School of Social Work

Research

UAA is a hub for cutting-edge theoretical and applied research in health, engineering, and the physical and social sciences. In nearly every discipline, undergraduate and graduate students have the opportunity to join research teams and collaborate with experienced faculty mentors.
Research at UAA

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Committed to improving the quality of life

The School of Social Work prides itself on an impeccable academic and professional reputation as well as dedication and strong commitment to supporting the student population. Social work is a profession committed to assisting individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities and society as a whole in the improvement of the quality of life through the amelioration of social problems, equitable distribution of social resources, and client empowerment.

Bachelor of Social Work program Master of Social Work program

Featured Stories

MSW alumni leads Oregon immigrant and refugee state office

MSW alumni Toc Soneoulay-Gillespie was featured in an Oregon Capital Chronicle article about her efforts to use her own refugee experience to guide changes in state programs. The new director of the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement wants to build bridges between state agencies and the people they are supposed to serve.
Social work alumna to be honored at UAA Alumni of Distinction banquet

School of Social Work alumna and 2021 Alumni Humanitarian Amanda Metivier is the director of the Alaska Child Welfare Academy and co-founder of Facing Foster Care in Alaska. Through her advocacy at both organizations, she has led efforts to expand services and support for foster youth across Alaska. Metivier was honored at the UAA Alumni of Distinction celebration banquet on April 23.
Calista Education and Culture Inc. features BSW student

Bachelor of Social Work student Amber Arnaqulluk was featured on a Facebook post by Calista Education and Culture Inc. Way to go, Amber!
Earn an occupational endorsement certificate in Interprofessional Child Welfare

Build the knowledge and skills you need to launch a career promoting the health and well-being of children and families in Alaska. The occupational endorsement certificate in interprofessional child welfare draws from multiple social services disciplines, giving you a comprehensive training in interprofessional child welfare practices and theories. As a student, you will build the competencies you need in order to become a successful child welfare professional. The certificate program is open to anyone interested in child welfare. It can be especially useful for individuals who are studying or working in fields focused on family and community well-being, such as human services, justice, social work, and psychology. Child welfare professionals work in agencies and organizations that provide child protective services, adoption services, foster care, youth residential, and tribal services, among others. Questions? Please contact Kathi Trawver, professor and certificate program coordinator, at krtrawver@alaska.edu; or Jessica Ullrich, social work assistant professor, at jsullrich@alaska.edu.
UAA researchers hope to move child welfare away from separation and toward community building

School of Social Work assistant professor Dr. Jessica Ullrich and Dept. of Human Services associate professor Dr. Yvonne Chase were guests on Talk of Alaska on March 8 to talk about breaking the cycle of removing for Black and Indigenous children.⁠
MSW alumna publishes article based on capstone project

Vanessa Salmon, a 2019 Master of Social Work program graduate, published an article in the Journal of Rural Mental Health, titled "When delivery means departure: Describing the practice and impacts of mandated maternal transport in Alaska," which was her capstone project for the program.
Dr. Jessica Ullrich to present at Brazelton Touchpoints Center's virtual National Forum

UAA School of Social Work's Dr. Jessica Ullrich will be a presenter on March 29 for Brazelton Touchpoints Center's virtual National Forum, which will take place March 29-31.
In Focus: As community members remain split on SROs in Niles Township high schools, the district fails to act

UAA School of Social Work faculty member Dr. Matthew Cuellar was quoted in an article about school resource officers.
MSW student Andrew Viray honored in Gov. Dunleavy's State of the State address

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy and First Lady Rose Dunleavy honored to recognized five outstanding Alaskans during the 2022 State of the State Address on Jan. 25. MSW student Andrew Viray was among the five special guests that Dunleavy says exemplify the heart of Alaska through their hard work and determination.
Trawver, Brocious co-author articles resulting from community evaluations

Professors Dr. Kathi Trawver and Dr. Heidi Brocious, along with others, co-authored two articles that stem from community evaluations of Office of Children's Services' new statewide mentor program, titled Learning from the Field: Development of a Statewide Public Child Welfare Workforce Mentoring Program; and the Statewide Court Appointed Special Advocate Program (CASA), titled Supporting and Expanding Statewide CASA Programs.
Brocious, Erisman, Devientieff publish article about Housing First

UAA School of Social Work Associate Professor Dr. Heidi Brocious and adjunct professor Morgan Erisman, along with UAF Social Work Clinical Associate Professor Dr. LaVerne Demientieff, have published an article in the Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, titled Thawing out: understanding adjustment to housing first through an ecological and trauma-informed lens, which focuses on the role trauma plays in the adjustment to Housing First.
Allen chosen as RWJF Social Work Health Futures Lab fellow

Congratulations to School of Social Work Associate Professor and MSW Program Coordinator Mary Dallas Allen for being selected as a fellow for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Social Work Health Futures Lab. According to Portland State University, the national cohort is comprised of 26 social work experts from the U.S. and Canada, "who will spend the next 18 months learning about how to apply a futures lens to some of the most challenging problems of society." Learn more about the RWJF national cohort.