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Three Social Work Doctoral Students Named 2025-2027 DREAM Scholars 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 2025) —Three students in the University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) PhD program—Kristen Theile, Levone Li, and Holden Dillman—have been selected for the highly competitive 2025-2027 cohort of the DREAM Scholars Program. 

The DREAM Scholars is led by UK’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science and aims to support early-stage investigators whose research focuses on accelerating discoveries to improve health. The two-year program provides mentorship, funding, and professional development to help scholars advance their research and career trajectories. 

“This recognition speaks to the caliber of social work research being led by our doctoral students,” said Dr. Natalie Pope, director of the CoSW PhD program. “Kristen, Levone, and Holden are advancing meaningful, community-informed work that aligns directly with the mission of the DREAM program—and of our College as a whole.” 

Kristen Theile, a dual doctoral candidate earning both a Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) and Ph.D., brings years of nonprofit and community-based experience to her academic pursuits. Her research focuses on human service organizations through the lens of positive psychology and holistic wellness, with a particular interest in how organizational health influences service outcomes. Kristen’s applied perspective is shaped by her work with grassroots organizations both domestically and internationally. 

Levon Lee, now in his third year of doctoral study, is known for his dynamic, data-driven research at the intersection of behavioral health, sport, and youth development. A published scholar and frequent conference presenter, Lee’s work explores aggression, resilience, and mental health among college athletes and youth populations, drawing from advanced statistical methodologies and psychometric testing. He is a longstanding member of the Sport Social Work Research Lab at UK, where he has contributed to multiple program evaluations and book chapters focused on experiential learning and social-emotional skill development.  

Holden Dillman, also a third-year doctoral student, was recently awarded the James S. Brown Graduate Student Award for Research for his work on Appalachian youth mental health. His research investigates how early-life adversity shapes long-term behavioral and emotional outcomes, with an emphasis on resilience and place-based experiences in health access. Dillman’s work is deeply informed by the cultural and social contexts of rural Kentucky. 

To learn more about the DREAM Scholars Program, visit: https://www.ccts.uky.edu/education-training/career-development-and-training-programs/dream-scholars-program.

UK College of Social Work Welcomes Dr. Lella Still as New Faculty Member 

The University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) has announced Lella Still, DSW, LCSW, as a new clinical instructor. Dr. Still brings more than 15 years of experience in behavioral health and social work leadership to the CoSW. 

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Still to the CoSW faculty,” said Dr. Jackie Duron, CoSW Associate Dean for Faculty Advancement. “Her professional expertise, leadership experience, and dedication to students will be an invaluable asset to our College and to the social work profession.” 

Still began her social work career at Eastern State Hospital, where she served in a variety of roles spanning direct patient care and leadership. Since 2022, she has held the position of Director of Behavioral Health Social Work for UK HealthCare, overseeing teams of social workers across four inpatient behavioral health sites: Eastern State Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital, Kentucky Children’s Hospital, and the recently opened  EmPATH (Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment, and Healing) Center, the first facility of its kind in Kentucky. 

In addition to her leadership in health care, Still serves on Lexington’s Homelessness Prevention and Intervention Board helping shape local policy and community-based solutions. 

Still earned her Bachelor of Science degrees in Journalism and English from the University of Kentucky in 2006, her Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Louisville in 2010 and is a 2023 Doctorate of Social Work graduate from the University of Kentucky. She has taught as a part-time instructor at UK since 2021 and is also a licensed clinical social worker who has supervised numerous social workers throughout her career. 

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Still enjoys time with her husband and two sons, ages eight and 13. Together, they share a love of collecting and playing old-school video games, with Wii Sports, Mario Kart, and Mortal Kombat among their recent favorites. In her free time, she also enjoys hiking, traveling, and reading. 

Two Social Work faculty named 2025-26 TEK faculty fellows 

LEXINGTON, Ky. — University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) faculty members Dr. Laneshia Conner and Dr. Madri Hall-Faul have been named 2025-26 Transdisciplinary Educational approaches to advance Kentucky (TEK) Faculty Fellows. 

The TEK initiative, facilitated in partnership with UK’s Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT), supports faculty in developing and redesigning courses that foster cross-disciplinary collaboration and build employability skills in students—skills critical to addressing many of Kentucky’s most pressing challenges. 

Conner, assistant professor of social work, brings to the fellowship her expertise in public health and aging. Her research focuses on HIV prevention and health communication, particularly among older adult populations. 

Hall-Faul, assistant professor of social work, focuses on human rights and policy implementation—two areas she describes as “inherently transdisciplinary.” Her published research emphasizes the need to integrate coursework that examines the federal rulemaking process, preparing future practitioners who are interested in navigating and influencing administrative policies. 

