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Doctorate of Social Work program earns QM Quality Assurance certification for online excellence 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 29, 2026) — The UK College of Social Work’s online Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program has earned the QM Quality Assurance certification from Quality Matters, a nationally recognized leader in quality assurance for online and innovative digital learning environments, further strengthening a program that has been advancing social work education since its launch. 

Originally developed in response to a growing national shortage of social workers, the DSW program was launched to expand access to advanced education for working professionals while preparing leaders equipped to address complex social challenges. Since its inception, the program has played a key role in shaping a new generation of practitioner-scholars across the nation. 

Quality Matters is a leading global nonprofit organization that provides a research-based framework for evaluating and improving the design of online and hybrid courses. Through faculty-centered peer review and established quality standards, QM helps institutions create digital learning experiences that are clear, accessible and effective. 

The QM Quality Assurance certification is awarded following a rigorous review of course design, including the alignment of learning objectives, assessment strategies, instructional materials, learner engagement and accessibility. 

The certification applies to all courses in the program’s Core Plus curriculum and all five concentrations: clinical practice, military behavioral health, social work education, sport social work and administrative leadership. 

For UK’s DSW program, this recognition affirms that the curriculum is intentionally designed to support student success in a fully online environment while meeting nationally recognized standards for excellence. 

“Earning the QM Quality Assurance certification reflects the intentional design and rigor behind our DSW program,” said Laura Escobar-Ratliff, DSW, clinical associate professor and DSW program director. “It ensures that our students are not only receiving a flexible online education, but one that meets the highest standards for engagement, accessibility and academic excellence.” 

Designed with working professionals in mind, the DSW program offers a flexible, fully online pathway that can be completed in as little as two years, allowing students to advance their education while remaining engaged in their careers and communities. 

The curriculum emphasizes applied research, leadership and real-world problem solving, allowing students to build advanced competencies while continuing their professional practice. The program culminates in a capstone project that translates into actionable solutions for complex challenges. This work is showcased annually through the Virtual Showcase of DSW Scholars, a multi-day online event that invites social workers, students and community professionals to engage with doctoral candidates’ research and earn free continuing education credits. 

At its core, the DSW program develops practitioner-scholars who apply knowledge to improve systems and outcomes. Students can choose from five concentrations: clinical practice, administration, military behavioral health, social work education and sport social work. 

The Quality Matters certification reinforces the strength of the program’s academic design while reflecting the college’s ongoing commitment to accessible, high-quality education.  

As the demand for skilled social work leaders continues to grow, the University of Kentucky College of Social Work is preparing graduates who are equipped to lead with confidence and create lasting change. 

Portrait of Keith Watts in black suit with blue tie

UK social work researcher Keith Watts receives national cancer research award 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 28, 2026) — Keith J. Watts, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW), has been selected to receive a Health Disparities Research Loan Repayment Program award from the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

Kentucky ranks first in the nation for both cancer incidence and cancer mortality, with the heaviest burdens falling on state’s Appalachian counties. 

The NIH Loan Repayment Programs are designed to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals in biomedical and biobehavioral research careers. The Health Disparities Research program supports researchers working to better understand and address unequal health outcomes among populations that have historically experienced barriers to research, prevention and care. 

Over the next two years, Watts will advance his project, “A Multi-Pillar Program to Investigate the Bio-Behavioral Mechanisms of Cancer Disparities.” 

“For me, this award is nothing short of a blessing,” Watts said. “It is life-transforming support that affirms the importance of this work and gives me greater freedom to pursue it fully. I am deeply grateful to my mentors and colleagues at UK, especially Dr. Justin Xavier Moore, who will serve as my designated mentor for this project.” 

Watts’ scholarship examines how chronic stress and discrimination shape long-term health, and how belonging to a supportive community can protect against those effects, including cancer risk and prevention. 

The new project will expand on that scholarship by examining the biological and behavioral mechanisms that link those experiences to cancer outcomes. The award will support work drawing on national cohort data and an ongoing annual statewide community health survey Watts helped design. 

Watts’ selection reflects both the national significance of his research and the interdisciplinary environment available to researchers at UK. In addition to his role in the CoSW, Watts is a core faculty member in the Center for Health, Engagement and Transformation, a member of the NCI-designated UK Markey Cancer Center’s Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program, a 2025-26 fellow in Markey’s LAUNCH (Leaders Advancing UNity and Cancer Health) Leadership Academy and an affiliate faculty member in African American and Africana Studies. 

