Social Work is about helping people-children, families, older adults, and whole communities. The social work program prepares students for entry level professional positions in a diversity of public and private settings, including child advocacy and welfare, children and youth counseling, school social work, medical social work, church social work, missions, foster care and adoptions, geriatric social work, and mental health. The program prepares students to empower people, particularly those who are vulnerable, to achieve a better "fit" with their world and to help the world to be more responsive to the needs of people. The program emphasizes the importance of a liberal arts foundation and of Christian and social work values that promote social and economic justice. READ MORE

BSW Mission Statement

The Bachelor of Social Work program prepares competent and effective professionals for leadership in generalist practice. In a context of Christian higher education, the program fosters compassionate service, promotes social and economic justice, and equips students for excellence in social work practice.

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Social Work Program at Union University is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, effective since 1998.

Upcoming Events

• May 14 - BSW Evening graduation dinner, 5:00 p.m., Coburn Dining Room
• May 17 - BSW graduation dinner, 6:00 p.m., Carl Grant Events Center
• May 18 - MSW graduation brunch, 10:00 a.m., Carl Grant Events Center
• Learn More About These Events

Faculty

• Mary Anne Poe

• Acting Associate Dean of Social Work, College of Education & Human Studies
• Professor of Social Work
• Director, Center for Just and Caring Communities
• Education: B.A., Vanderbilt University
  M.S.S.W., University of Louisville
  M.Div., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
  
• Office: BAC 82B, Box 1825, 731-661-5397 (voice)
• E-mail: mpoe@uu.edu
• University Profile
• Scholarship Profile


• Rhonda Hudson

• Associate Professor of Social Work and Acting Program Director for BSW
• Education: B.S., Florida A&M University
  M.S.W., Barry University
  Ph.D, Barry University
  
• Office: BAC, Box 1918, 731-661-5553 (voice)
• E-mail: rhudson@uu.edu
• University Profile
• Scholarship Profile


• Nita Mehr

• Associate Professor of Social Work and Acting Program Director for MSW
• Education: B.S.W., Freed Hardeman University
  M.S.S.W., University of Tennessee, Memphis
  
• Office: BAC, Box 3157, 731-661-5552 (voice)
• E-mail: nmehr@uu.edu
• University Profile
• Scholarship Profile


• Theresa L. Blakley

• Professor of Social Work
• Education: B.S., Sam Houston State University
  M.S.W., Barry University
  Ph.D, Barry University
  
• Office: BAC 82A, Box 1875, 731-661-5564 (voice)
• E-mail: tblakley@uu.edu
• University Profile
• Scholarship Profile


• Janet E. Furness

• Professor of Social Work
• Education: B.S., Philadelphia Biblical University
  M.S.W., Rutgers, the State University
  Ed.D., University of Rochester
  
• Office: BAC 69, Box 3018, 731-661-5908 (voice)
• E-mail: jfurness@uu.edu
• University Profile
• Scholarship Profile


• Shuna L. Mason

• Assistant Professor of Social Work and Program Director, B.S.W. - Germantown/Olford Center
• Education: B.A., Hendrix College
  M.L.S.P., Bryn Mawr College
  M.S.S., Bryn Mawr College
  
• Office: Olford
• E-mail: smason@uu.edu
• University Profile


• Tammy Patton

• Visiting Professor of Social Work
• Education: B.S., Lambuth University
  M.S.S.W., University of Tennessee at Memphis
  
• Office: BAC 131
• E-mail: tpatton@uu.edu
• University Profile


• Virginia Schwindt

• Assistant Professor of Social Work and MSW Field Director
• Education: B.B.S., Hardin-Simmons University
  M.S.S.W., University of Texas
  
• Office: BAC, Box 1843, 731-661-5701 (voice)
• E-mail: vschwindt@uu.edu
• University Profile


• Michelle Sherrill

• Assistant Professor of Social Work and Field Director - Olford Center/Germantown Campus
• Education: B.S.W., Indiana University
  M.S.W., Indiana University
  
• Office: UUG, 901-312-7172 (voice)
• E-mail: msherrill@uu.edu
• University Profile


• Todd Stanfield

• Professor of Social Work
• Education: B.S.W., University of Alabama
  M.S.W., University of Alabama
  Ph.D, University of Tennessee
  
• Office: BAC 110, Box 3143, 731-661-5968 (voice)
• E-mail: tstanfie@uu.edu
• University Profile
• Scholarship Profile


• Elizabeth E. Wilson

• Associate Professor of Social Work
• Education: B.S.W., Philadelphia Biblical University
  M.S.W., University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
  Ph.D, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
  
• Office: BAC, Box 1853, 731-661-5933 (voice)
• E-mail: bawilson@uu.edu
• University Profile
• Scholarship Profile


• Roslyn Y. Wilson

• Associate Professor of Social Work and Social Work Field Director
• Education: B.S., Tennessee State University
  M.S.S.W., University of Tennessee
  
• Office: BAC 82D, Box 1907, 731-661-5393 (voice)
• E-mail: rwilson@uu.edu
• University Profile
• Scholarship Profile

Programs of Study

• Bachelor of Social Work
• Bachelor of Social Work for Adult Students
• Master of Social Work

Student Organizations

• Phi Alpha

Advisor: Rhonda Hudson


Phi Alpha, National Honor Society for Social Work Students, Eta Phi Chapter, fosters high standards of education for social workers and invites into membership those who have attained excellence in scholarship and achievement in social work. Social Work majors with an overall GPA of 3.2 and a GPA of 3.6 in social work courses are invited to become members. Students become eligible for membership at the end of their Junior year in the Social Work Program.

• Social Work Reaches Out

Advisor: Rhonda Hudson


Social Work Reaches Out is for students majoring in social work and for those interested in social work.The organization assists in developing professional social work identity and provides an opportunity to be involved in volunteer community social service. Social service opportunities include child mentoring and advocacy,nursing home activities,community organizing,and resource development. The organization gives students regular opportunity to interact with others having similar interests.

Past News

• 10/3/2012 - Social work majors combine coursework with community service
• 4/19/2012 - Mentoring Coalition declares April 22 as day of prayer for city’s youth
• 3/27/2012 - Social Work Awareness Day set for March 29
• 2/24/2012 - Social work conference to address human trafficking
• 3/30/2011 - Union to host social work conference April 7
• 9/9/2010 - Union to hold Social Justice Symposium Sept. 16

Additional News

• 5/10/2013 - North Mississippi State Hospital (NMSH) in Tupelo. Ms. names BSW graduate 2012 Employee of the Year

Recent Photos

Large | X-Large 5/18/13 - 22035 Anika Strand, senior class president and social work graduate, addresses the class of 2013 during Spring Graduation. - Jacob Moore	Large | X-Large 5/9/13 - 21949 Melanie Arias, junior social work major, sings as the jazz band performs in concert in the W.D. Powell Theatre. - Anne Richoux	Large | X-Large 11/27/12 - 21216 Rhonda Hudson, associate professor of social work and director of BSW adult studies program, asks a question to Anika Strand, senior social work major, during the annual fall poster session. - Zac Calvert	Large | X-Large 11/6/12 - 21172 Anika Strand, senior social work major, paints the bleachers in the North Side High School gym as a part of Union's tenth annual Campus and Community Day. - Anne Richoux

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