“Transdisciplinary teaching doesn’t just broaden a student’s academic perspective—it equips them with the practical, collaborative skills they’ll need in the real world,” said Hall-Faul. “The TEK Fellowship allows us to reimagine our classrooms as spaces where policy, practice, and innovation intersect.” 

Both faculty members’ scholarly work and pedagogical philosophies align with TEK’s emphasis on real-world learning and course innovation. As TEK Faculty Fellows, Conner and Hall-Faul will engage in a yearlong Faculty Learning Community, beginning with orientation and course development in the fall semester. They will receive continued support throughout the academic year to implement coursework designed to prepare students for Kentucky’s evolving workforce needs. 

To learn more about TEK, visit https://www.uky.edu/tek.  

Carly Kimiecik Joins CoSW as Assistant Professor and Assistant Director of Sport Social Work Research Lab 

LEXINGTON, Ky. —The University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) is pleased to welcome Carly Kimiecik, PhD, MSW, as an incoming Assistant Professor. She will also serve as Assistant Director of the CoSW Sport Social Work Research Lab, working alongside Director Dr. Tarkington Newman to further the field of sport social work. 

Originally from Oxford, Ohio, Carly has called Columbus and West Lafayette home while completing graduate studies and pursuing community-engaged work in youth development, sport, and public health. She will relocate to Lexington this August to begin her new role. 

Carly brings with her a dynamic background that bridges youth programming, social work, and sport-based development. After earning dual undergraduate degrees from Miami University in Health Promotion and American Studies, Carly worked with After-School All-Stars and LiFEsports in Columbus, Ohio, where she served in multiple roles including program assistant, behavior specialist, and college and career readiness co-lead. 

She earned her MSW from The Ohio State University, where she contributed to student-athlete support initiatives and gained experience in program development, implementation, and evaluation through her work with LiFEsports. Following her time at Ohio State, she pursued a Ph.D. in public health at Purdue University. While at Purdue, she managed a public health research lab, contributed to the Center for Health Excellence, Quality, and Innovation, and served as a mentor for student-athletes through the Center for Academic Vision and Excellence in the athletics department. 

Carly’s research explores the lived experiences of youth and student-athletes through strengths-based and community-engaged approaches. Her work focuses on the intersection of health, development, and well-being across socio-ecological systems—especially in sport and play-based settings. She is particularly passionate about integrating social work into athletic contexts to promote holistic youth development and to strengthen community partnerships that address social determinants of health. 

Prior to joining the University of Kentucky, Carly served as an assistant professor in the Department of Family Science and Social Work at Miami University. 

“Dr. Kimiecik brings an exciting depth of experience to our growing sport social work efforts,” said Dr. Jackie Duron, Associate Dean of Faculty Advancement. “Her community-engaged research and commitment to youth development will not only enrich our academic programs, but also strengthen our partnerships across Kentucky and beyond.” 

Outside of her academic work, Carly enjoys spending time with her cats, friends, and partner, staying active through running, boxing, and tennis, and tuning into her favorite podcasts while out on walks. She’s also a college sports enthusiast and—fun fact—is ambidextrous! 

Dean Miller with two ARC recipients

UK College of Social Work to Host 3rd Annual Recognition Celebration 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 11, 2025) – The University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) will host its 3rd Annual Recognition Celebration on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at The Carrick House in downtown Lexington. 

The event will bring together faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends of the College to celebrate the achievements and contributions that define the CoSW community. 

Honoring Excellence Across the CoSW Community 

During the program, attendees will hear from Dean Justin “Jay” Miller, Ph.D., and join in recognizing a wide range of honorees, including: 

  • Donors and Scholarship Recipients – Celebrating the generosity of donors who make scholarships possible and honoring the students whose academic journeys are supported through that investment. 
     
  • Retirees and Service Milestones – Honoring faculty and staff whose careers have shaped the College, including those marking 20- and 30-year service anniversaries and those retiring in 2025. 
     
  • People First, People Always Awards – Recognizing faculty and staff who exemplify the College’s values of compassion, service, and dedication to improving the human condition. 
     
  • Dean’s Student Advisory Council Members – Highlighting students who serve in advisory roles to represent their peers and strengthen the student experience. 
     
  • Student Award Recipients – Showcasing outstanding students who have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, and commitment to their professions. 
     
  • Alumni Leaders and SWAA Awards – Celebrating the impact of the Social Work Alumni Association (SWAA) Executive Advisory Committee and honoring alumni whose service and leadership advance the mission of the College. 

A Growing Tradition 

Now in its third year, the Recognition Celebration has become a signature event for the College of Social Work. The program highlights the impact of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners whose efforts strengthen the College’s mission to advance social work and criminal justice education, research, and service. 

