Home About Us Social Work Alumni Association Executive Advisory Committee
The SWAA Executive Advisory Committee will advise the Dean regarding the college’s alumni engagement. They will serve as ambassadors as appropriate, encouraging fellow alumni participation in SWAA and related activities.
Xavier Chavez graduated from New Mexico State University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Social Work and from the University of Kentucky College of Social Work in 2022 with a Master of Social Work and a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Social Work.
Xavier currently works as a master’s licensed school social worker in Gallup, New Mexico, practicing with general education students and is a certified CPI non-violent crisis intervention instructor. He works with students from all grades, kindergarten to twelfth grade, to provide social-emotional support and therapy. He started his career working in corrections as a re-entry specialist.
Outside of social work, Xavier is a high school girls soccer coach and a sports official. He officiates soccer, basketball, and baseball for both youth and adults. Most of his time is spent with social work and sports. However, when he does have free time, you can find him with friends, family, or out on the golf course.
Jennifer Hancock graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Social Work in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and in 1998 with a Master of Social Work.
Jennifer is the President and CEO of Volunteers of America (VOA) of Mid-States, and has served in many capacities during her more than 20 years of professional leadership in the nonprofit sector and in her 15 years advancing the mission of VOA. Under her leadership, VOA has become a nationally recognized expert in providing family-focused and results-oriented solutions for the opioid and addiction crisis. Working closely with a wide range of elected officials and community leaders, the organization has earned consistent recognition for providing best practice care in nearly 50 programs.
Jennifer has led VOA through unprecedented growth and now oversees a $50 million budget and a team of more than 650 professionals across 4 states. In addition to recovery services, VOA also delivers solutions in the areas of veteran services including suicide prevention, housing and homelessness, public health, comprehensive care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and a Restorative Justice program that helps to keep youth out of the criminal justice system. Her love for bringing diverse stakeholders together to solve a complex social problem and seeing the tangible and many positive outcomes of the mission of VOA is what drives her most.
Jennifer is active in the community, serving as Chair of the Leadership Louisville Center and on the boards of the Kentucky Children’s Justice Act Task Force, University of Louisville School of Public Health, Impetus for a Better Louisville, Smart on Crime, National Office of Volunteers of America, AdventHealth Hospital, West End Opportunity Partnership, 1 Clay County, You Decide, Kentucky! and as an Advisory Council Member of Young Professionals Association of Louisville. She was recently honored to receive the 2022 Business First Power 50 award as well as the 2022 Enterprising Women award.
Tasha Kozak graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and from the University of Kentucky College of Social Work in 2021 with a Master of Social Work and a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Social Work.
After completing her graduate field placement at the Red Cross of Spain, Tasha continues to serve isolated groups and communities in the region of Malaga. She is interested in geriatric social work focusing on those affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr. Abigail Latimer graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and from the UK College of Social Work in 2011 with a Master of Social Work and in 2021 with a Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work. She completed her post-doctoral training with the Research and Interventions for Cardiovascular Health (RICH) Heart Program at the UK College of Nursing.
Dr. Latimer is an assistant professor with the UK College of Nursing and is jointly appointed at UK HealthCare as an Outpatient Palliative Clinical Social Worker. Her clinical specialty is psychosocial and mental health care for patients with serious illnesses, and she has experience in behavioral health counseling for persons with addiction. Her research is focused on geriatric palliative care, with projects around serious illness communication, moral distress, heart failure, and older adults.
Dr. Latimer received an Excellence in Clinical Practice award by the Social Work Hospice and Palliative Network and was a Pre-Doctoral Fellow for the Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work. In addition, she is actively involved with the Gerontological Society of America, the Association of Gerontological Education in Social Work, and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
Devonia Love-Vaughn graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Social Work in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and in 1997 with a Master of Social Work. She is currently a doctoral student at Louisiana Tech University in the Educational Leadership program with a concentration in Higher Education Administration. She is also a 2019 graduate of the second cohort of the University of Louisiana System’s Management and Leadership Institute.
Devonia currently serves as the inaugural Dean of Inclusion Initiatives and Student Success at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA, she is the first African-American female to be appointed to a dean position at Louisiana Tech. Additionally, she is an adjunct instructor in the Human Development and Family Science department. Prior to her March 2020 appointment to dean, Devonia served as the director of Multicultural Affairs at Louisiana Tech for four years.
Devonia began her career in higher education 12 years ago as an adjunct instructor, professional advisor and student affairs professional. Prior to higher education, she spent 12 years in the social work profession, where she honed her love of social justice practice, policy and working on behalf of under-served/under-represented populations. Her diverse educational, professional, and personal experiences serve as motivation to create and advocate for accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Devonia believes that embracing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility are not only a fundamental part of academic excellence, but are also the building blocks for social and civil belonging.
Devonia has been married to LaMonte Vaughn, Jr (a 1997 UK alumnus), head track and field coach at Grambling State University, for 24 years. They are the proud parents of Brianna Love Vaughn (21) a sports marketing major at Louisiana Tech University. Devonia’s family plays a key role in her professional and personal success as they encourage her to be a change agent, serve others and lead in a way that is authentic, compassionate, and engaging.
