving on state and federal advisory committees. His leadership includes roles with the Kentucky Board of Social Work, St. Joseph’s Children’s Orphanage, and various foster care programs. He is also a published author, co-writing Activating a Teaching-Learning Philosophy and co-editing The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals.

https://socialwork.uky.edu/behind-the-blue-college-of-social-work-dean-jay-miller-on-burnout-importance-of-self-care/

Most importantly, Dean Miller is a proud foster and kinship alum!

Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/integrating-the-pieces-building-practice-skills-for-resilience-tickets-1990447870161?aff=oddtdtcreator