These connections allow Watts to bring a social work perspective into collaborative cancer research while drawing on expertise in public health, medicine, behavioral science and community engagement. 

His recent collaborative research has examined the relationship between identity, cumulative stress and cancer mortality. In a study co-authored with Moore — an associate professor in UK College of Medicine, serving as assistant director of Population Science, and assistant director of Community Impact at Markey — and other researchers, the team analyzed nationally representative health data to examine cancer mortality among lesbian, gay and bisexual adults experiencing high allostatic load, the cumulative physiological “wear and tear” of chronic stress. 

The study, published in March in Cancer Causes & Control, analyzing 12,470 U.S. adults found that sexual minority adults with high allostatic load had nearly three times the risk of dying from cancer as heterosexual adults with low allostatic load, even after accounting for race and ethnicity, education, gender and marital status. Notably, person-level factors (income, poor self-reported health, frequent health care visits, and having seen a mental health provider) each accounted for a small share of this gap. The findings underscore the importance of looking beyond individual behaviors to understand how social and structural conditions can shape long-term health outcomes. 

A separate study that Watts co-authored in JAMA Network Open found a similar pattern along lines of education. Analyzing data on more than 20,000 U.S. men, the team reported that men with high allostatic load who had not completed high school were about 1.7 times likely to die of cancer than men with a college degree and low allostatic load, after accounting for age, income, smoking and prior health conditions. Before those adjustments, they were nearly five times as likely. 

That connection carries particular weight in Kentucky, where 40 of the state’s 120 counties have experienced persistent poverty for decades and low educational attainment is among the factors researchers link to the state’s cancer burden. Using collaborative and community-engaged research methods, Watts seeks to translate research findings into interventions, policies and systems that better respond to the experiences of the communities they are intended to serve. 

The Loan Repayment Program award represents a significant investment in Watts’ continued development as a cancer disparities researcher. By reducing the burden of educational debt in exchange for a sustained research commitment, the program allows researchers to dedicate more time and attention to work addressing pressing national health challenges. 

For Watts, the award also affirms a research agenda centered on ensuring the benefits of cancer research, prevention and care reach communities that have not always experienced them equitably. 

Through his project, mentorship and partnerships that cross both disciplinary and institutional lines, Watts will continue investigating the factors that drive unequal cancer outcomes and identifying opportunities to build more responsive and equitable systems of care. 

Aubrey Jones smiling on campus

UK social work researcher Aubrey Jones receives national health research award 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 22, 2026) — Aubrey Jones, Ph.D., an associate professor in the University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW), has been selected to receive a Health Disparities Research Loan Repayment Program award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health. 

The NIH Loan Repayment Programs are designed to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals in biomedical and biobehavioral research careers. The Health Disparities Research program specifically supports researchers whose work focuses on reducing disparities in health outcomes and access to care. 

“I am grateful to receive this award and for the opportunity it gives me to continue pursuing research I care deeply about,” Jones said. “This support will allow me to further examine the barriers that affect women and families and to advance community-informed solutions that make meaningful care and support more accessible.” 

Jones’ selection reflects both the national significance of her research and the strength of the research environment at the CoSW. The award will help support her continued development as a scholar while allowing her to dedicate sustained time to her research in behavioral health, maternal health, substance use and expanding access to care in rural communities. 

By investing in researchers like Jones, the program helps institutions such as UK retain faculty whose work is positioned to produce meaningful benefits for communities in Kentucky and beyond. 

Since joining UK in 2021, Jones has pursued community-engaged research examining maternal and postpartum health, substance use recovery, access to mental and physical health care and has emphasized the perspectives of those living in predominately rural communities. 

In June, Jones was promoted to associate professor with tenure in recognition of her contributions to research, teaching, mentorship and service. She has also served as acting director of the college’s doctoral program, supporting curriculum planning, student development and faculty mentorship. 

Her recent maternal health research includes the Gestational Diabetes Aftercare and Postpartum Screening Study. Supported by a UL1 Pilot Award, the interdisciplinary study brings together researchers across social work and healthcare. The team is reviewing postpartum care trends, interviewing patients about barriers to care and gathering health care providers’ perspectives on improving screening and long-term support. 