“Each member of our community plays a unique role in the life of the College,” said Dean Miller. “This celebration is about recognizing those contributions and the collective impact we make as we continue to improve the human condition—always, in all ways.” 

University of Kentucky College of Social Work Welcomes Megan Trafford 

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) is pleased to welcome Megan Trafford, MS, as a Lecturer. 

Originally from New York, Trafford most recently lived in Connecticut while pursuing her academic and professional career in criminal justice. She taught introductory statistics for the criminal justice profession at the University of New Haven, where she also served as a teaching assistant for multiple courses including Victims and Victimization, Criminology, and Criminal Legal System Injustices.  

Notably, Trafford led an international research project in which she redesigned a survey measuring patterns of deception in intimate relationships—including misrepresentation or non-disclosure of important personal information—which has since been disseminated in England, Scotland, and The Netherlands, with plans for future cross-national comparisons. 

Trafford earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the State University of New York at Oneonta in 2019, before completing a master’s degree in criminal justice at the University of New Haven in 2022. She also holds graduate certificates in forensic psychology, and victim advocacy and service management. Currently, Trafford is completing her PhD in criminal justice at the University of New Haven.  

In addition to her academic training, Trafford has completed C-SSRS training through the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc. 

“Megan’s expertise in criminal justice, victimization, and human rights brings an important dimension to our College,” said Jackie Duron, PhD, Associate Dean of Faculty Advancement. “We are excited for the perspective she brings to both her research and her teaching, and the impact she will have on our students and the broader community.” 

Outside of her academic and professional work, Trafford enjoys reading memoirs, traveling, and exploring the outdoors. On a recent trip to Montana, she flew a plane through Glacier National Park and kayaked across Lake McDonald. 


You can connect with Megan on LinkedIn. 

Social Work students selected for Leadership Legacy Program

Lexington, Ky. – The University of Kentucky College of Social Work is proud to congratulate three students—Summer Carroll, Khloe Schwaniger, and Jeryiah Smith—for their nomination and acceptance into Leadership Legacy, a prestigious semester-long program offered by the Center for Interprofessional and Community Health Education. 

Designed to complement students’ formal curriculum, Leadership Legacy engages participants in cohort-based retreats, workshops, service projects, and mentoring experiences. The program cultivates interprofessional leadership skills and professionalism while emphasizing competencies such as conflict management, effective communication, situational leadership, feedback agility, and project development. 

As one of the Center’s most highly rated initiatives, Leadership Legacy provides unique experiential opportunities, including a legislative simulation, pre-legislative dinner, speed mentoring, and advocacy engagement in Frankfort.  

“I am honored to be selected for the Leadership Legacy program,” said Carroll. “I look forward to bringing these experiences into my social work career to better serve my community!” 

The inclusion of social work students in this program is particularly significant, offering them firsthand exposure to advocacy and policy work that will enrich their professional development and expand their impact as future leaders. 

“We are incredibly proud of Summer, Khloe, and Jeryiah for earning this recognition,” said Abigail Latimer, assistant professor at the CoSW. “Their participation reflects both their commitment to leadership and the College’s dedication to preparing students for meaningful service and advocacy.” 

Congratulations to our students on this exciting opportunity to grow as leaders and advocates in the field of social work. 

University of Kentucky College of Social Work Welcomes Dr. Stephanie Quiring 

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) is pleased to welcome Stephanie Quiring, JD, PhD, as an Assistant Professor. 

Quiring brings more than 15 years of experience as an attorney, community advocate, and educator, with a career spanning multiple stages of the criminal legal system. Early in her career, she worked on the successful campaign to abolish the death penalty in Maryland. More recently, she served as Board Chair of the Indiana Abolition Coalition during the resumption of federal executions, after a 17-year hiatus, in Terre Haute, Indiana. As an attorney, her work focused on criminal defense, particularly in cases involving mental health concerns. 

Her research and policy interests are grounded in supporting people with lived experiences navigating mental health crises within the criminal legal system. This includes work in police decision-making, community-based mental health crisis response, and mental health law and policy. 

“I’m thrilled to join a college deeply committed to social justice and innovation,” shared Quiring. “I look forward to collaborating with students, faculty, and community partners as we work to improve systems that impact people and our communities.” 

Prior to joining CoSW, Quiring was on faculty at the Indiana University School of Social Work. In Indiana, she also served as the Research Director for the NAMI Indiana Technical Assistance Center for Mental Health and Justice Programs. There, she worked with communities across the state to strengthen infrastructure for crisis response through Sequential Intercept Model mapping and strategic planning. 

