Social Welfare hires two new faculty members for 2025 fall semester

The University of Kansas School of Social Welfare hired two faculty members this fall. Sara Rust started as a senior lecturer and academic program associate, and Stuart Waldman started as a multiterm lecturer and academic program associate.  

Rust received her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Pittsburg State University before completing her Master of Social Work degree at KU in 2001. A few years later, after completing Peace Corps service, she returned to school for her law degree from Washburn University.  

Rust applied her law degree to gain over a decade in experience as a legal and policy director with the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence and has held other policy, advocacy, and administrative roles during her career. From August 2010 until this fall, Rust served as an adjunct instructor, teaching a variety of BSW and MSW courses, at the School of Social Welfare over 15 years.  

“I love teaching at the KU SSW. This is the school that helped transform me into a passionate social justice advocate and I enjoy serving in that role for today’s students. Also, through teaching, I continue learning and growing alongside the students as they inspire me with their immense energy and thoughtful perspectives. I am excited to join the distinguished SSW faculty and grateful to continue engaging with exceptional KU students.” 

Waldman is a KU Master of Social Work graduate who joined as an adjunct instructor in 2013. He is a licensed clinical social worker in Kansas and Missouri and a Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor in Kansas. He has practiced clinical social work in schools, hospitals, child welfare agencies and community mental health centers. He has worked at his current multidisciplinary private practice group for over 16 years, where he provides clinical social work services to children, adults, families and couples.  

Waldman’s teaching experiences at KU include clinically focused classes in the BSW and MSW programs, specifically in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders and clinical interventions with children, adolescents, and adults.  

“I am truly excited about my new role at the School of Social Welfare as a Multi-Term Lecturer and Academic Program Associate. I look forward to continuing to positively impact students and to support them in their journeys as social workers in an ever-changing field.”