DSW Spotlight Series

Overview

The DSW Spotlight Series highlights scholar-practitioners from the online Doctor of Social Work at the University of Kansas. 

Online public scholarship events in the DSW Spotlight Series offer continuing education credit for practicing social workers. The Center for Community Collaboration and Engagement at the KU School of Social Welfare is coordinating the series.

Fall 2026 DSW Spotlight Series Schedule

• The Scholarly Practitioner and the Future of Social Work
  • Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026
  • 12 to 1 p.m. CT
  • Online
  • CEU: 1.0
  • Speakers: 
    • Edward Scanlon, DSW Program Director and Associate Professor
    • Lisa Street, DSW Capstone Coordinator and Associate Professor of Practice
    • Jody Brook, Professor
  • Learn more and register - Sept. 10 event
     
• Community Engagement for Health Service Access
  • Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026
  • 12 to 1:30 p.m. CT
  • Online
  • CEU: 1.5
  • Speakers:
    • Rebecca Beeler, KU DSW 2025; Vice President of Care Coordination and Post Acute Care, Freeman Hospital
    • DeMarreo Tidwell, KU DSW 2025; Mental Health Manager, Our House Shelter
  • Learn more and register - Sept. 15 event
     
• Mental Health & Intellectual Disability: Coming Together for Inclusive and Effective Social Work Practice
  • Friday, Sept. 25, 2026
  • 9 a.m. to noon CT
  • Online
  • CEU: 3.0
  • Speakers:
    • Jennifer Hoskins, KU DSW 2025; Founder, The And Center
  • Learn more and register - Sept. 25 event
     
• Grand Challenges - Ensure Healthy Development for Youth: DSW Innovations to Reform Systems
  • Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026
  • 12 to 2 p.m. CT
  • Online
  • CEU: 2.0
  • Speakers:
    • Sharilyn Ray, KU DSW 2025; Founder and CEO, Restoration Family Services
    • Jessica Brown, KU DSW candidate; Youth and Family Services Director, reStart Inc.
    • Rachel Jeter, KU DSW candidate; Chief of Rehabilitation Division and Directorate of Treatment Programs, Army Corrections Brigade
  • Learn more and register - Oct. 22 event

About the DSW Spotlight Series

The Doctor of Social Work degree bridges research and practice. The DSW equips students to solve problems of practice and to teach future generations of social workers to approach research with a commitment to community utility.

At KU, our macro DSW students build a framework of leadership best practices, develop a deep understanding of research implementation, and take away critical learning theories to the social work classroom. 

In turn, they contribute rigorous scholarship to practice locations and community intelligence to the academy, demonstrating the community-engaged, practice-applied, continually innovated scholarship that is the hallmark of social work.