Jones has also examined how social media and virtual spaces can extend postpartum care to mothers who may otherwise face isolation, particularly in rural communities where distance and transportation can limit access to traditional support groups. Her study, “Creating, Connecting, and Communicating: A Look at Social Support for Postpartum Women,” examines the development, use and impact of an online support group for mothers within three months postpartum. 

Jones’ research has been recognized and supported by several University of Kentucky programs, including UK’s Research Scholars Program. 

She also served as a 2024-25 Community Engaged Research Fellow. In 2025, the Community Action Council recognized Jones as a nominee for its “Unapologetically Woman” series, which honors women whose leadership and service contribute to stronger Kentucky communities. 

Across these projects, Jones’ scholarship centers on a consistent question: How can research help health and behavioral health systems respond more effectively to the people and communities they serve? 

The NIDA Health Disparities Research Loan Repayment Program award will support Jones as she continues advancing that work and building research partnerships designed to improve health outcomes in Kentucky and beyond. 

Welcome Heather McCauley

Heather L. McCauley named associate dean for research at UK College of Social Work

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.

Group photo of the in-person attendees for the 2026 DSW Rez Week Reception at Patterson Hall

UK DSW Residency Week builds community across distances 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 17, 2026)  — Students in the University of Kentucky College of Social Work’s Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) program may live and work across the country, but they are not completing their doctoral journeys alone. 

The program’s 2026 Virtual Residency Week, held July 6-9, brought students, faculty, staff and alumni together for four days of connection, reflection and professional development. Through virtual sessions and optional activities in Lexington, participants exchanged advice, strengthened relationships and explored strategies for navigating each stage of the DSW program. 

Residency Week is an important community-building tradition within UK’s online DSW program. The annual experience gives students opportunities to step outside their individual courses, connect with the broader College of Social Work network and reflect on their progress as doctoral students and social work professionals. 

“What I love about our program is the passion our students and alumni have for sharing and giving back to one another and to the next cohort,” said Laura Escobar-Ratliff, DSW program director. 

Support throughout the doctoral journey 

Programming was designed to meet students at different stages of the program, from beginning core coursework to preparing for the concentration year and capstone project. 

Current students Antwan Aiken, Amy Case, Marilyn Johnson and Charmaine Mattocks participated in “Surviving and Thriving in the DSW Program Your First Year.” The panelists shared lessons from their own experiences and offered guidance for adjusting to doctoral-level coursework while balancing professional and personal responsibilities. 

Core-year students also participated in small-group “Temperature Check” conversations with College of Social Work faculty, staff and alumni. The sessions gave students space to discuss how their initial semester was progressing, ask questions and reflect on the transition into doctoral study. 

Concentration-year students participated in similar “Coffee Chat” sessions with DSW alumni. These informal conversations allowed students to discuss their progress, receive advice and connect with graduates who understood the demands of the program’s later stages. 

Students preparing for their final year heard from alumni Tahlisha Dorsey, Veronica Green, Timothy King and Patty Zavaleta during “You Got This! Thriving Your Concentration Year and Capstone Project.” Moderated by alumnus Dustin Roberson, the panel explored strategies for balancing coursework, professional responsibilities and progress toward completing a capstone project. 

Together, the sessions encouraged students to speak candidly about the doctoral experience while learning from peers and professionals at different points in their journeys. 

Learning beyond the classroom 

Residency Week also offered professional development sessions focused on persistence, scholarship and the application of doctoral education. 

Amanda Kern facilitated “The Science of Finishing: Grit, Growth Mindset and the Neuroscience of Doctoral Persistence.” The session examined strategies for maintaining motivation and continuing to make progress through the challenges of doctoral study. 

Karen Durham, DSW, an alumnus of the program and clinical instructor in the College of Social Work, led “Grounding Your Capstone: Selecting and Integrating Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworks That Fit Your Topic.” Students considered how theoretical and conceptual frameworks can strengthen the connection between a capstone topic, existing scholarship and professional practice. 

Recent graduate Sanjuanita De Luna returned to present her capstone project, “Emotional Preparedness as a Standalone Professional Competence: The Case of Adverse Childhood Experience in the Social Work Classroom.” 