Major Timothy Olsen graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Social Work in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work, from the Army’s Master of Social Work Program in Fort Sam Houston with a Master of Social Work, and is currently a student in the UK College of Social Work Doctor of Philosophy program, with a focus on moral injury and suicide prevention in National Guard populations.
Timothy has been in the military for 20 years, starting as an enlisted soldier, performing clinical work focused on trauma and substance use at Veterans Affairs hospitals in Kentucky and Tennessee, and currently serving as the Deputy State Surgeon and Director of Psychological Health for the Kentucky Army National Guard. He also maintains a part-time private practice in Lexington.
Dr. Shericka Smith graduated from Transylvania University with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, from the University of Louisville with a Master of Science in Social Work with a concentration in School Social Work, and from the University of Kentucky College of Social Work in 2022 with a Doctorate of Social Work.
Dr. Smith is a mental health coordinator for Fayette County Public Schools. She also serves as a part-time instructor with the UK College of Social Work as well as providing mental health counseling at her co-owned agency, Wellness Within, PLLC.
In her free time, Dr. Smith enjoys traveling and watching movies with her dog, Ellie Mae.
Our alumni are dedicated to improving the human condition through steadfast service. Their stories serve to inspire current and new generations of social workers.
The 5 Love Languages introduces parents to the different love languages and discusses ways to use this information to strengthen partner/spouse relationships as well as relationships with children and teenagers.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) come in many forms, from physical and mental abuse to neglect and household dysfunction. This training examines data from the ACE study, how early adversity as
Blended Families: Parenting Children When They Don’t Get Along assists caregivers with identifying issues that children may experience that are unique to blended families. It offers strategies to create a
CORE TEEN (Critical On-going Resource Family Education) Session 4 Nurturing Youth’s Cultural / Racial / Ethnic Needs and Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity February 2, 2023 6:30 pm-9:00 pm EST
Connecting with Your Child While Correcting Behavior introduces parents to strategies to use to help them feel connected to children while correcting difficult behaviors. Parents will learn how to connect
ASK-VIP Support Groups are expressly designed to meet the needs of foster and adoptive parents in an inclusive, safe, and compassionate environment. They are led by seasoned facilitators who have
Child Development 0-5 explores the typical milestones, or skills, that children develop from birth through age 5. It offers resources that caregivers can utilize to determine if a developmental screening
This group will focus on the day to day issues involving relative and fictive kin care and will be shaped by the identified needs of group participants. Members of this
Fostering & Adopting At-Risk Children explores categories of at-risk behaviors among children and adolescents that may lead to negative consequences, like poor health, injury or death. It assists foster/adoptive parents
Caring for Teens in Kinship is a new KIN VIP Support Group offering for caregivers who are caring for teenagers in kinship care. This group will focus on caring for
Helping Foster & Adopted Children Transition to a New School will assist foster/adoptive parents in preparing to enroll a child in a new school. It will also provide practical tips
Positive Discipline for Teenagers will provide foster/Adoptive Parents with effective tools that will guide them to positive discipline and communication with teenagers that are in their care/home. It discusses the
CORE TEEN (Critical On-going Resource Family Education) Session 5 Understanding and Managing Youth’s Challenging Behaviors – Part 1 February 9th, 2023 6:30 pm-8:30 pm EST Via Zoom Stephanie Spires 2
This group is an opportunity for kinship caregivers to come together to find support, community, and resources in the care of relative and fictive children. This group will focus on
Guiding Your Child Through Adolescence explores the physical and emotional changes that children undergo as they enter adolescence. Parents will discuss how parental roles change during this period of their
Description A Child’s Education: Rights & Responsibilities will inform parents of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The training informs foster and adoptive parents of the processes used to
Adoption: Understanding Your Commitment explores adoption dissolution. It addresses the impact on a child and family when adoption dissolution occurs and offers strategies and resources to prevent it. After completing
Compulsive Lying explores why a child may lie compulsively. It identifies strategies and offers resources designed to assist children and their families dealing with this issue. After completing this training,
Drugs: Things You Need to Know is designed to inform parents of the many different classifications of illicit drugs, as well as the current trends related to adolescent drug abuse.
Keeping Families Strong provides foster parents insight on how to keep partnerships, families and friendships strong while providing care to out of home children. It will also provide strategies for
This group will focus on the day to day issues involving relative and fictive kin care and will be a place where each member can find support, resources, ideas, and
ASK-VIP LGBTQ+ Foster/Adoptive Parent Support Groups are specifically designed for foster/adoptive parents who identify as LGBTQ+ as well as foster/adoptive parents who are caring for children or teens who identify
Recognizing the Signs of Adoption Disruption & Dissolution will teach foster/adoptive parents about adoption disruption and dissolution by equipping them with information regarding factors that contribute to disruption/dissolution, statistics on
Monthly Staff Meeting for Centers & Labs Training Resource Center Staff. The meeting is held the 3rd Wednesday of Each Month at the Training Resource Center. This is an in-person
Learning to Communicate: Developing Social Skills will equip parents to understand the process of communicating with children, teaching children to communicate with adults and peers, and developing interpersonal social skills.
