UAFS Social Work

Please join us in welcoming and congratulating our two new full-time assistant professors in the BSW department, Ashleigh Hall, LMSW, and Audra Cooper, LCSW. Ashleigh Hall previously served as a visiting professor beginning in fall 2023, and Audra Cooper has served as an adjunct professor since fall 2023. We are thrilled to have both continue with the department in these new full-time roles and look forward to the many ways they will continue to contribute to our students, program, and community.

They DID IT!!! Congratulations to our 2026 BSW graduates! 🎓🎉

As we close out our spring semester, we want to take a second to thank our intern for the last 16 weeks, Maggie!

Maggie's creativity, innovation, and passion have made many projects possible this spring and we cannot be thankful enough. If you've seen any of the phenomenal bulletin boards or been to any of our recruitment events this semester, you've seen the hard work Maggie puts into everything!

Congratulations on graduating, and good luck pursuing your MSW at the University of Arkansas - Fayetteville! We know you'll go far! 💙✨

Tonight, we celebrated our graduating seniors at the UAFS Social Work Pinning Ceremony! 🎉 It was a heartfelt and memorable ceremony. We are incredibly proud of our seniors for all of their hard work and dedication. Thank you to everyone who joined us in honoring our graduates on this significant milestone. 💙🦁

The UAFS BSW Program is proud to present our inaugural Field Instructor of the Year Award to Ella Bowles, LSW, Social Services Director for Methodist Village Senior Living!

Ella has supervised fourteen UAFS social work interns since 2020 and continues to make a lasting impact through her mentorship, leadership, and dedication to student learning. During COVID-19, when many agencies are unable to host interns, Ella created an innovative virtual internship experience to ensure students continued receiving meaningful field education.

Our students describe Ella as inspiring, supportive, and influential in helping them grow both personally and professionally. We are incredibly grateful for community partners like Ella who help shape the next generation of social workers through compassion, guidance, and service.

Congratulations, Ella, and thank you for your outstanding commitment to social work education!

Today at the River Valley Social Work Training, Chera Pleadger was honored with the Shani Patterson Spirit Award, a recognition voted on by her cohort in celebration of the encouragement, positivity, and steady support she brings to those around her. The award was presented by Buck Shani, Shani Patterson’s husband, during the training hosted by the UAFS BSW Program, making the moment especially meaningful.

Shani Patterson is remembered for her lasting contributions to the UAFS BSW Program and to the broader social work community. Her legacy includes the spirit of generosity, service, and commitment that continues to shape and support the work of future social workers.

Chera’s selection for this award reflects the same spirit of compassion, dedication, and encouragement that Shani embodied. It was a fitting tribute to Shani’s legacy and a meaningful celebration of Chera’s impact within her cohort.

Thank you so much to all of our community partners who attended last Friday’s Child Welfare meeting! Social work is all about community and we are grateful to have such a good one in the River Valley💙

We had so much fun meeting everyone at Den Day 🐾
Thank you to everyone who stopped by our table! We loved getting to talk and hang out you guys. Go Lions!

Happy Earth Day from the UAFS Social Work Program!

Thank you, DCFS, for taking the time to educate our students about Team Decision Meetings (TDMs) and how they function. Our students had such a great time learning more about the process and the important work that goes into a TDM. We appreciate your partnership and the valuable learning opportunity you provided.