Students also heard from alumni Lila Elliott, Yolanda Ross, Chris Rakestraw, Carol Taylor and Gariy Livshits during “DSWs in Action.” The panelists discussed how completing the program influenced their practice, professional development and approaches to leadership. 

Alumni participation provided students with examples of how a DSW education can be applied in classrooms, organizations and communities. It also reflected the lasting connections graduates maintain with the program and with the students following them. 

Connecting online and in Lexington 

Although the week’s academic programming was held virtually, the DSW student organization also coordinated an optional, multiday experience in Lexington. 

Students traveled to UK’s campus for a campus tour, social gatherings at restaurants throughout Lexington and an in-person component of the DSW reception. The student-led activities gave classmates who typically connect through a screen the opportunity to meet face to face and experience the university community together. 

Residency Week concluded July 9 with a hybrid reception. Students on campus gathered with faculty, staff and alumni, while those unable to travel joined virtually. 

The combination of virtual and in-person programming reflected the broader purpose of Residency Week: building meaningful relationships while maintaining the flexibility and accessibility of an online doctoral program. 

This year’s event also followed a significant milestone for the DSW program. The program recently achieved candidacy for accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education, an important step toward initial accreditation. 

The achievement reflects the work of the program’s faculty and staff and its commitment to providing rigorous, practice-focused doctoral education that supports professionals serving communities across Kentucky and beyond. 

Residency Week brought that mission to life by creating space for students to learn from one another, build professional networks and feel connected to a community invested in their success. 

College of Social Work welcomes Jordan Maynard to faculty

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 16, 2026) — The University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jordan Maynard as a lecturer in the lecturer title series. Maynard brings an expansive background in behavioral health, higher education and community service, along with a passion for understanding the people and cultures that shape the communities social workers serve.

Originally from Mingo County, West Virginia, and a longtime resident of Pike County, Kentucky, Maynard has built his career around serving others. His professional experience spans several roles across health care, behavioral health and higher education, including serving as an interfaith chaplain at Pikeville Medical Center, a behavioral health clinician and, most recently, program coordinator of human and social services at Big Sandy Community and Technical College.

Working across these settings has strengthened Maynard’s commitment to preparing future social workers who understand the importance of compassionate, culturally responsive practice. His experiences supporting patients, students and communities have reinforced his belief that meaningful relationships and a service-oriented mindset are at the heart of effective social work.

facMaynard earned a Bachelor of Science in Comparative Religion from the University of Pikeville and completed graduate coursework in theological studies at Milligan College in Johnson City, Tennessee. He later returned to the University of Pikeville to earn his Master of Social Work. His academic interests center on people, culture and society, particularly the ways those elements influence one another and shape the human experience.

He is a Kentucky Certified Social Worker (CSW) and remains committed to advancing social work education through thoughtful teaching, interdisciplinary collaboration and student mentorship.

“Joining the CoSW is an exciting opportunity to invest in the next generation of social workers,” Maynard said. “I look forward to helping students develop not only the knowledge and skills needed for practice, but also the curiosity, empathy and cultural awareness that strengthen our profession and the communities we serve.”

“Jordan’s professional experiences reflect a genuine commitment to serving others across a variety of settings,” Jackie Duron, Ph.D., associate dean of faculty advancement, said. “His interdisciplinary background, commitment to student success and passion for understanding the human experience will enrich our students’ learning and strengthen our clinical education programs.”

Outside of work, Maynard enjoys studying ancient languages, including Classical Arabic, Masoretic Hebrew and Koine Greek. He also holds both a motorcycle license and a student pilot license. His self-described lifelong quest is finding the perfect cup of espresso.

Please join us in welcoming Jordan Maynard to the CoSW faculty!

Welcome Dr. Thomas Mowen to the College of Social Work

UK College of Social Work welcomes Thomas Mowen to faculty

Lexington, Ky. (July 7, 2026) — The University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) is pleased to welcome Thomas Mowen, Ph.D., as an associate professor bringing nationally recognized expertise in criminology, youth development, community safety and criminal justice policy to the College’s growing criminal justice programs. 

Mowen joins UK from Bowling Green State University, where he built a distinguished record of scholarship examining how schools, communities and justice systems influence the lives of children, families and vulnerable populations. His research has explored topics including school discipline, juvenile justice, victimization, substance use, community safety and the long-term effects of punishment and social control on life outcomes.  