CORE TEEN (Critical On-going Resource Family Education) Session 6 Understanding and Managing Youth’s Challenging Behaviors – Part 2 February 16th, 2023 6:30 pm-9:00 pm EST Via Zoom Stephanie Spires 2.5
ASK-VIP Support Group for Foster/Adoptive Parents Caring for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Children provides a welcoming, safe environment for foster and adoptive parents to share resources, concerns, ask questions, and connect
What to Ask When Called About a Placement will help foster and adoptive parents gather information before accepting a placement of a new child. During the training, participants will discuss
Learning Your Child Has a Disability aims to help foster and adoptive parents understand the unique emotions of discovering or confirming a child in their care has a disability. This
ASK-VIP Support Groups are expressly designed to meet the needs of foster and adoptive parents in an inclusive, safe, and compassionate environment. They are led by seasoned facilitators who have
Confidentiality in Foster Care explores the importance of protecting the confidentiality of children in care. It offers strategies for how sensitive information about children in care can be communicated in
This group will focus on the day to day issues involving relative and fictive kin care and will be shaped by the identified needs of group participants. Members of this
Preparing Children for Permanency equips foster/adoptive parents with strategies to prepare children for permanency. It offers insight on the thoughts and emotional reactions that a child transitioning to permanency may
Healthy Boundaries in Teenage Relationships explores healthy and unhealthy dating behaviors. It is designed to assist caregivers in identifying warning signs that a teen may be involved in an abusive
For Kinship caregivers, taking care of a kinship child involves working with the court system-which can sometimes be very scary! From Guardianship, to Temporary Custody, to Permanent Custody, even De
Healing After a Foster Child Leaves Your Home will equip foster parents understand, cope with and heal from the unique pain of a foster child leaving their home. It offers
Caring for Teens in Kinship is a new KIN VIP Support Group offering for caregivers who are caring for teenagers in kinship care. This group will focus on caring for
Attachment & Bonding with your Foster & Adopted Child equips parents to enhance their relationship with foster/adopted children by teaching them the basics about bonding and attachment. This training also
Preventing Child Abuse: Types, Signs & Symptoms will inform parents of the definition of child abuse and ways it can be prevented. It provides descriptions and statistics of different types
Myths & Realities of Foster Care & Adoption enables parents to identify myths and realities related to foster care and adoption. After completing this training, participants will be able to:
Helping Your Child to Succeed in School will increase the ability of foster/adoptive parents to understand educational challenges faced by foster/adopted children. It will give resource parents the tools for
CORE TEEN (Critical On-going Resource Family Education) Session 7 A New Suitcase of Parenting Knowledge and Skills February 23, 2023 6:30 pm-8:30 pm EST Via Zoom Carla Jordan, MS 2
ASK-VIP Support Group for Foster/Adoptive Parents of Teens is specifically designed for foster/adoptive parents who are caring for teenagers or those considering fostering and/or adopting teenagers. This support group offers
Helping Your Child Make Healthy & Positive Choices: Talking to Teens & Preteens will teach foster and adoptive parents the importance of open and ongoing dialogue with their preteen or
Developmental Stages & Children’s Responses to Grief defines grief and explores how children process and express grief at different developmental stages. It offers insight into the unique experiences of grief
Sibling Attachment & Adoption provides parents with tools to promote healthy sibling relationships in foster and adoptive families. Parents will explore different ways in which families are formed and learn
Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew will equip foster and adoptive parents to understand the thoughts and feelings children who are adopted may experience. It offers strategies
Services & Support for Foster & Adoptive Families will inform parents about resources available to individuals with intellectual disabilities through the Michelle P. Waiver Program, which allows eligible individuals to
This group will focus on the day to day issues involving relative and fictive kin care and will be a place where each member can find support, resources, ideas, and
ASK-VIP LGBTQ+ Foster/Adoptive Parent Support Groups are specifically designed for foster/adoptive parents who identify as LGBTQ+ as well as foster/adoptive parents who are caring for children or teens who identify
Adoption: Understanding Your Commitment explores adoption dissolution. It addresses the impact on a child and family when adoption dissolution occurs and offers strategies and resources to prevent it. After completing
Child Development 0-5 explores the typical milestones, or skills, that children develop from birth through age 5. It offers resources that caregivers can utilize to determine if a developmental screening
Healthy Boundaries in Teenage Relationships explores healthy and unhealthy dating behaviors. It is designed to assist caregivers in identifying warning signs that a teen may be involved in an abusive
ASK-VIP Support Groups are expressly designed to meet the needs of foster and adoptive parents in an inclusive, safe, and compassionate environment. They are led by seasoned facilitators who have
Teaching Growth Mindset to Children introduces parents to the two types of mindsets and how beneficial it is for parents to help their children develop a growth mindset. This training will