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

Graphic for the University of Kentucky College of Social Work with image of Lella Still. Text reads: 'Welcome Michelle Keller, Instructor' with the UK College of Social Work logo.

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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. 

For over 85 years, the College of Social Work (CoSW) at the University of Kentucky has been a leader in education. Our mission is clear: Through rigorous research, excellence in instruction, and steadfast service, the CoSW works to improve the human condition. Always, in all ways.

As the state’s flagship university, our mission is actualized through our deeds. Our faculty are renowned academicians dedicated to fostering the development of high-quality practitioners and researchers. As a college, we promote community and individual well-being through translational research and scholarship, exemplary teaching, and vital community engagement. We are committed to the people and social institutions throughout Kentucky, the nation, and the world.