“I’m excited to join a College that values interdisciplinary collaboration and community impact,” Mowen said. “Throughout my career, I’ve been interested in connecting research to real-world challenges and helping communities identify practical solutions that improve lives.”  

Mowen’s path to academia began in Kentucky. After initially leaving college, he returned to higher education at the University of Louisville just before turning 21. There, he discovered a passion for understanding family functioning, child wellbeing and criminal justice—interests that would shape the course of his career. He later earned both a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Louisville before completing a Ph.D. in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at the University of Delaware, with concentrations in criminology and research methods.  

“Mowen’s scholarship examines issues that are highly relevant to the students we serve and the communities we work with. His expertise in juvenile justice, school safety and community wellbeing will strengthen our criminal justice programs and create new opportunities for student engagement in research and applied practice.” 

As a scholar, Mowen is widely recognized for research examining how formal systems—including school suspension, arrest and incarceration—shape youth development, family functioning, crime, victimization and substance use across the life course. His work frequently bridges disciplines and has involved collaborations with organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), Southern Poverty Law Center and multiple local, state and federal agencies.  

Among his applied policy contributions, Mowen authored a white paper for the National Institute of Justice examining unintended consequences of school safety practices, contributed to a U.S. Supreme Court amicus brief related to school discipline and worked with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on initiatives involving the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN).  

His commitment to community-engaged scholarship extends beyond the classroom and research lab. As a board member for the Brown Bag Food Project, a nonprofit food pantry in Ohio, Mowen has helped support efforts to increase food access for local families. His research examining the relationship between food insecurity and crime helped support community grant funding and innovative partnerships designed to strengthen long-term food security.  

At UK, Mowen looks forward to continuing research that examines how systems, policies and communities can work together to improve outcomes for children and families while preparing the next generation of criminal justice professionals. 

His teaching experience spans a wide range of subjects, including criminology, policing, deviance and social control, criminal justice and mental health, inequality in the criminal justice system and research methods. He is particularly passionate about helping students understand how research can inform policy and practice.  

“Higher education in Kentucky was transformative for me,” Mowen said. “I’m excited to return home to the Commonwealth and help students who want to make a difference in their communities, too.” 

Outside of work, Mowen enjoys motorcycling, dirt biking, and off-roading. He is also an identical twin married to an identical twin. 

Group photo of DSW students in regalia standing with Dr. E-R during 2026 Graduation Commencement

UK College of Social Work DSW program achieves CSWE candidacy status

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 6, 2026) — When the University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) launched its online Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program in 2020, it did so in response to a growing need.

Across Kentucky and the nation, communities were facing increasingly complex challenges including child abuse and neglect, substance use, mental health concerns, poverty, and workforce shortages across the helping professions. The college designed the DSW program to help meet that moment by preparing advanced social work practitioners to lead in clinical practice, applied research, administrative leadership, and other critical areas of service.

Now, the program has reached another important milestone.

The DSW program has achieved candidacy for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s Board of Accreditation. The designation marks a significant step in the program’s progress toward initial accreditation and reflects its continued commitment to quality, rigor, and innovation in doctoral social work education.

“This milestone reflects the intentionality, rigor and innovation that have shaped our program from the beginning,” said Laura Escobar-Ratliff, DSW program director. “Our faculty and staff have worked thoughtfully to build a high-quality online doctoral experience that prepares advanced social work practitioners to lead change in their organizations, communities and fields of practice.”

The DSW program was created with working practitioners in mind. Offered fully online, the program allows students to advance their careers while continuing to serve their communities. Through doctoral-level coursework and applied capstone research, students strengthen their leadership, scholarship, and practice expertise. The program culminates in the Annual Virtual Showcase of DSW Scholars, a multi-day event featuring student research and free continuing education opportunities for attendees.

The candidacy designation is the latest in a series of milestones for the program.

In recent years, the college launched the Sport Social Work Concentration within the DSW program – the first programmatic offering of its kind. Designed in response to the growing mental health needs of athletes and athletic communities, the concentration prepares doctoral-level social workers to provide support in athletic environments and to explore the strategic use of sport as a therapeutic and community-building intervention.

The program also earned Quality Matters certification for its core curriculum, as well as its clinical practice, military behavioral health, sport social work and social work education concentrations.

