LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 20, 2026) — The University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) has named Heather L. McCauley, Sc.D, M.S., as associate dean for research.
McCauley joins the CoSW as an associate professor with tenure and brings a nationally recognized research portfolio focused on violence prevention, health and well-being, child and family safety, survivor-centered systems, reproductive health, and community-engaged intervention.
McCauley earned her Doctor of Science in Social Epidemiology and Master of Science in Global Health from Harvard University. Prior to joining UK, she served as associate professor with tenure in the School of Social Work at Michigan State University, where her scholarship advanced prevention science, survivor-centered research, and institutional responses to interpersonal violence.
Her research portfolio includes more than $11.9 million in extramural funding, 87 peer-reviewed journal articles, 10 book chapters, 2 documentaries, and more than 8,600 citations. Her work has been supported by agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Justice, and state and foundation partners.
In her new role, McCauley will help guide the College’s growing research enterprise, support faculty scholarship, and strengthen interdisciplinary partnerships across the university and beyond.
“The College of Social Work is in a moment of extraordinary growth, and our research portfolio is an essential part of that trajectory,” said Jay Miller, dean of the College of Social Work. “Dr. McCauley brings the kind of rigorous, community-engaged and impact-focused scholarship that reflects where we are headed as a College.”
Over the past five years, the College has experienced significant growth across its academic, research and student success enterprises. Enrollment has increased by nearly 400%, the College has expanded its programmatic offerings to include Criminal Justice, welcomed more than 20 new faculty members, celebrated multiple faculty and staff promotions, and recently recognized the largest graduating cohort in its history.
At the same time, research opportunities have continued to expand across the College, from undergraduate student engagement to nationally recognized faculty scholarship. McCauley’s arrival builds on that momentum and reflects the College’s continued investment in strengthening its research infrastructure, supporting faculty inquiry and advancing scholarship with meaningful impact for the Commonwealth and beyond.
McCauley’s scholarship has long emphasized the connection between research and real-world impact. She currently serves as principal investigator on “Cultivating Communities for Change: Promoting Collective Action to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse,” a CDC-funded project focused on community-level prevention strategies.
In addition to her research, McCauley brings extensive leadership experience. She has served as a trustee for St. Lawrence University, chaired academic affairs and governance committees, and contributed to institutional efforts related to sexual misconduct prevention, risk management and academic leadership.
For McCauley, the role represents an opportunity to support faculty whose work is already shaping scholarship, practice and policy.
“I am honored to join the College of Social Work at such an exciting time,” McCauley said. “The College has a strong foundation of faculty scholarship, a clear commitment to community impact and a growing research infrastructure. I look forward to working alongside faculty, staff, students and university partners to expand opportunities for research, interdisciplinary collaboration and meaningful change.”
McCauley’s appointment reflects the College’s continued investment in research excellence and its commitment to advancing scholarship that improve health, inform policy, strengthen communities and prepare the next generation of scholars and practitioners.