“Dr. Quiring brings a wealth of experience at the intersection of criminal justice and mental health,” said Dr. Jackie Duron, CoSW Associate Dean of Faculty Advancement. “Her scholarship and systems-level work reflect our college’s mission to bring positive change through people. We’re delighted to welcome her to our faculty.” 

Quiring earned her PhD from Indiana University, her Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law, and an Extended Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Northern Arizona University. She is licensed to practice law in Illinois, Indiana, and the Southern District of Indiana. 

When she’s not in the classroom or community, you’ll likely find Quiring exploring Lexington with her English Bulldog, Ace. She enjoys spending time with her family, road trips, and trying new restaurants. 

UK College of Social Work Welcomes Dr. Eva Nyerges as Faculty

LEXINGTON, Ky. —The University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CosW) is proud to welcome Dr. Eva Nyerges as a Lecturer, marking a homecoming for a scholar, practitioner, and UK Alumnus whose commitment to service and education has spanned communities both local and global. 

A Central Kentucky native, Nyerges returns to the Commonwealth after several years of academic and professional work in Michigan. Though her path has taken her across state lines, she describes her journey back to Lexington as one rooted in purpose and place. 

“I’m thrilled to be back in the Bluegrass,” Nyerges shared. “This is where my passion for social work was shaped, and I’m excited to contribute to a college that played such a foundational role in my own life.” 

Nyerges earned her MSW from CoSW in 2015 and her PhD in Social Work from the University of Louisville’s Kent School of Social Work and Family Science in 2023. She brings with her an impressive record of scholarship, instruction, and hands-on experience, particularly in service of refugee and immigrant communities. 

“Dr. Nyerges brings a remarkable blend of lived experience, scholarly rigor, and a deep commitment to community-engaged practice,” said Dr. Jackie Duron, Associate Dean of Faculty Advancement. “Her return to CoSW not only reflects the strength of our alumni network—it also enhances our ability to prepare students for responsive, justice-driven social work.” 

From 2015 to 2019, Nyerges served as a case manager and program director at Kentucky Refugee Ministries in Louisville, leading support initiatives for older adult refugees and their families. As she pursued her doctorate, she served as a research assistant while also teaching at Spalding University and the University of Tennessee–Knoxville. Throughout her career, she has also mentored future social workers as a dedicated field supervisor for BSW and MSW students. 

In addition to her professional and academic credentials, Nyerges holds a bachelor’s degree in French and Anthropology from Centre College—an early signal of the global perspective that has continued to shape her work. 

When she’s not teaching or conducting research, Nyerges enjoys collecting signed books by some of her favorite thought leaders. Among her prized possessions? Personal signatures from Jane Goodall and Trevor Noah. 

Connect with Dr. Nyerges on LinkedIn and join us in welcoming her back to Central Kentucky and to the UK College of Social Work. 

Army-UK Social Work students help San Antonio kids get ready for school

SAN ANTONIO — On a hot August afternoon, dozens of children filed into Briscoe Elementary School, leaving with bright new backpacks, notebooks, and pencils in hand. For nearly 200 students, the supplies meant a smoother start to the school year. For three Army social work students, it was a chance to practice what they’re learning: service, community, and care. 

First Lieutenant Tiffany Tanalgo, Second Lieutenant Cody Mills, and Second Lieutenant Colin Burnside, all graduate students in the Army–UK Master of Social Work program, spent their day helping organize and distribute the donations. The trio is currently completing their foundation practicum at Brooke Army Medical Center’s Residential Treatment Program, where they’re training to address behavioral health needs in military populations. 

But when Briscoe Elementary needed hands to run its back-to-school drive, the students showed up. 

“They were quick learners, adaptable, and a real pleasure to work with,” said Capt. Teddy R. Medina, an Army social work intern who supervised the students during the event. “They were a huge help with the execution of this event to distribute school supplies. Truly great to get to know and work alongside them.” 

The UK College of Social Work has offered this one-of-a-kind master’s degree in partnership with the Department of Defense since October 2016.  The goal is to develop well-qualified clinical social workers to fill positions across military service branches.  

Students complete graduate-level coursework through UK’s College of Social Work while fulfilling rigorous military training. In recent years, the program has been spotlighted for producing graduates who bring both clinical skill and cultural understanding to some of the Army’s toughest mental health challenges. 

Colonel Teresa D. Murray, the program’s director, called the recognition from BAMC a testament to the caliber of the students and their broader mission. “Our students are committed not just to serving soldiers, but to serving communities,” she said in a note to colleagues. 

For the children of Briscoe Elementary, the day may have been about pencils and paper. For the Army MSW students, it was another lesson in what social work, at its best, can mean: showing up, pitching in, and making sure others start the year with what they need.