Together, the milestones point to a program that has grown from first-of-its-kind into a nationally distinctive model for advanced social work education.

“When this program launched, we recognized a clear and urgent need: social challenges were becoming more complex, and the profession needed more social workers prepared to lead at the highest levels of practice,” said Jay Miller, dean of CoSW. “The DSW program was built in response to that need. It expands access to advanced social work education, strengthens the workforce and prepares practitioners to improve systems that directly affect people’s lives. Achieving CSWE candidacy status is an important milestone in that work and a reflection of the rigor, innovation and intentionality that have guided this program from the beginning.”

Students admitted to candidate programs in the fall (or later) of the 2025-2026 academic year will be retroactively recognized as graduates from a CSWE-BOA accredited program as long as the program attains initial accreditation.

For more information about the UK College of Social Work’s Doctor of Social Work program, visit https://online.uky.edu/doctoral/social-work/dsw.

Passive Scrolling on Social Media, by Avalan Nuovo.

UK criminal justice faculty member examines public response to victimhood in Sean “Diddy” Combs trial 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 2, 2026) — A new article co-authored by University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) faculty member Paul Bleakley, Ph.D., examines how public conversations about high-profile criminal trials can shape, challenge and contest who is recognized as a victim.

Published in Victims & Offenders, the article, “Who Gets to Be a Victim? Public Responses to Victimhood in Diddy’s Trial,” analyzes public reaction to Sean “Diddy” Combs’ 2025 federal trial. Combs was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges and convicted of prostitution-related offenses, a mixed verdict that sparked widespread public debate online.

Bleakley co-authored the article with Daniel Sailofsky, Ph.D., of the University of Toronto, and Maurice St Matthews, doctoral candidate at the University of New Haven. Together, the research team examined 1,000 high-engagement Instagram comments to better understand how social media users responded to the victims, the defendant and the broader meaning of justice in the case.

Their findings revealed a sharply polarized response.

In many comments, victim status was denied or minimized. Some commenters mocked the victims, questioned their credibility or shifted blame back onto those who made allegations against Combs. Other comments, however, framed the verdict as part of a larger pattern: the criminal legal system’s inability to consistently deliver justice for women, particularly in cases involving power, fame, sexual violence and public scrutiny.

“High-profile trials do not end when the verdict is read,” Bleakley said. “They continue to be argued in public spaces, especially online, where people make sense of guilt, innocence, credibility and harm in real time. What we found is that victimhood itself became contested.”

The article explores how social media can become a cultural battleground in the aftermath of major criminal cases. In the Diddy trial, researchers found that commenters were not only reacting to the evidence or the verdict. They were also debating who deserved sympathy, whose suffering counted and whether the legal system was capable of recognizing certain forms of harm.

The research also identified a smaller but significant set of comments that framed Combs as a victim of racialized persecution. The authors connect this response to the concept of “himpathy,” a term coined by philosopher Kate Manne to describe disproportionate sympathy extended to men accused of misogyny, sexual assault or harassment, often at the expense of their alleged victims.

“In many of the comments we analyzed, victim status was denied and blame was redirected toward the victims, who were often mocked or criticized for their allegations against Combs,” Bleakley said. “At the same time, a large proportion of comments framed the verdict as another example of the criminal legal system’s structural inability to produce justice for women. That polarization shows how high-profile trials can become public battlegrounds over credibility, accountability and whose experiences are recognized as harm.”

For Bleakley, the study contributes to a growing body of research on crime, media and public perception. It also reflects the importance of examining digital spaces as sites where legal narratives are created and contested.

“Social media is not the justice system, but it is one place where public perceptions of justice are formed and contested,” Bleakley said. “In high-profile cases, online reactions can reveal how people understand victims, defendants, credibility and accountability. Those conversations can reinforce harmful myths, but they can also surface deep frustration with systems that many believe fail survivors.”

The article also highlights the role of criminal justice scholarship in helping students and the public better understand the relationship between law, culture and power. As a faculty member in the criminal justice program, Bleakley will teach Cyberdeviance and Cyberviolence, a newly developed course that examines crime and harmful behavior in digital spaces, while helping students study crime and justice through interdisciplinary, evidence-based and human-centered perspectives.

