Saint Louis University - School of Social Work

We're proud to celebrate Dr. Allison Gibson on her appointment as a member of the Council on Social Work Education's (CSWE) Center for Gerontology Education.

Dr. Gibson's appointment reflects her leadership in gerontological social work and her commitment to advancing education, research, and practice that supports older adults. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Gibson!

We're proud to celebrate SLU School of Social Work alumna Dr. LaTonia Collins Smith (M.S.W. '98)! Her commitment to service, leadership, and social justice continues to make an impact. Read more about her inspiring journey below. 👇

Saint Louis University alumna LaTonia Collins Smith, Ed.D., (GRAD SW ’98, GRAD PH ’99) made history in 2022 as the first female president of Harris-Stowe State University. She credits her graduate education at SLU for shaping her commitment to service and social justice: https://loom.ly/OmKHSME

Congratulations to our own Dr. Julie Birkenmaier for presenting at the 2026 Joint World Conference for Social Work, Education, and Social Development in Nairobi, Kenya!

Dr. Birkenmaier presented her research, "Financial Stress and Psychosocial Wellbeing: Developing the Individual Financial Access Scale for Clinical Practice" and also co-presented "Financial Social Work as a Global Practice: Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals Through Financial Capability and Asset Building."

We're proud to see our faculty contributing to global conversations that advance social work research, practice, and financial well-being around the world.

Summer break looks good on the Billiken. 😎

While campus is a little quieter these days, we're already looking forward to welcoming our students back to Tegeler Hall. Until then, we'll be taking notes from the Billiken and enjoying a slower summer pace.

Faculty in the spotlight!

Congratulations to Dr. Kenya Brumfield-Young, Assistant Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, who was recently quoted in Newsweek discussing the viral phenomenon known as “teen takeovers” and the broader conversations surrounding youth behavior, public spaces, and community responses. Her expert insights were also featured through MSN and Yahoo! News syndication, bringing important criminological perspectives to a national audience.

"Teen takeovers" are spreading and police are bracing for a violent summer With stabbings, arrests, and even death, teen takeovers are escalating fast. Should we be bracing for the summer?

Explore your path in social work with the MSW program at Saint Louis University!

Join us next week to learn about flexible program formats, application requirements, and how our MSW can support your professional goals.

Take the next step toward a career rooted in impact and social justice.

🔗 Register here: https://gradapply.slu.edu/register/?id=60372e65-01a2-4e40-9561-856000dbff53