As one of the first criminal justice faculty members to join the CoSW following the launch of its criminal justice programs in fall 2023, Bleakley has played an important role in building the college’s visibility within the field. His scholarship and professional engagement have helped expand CoSW’s presence at major national conferences, including the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences and the American Society of Criminology.

The article is available online through Victims & Offenders.

Portrait of Sarah Ellis, class of 2026

Online MSW student turns flexibility into impact across borders 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 29, 2026) — When Sarah Ellis moved to Honduras in 2019, she knew she wanted to continue serving communities in meaningful ways. She also knew that, someday, she wanted to earn a graduate degree that would help her do that work with greater knowledge, skill and confidence. 

What she did not know was that, just months after her move, the COVID-19 pandemic would intensify many of the needs already facing the community around her. 

Ellis, originally from Alabama, was working with Legacy Mission International, a new nonprofit organization in Honduras. As the organization grew, Ellis helped build programs and outreach efforts in response to the needs she was seeing each day. 

“The pandemic exacerbated a lot of the social challenges that we were already facing,” Ellis said. “There was so much need, and there were not a lot of established resources. We had to learn how to start with something and move forward.” 

Ellis saw that many women in the community were navigating violence, addiction, exploitation, poverty and limited access to support systems. Many also had children at home and few options for childcare or stable income. 

In response, Ellis helped establish a Women’s Advocacy Center in 2021. What began as a point of contact for women in crisis grew to include skills workshops, legal advocacy, counseling, education and other forms of support. Workshops such as sewing offered women a way to build skills and pursue financial stability while still caring for their children. 

“We realized that if we wanted to address addiction, violence and exploitation, we also had to address basic needs”, Ellis said. “We also knew that connecting local women to each other would decrease isolation, a factor that had reinforced many of the problems we had been seeing. With each season, the center expanded to fit the needs of the women around us.” 

The experience gave Ellis significant exposure to community advocacy and direct service, but it also clarified what she still wanted to learn. Her undergraduate background in Spanish and human development and family studies had given her a strong foundation for understanding people and systems, but she wanted more training in assessment, intervention and clinical practice. 

“I had a good understanding of people, but I needed more intervention and assessment skills,” Ellis said. “That’s what led me to pursue a Master of Social Work.” 

Because Ellis was living abroad, finding the right program required careful planning. She spent nearly two years researching programs that were reputable, flexible and able to support a student completing coursework from another country. The University of Kentucky College of Social Work’s online MSW program stood out. 

“The program fit both of the things I needed,” Ellis said. “I needed a reputable program, and I needed one that would allow me to continue living and working abroad.” 

While completing the program online, Ellis was able to immediately apply what she was learning in class to her work in Honduras. Concepts from coursework informed the way she approached advocacy, communication, assessment and program development. 

“Being able to work and study at the same time was incredibly impactful,” Ellis said. “Even techniques I learned in class could immediately affect my work. I could tell a difference.” 

The UK College of Social Work practicum education team also helped Ellis navigate practicum requirements while she was abroad. Because she did not have access to an MSW-level supervisor in Honduras, the college helped provide virtual supervision, allowing her to continue progressing through the program without stepping away from her community-based work. 

“They made it where there were zero obstacles for me,” Ellis said. “It was exactly what I needed.” 

Ellis moved back to the United States in time to complete her advanced practicum and gain experience in the U.S. social work system before graduation. She is now completing her advanced practicum at North Harbor Pavilion in Alabama, working in an inpatient psychiatric setting. 

The experience has expanded her understanding of clinical social work and mental health care. In Honduras, much of her work focused on domestic violence, addiction, sexual trauma and community advocacy. In her advanced practicum, she is working with patients experiencing challenges such as drug-induced psychosis, suicidal ideation and acute mental health needs. 

“It is a totally different culture and a totally different set of resources,” Ellis said. “But even still, I’ve been able to apply so much of what I learned in my classes, especially around assessment.” 

Ellis will graduate in August 2026 and plans to work toward clinical licensure. As she looks toward that next step, she said her experience at UK has affirmed both her professional goals and the value of flexible, accessible graduate education. 

“I would not have been able to do my master’s if UK had not made it possible,” Ellis said. “I’m so thankful for that.” 

For Ellis, the College of Social Work’s fully online MSW program did more than allow her to earn a degree from abroad. It enabled her to continue serving a community she cared deeply about while gaining the professional preparation needed for long-term impact.