Stories


Featured News from KU Social Welfare

School of Social Welfare alumni Marqueia Watson, Sarah Owsley and Ashley Vernon in the cafeteria of KC Beehive in Kansas City in October, 2024.
The KU School of Social Welfare collaborated with ACOSA to visit the KC Beehive and discuss the fight to house the homeless.



Student Stories: KU Social Work



“I see social workers and veterans have some similarities, particularly in being resilient,” said Turk, who served in the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force. “There are a lot of things we have to deal with, and we don’t always have all the resources, so we do the best that we can with what we have available to us.”
The Achievement & Assessment Institute’s Center for Educational Opportunity Programs is hosting its sixth annual I Am First Too commemorative poster unveiling in honor of members of the KU community who have excelled as role models and advocates of first-generation student success.
MSW student Shaye White
“I’ve always been set in stone in going back to my community,” White said. “I really want to help and there’s so much to be done. I see some things are still affecting us and I want to go help my people.”

Research Stories: KU Social Work



Three events this spring share research from the School of Social Welfare and its impact on practice and policy.
KU School of Social Welfare attendees will share their research in over 30 presentations, symposia, roundtable discussions and poster presentations. Their work covers a broad range of research areas, with topics including social movements, child welfare, LGBTQ+ activism, environmental justice, generational divides and more.
Focus on 4s: Advancing Family Well-being through Data-Driven Interventions in Early Childhood Mental Health
On Feb. 25, Grand Challenges for Social Work panel “Focus on 4s: Advancing Family Well-Being Through Data-Driven Interventions in Early Childhood Mental Health” will be available for free on Zoom with prior registration.

Alumni Stories: KU Social Work



Making hard topics digestible is at the core of Kabuya’s social work journey. Her leap of faith took her from a place where mental health was taboo to a career where she helps families in need.
Ananda is a first-generation college student, majoring in film and English as an undergraduate student at KU, where she participated in feminist activism and volunteered at a local domestic violence shelter.
Dr. Kortney Carr
Dr. Kortney Carr will tell you that her journey to social work is a surprising one. She got her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Central Missouri and didn’t see social work as her initial path. But Dr. Carr cites the wellness of Black men, trauma and hope as her scholarly interests.

Community Engagement Stories: KU Social Work



On Feb. 25, Grand Challenges for Social Work panel “Focus on 4s: Advancing Family Well-Being Through Data-Driven Interventions in Early Childhood Mental Health” will be available for free on Zoom with prior registration.
Three events this spring share research from the School of Social Welfare and its impact on practice and policy.
School of Social Welfare alumni Marqueia Watson, Sarah Owsley and Ashley Vernon in the cafeteria of KC Beehive in Kansas City in October, 2024.
The KU School of Social Welfare collaborated with ACOSA to visit the KC Beehive and discuss the fight to house the homeless.

Giving Stories: KU Social Work



The seventh annual One Day One KU set a giving day record for KU Social Welfare. On March 6, donors made 167 gifts totaling $22,160 to support social work education at KU.
Meg Scott, BSW 1967, shares why she's giving back to the KU School of Social Welfare after her five-decade career in social work.
Flowers bloom in front of the School of Social Welfare building at the University of Kansas
The planned gift, estimated to be over $1 million, will primarily provide scholarships to future KU social work students.

Faculty & Staff Stories: KU Social Work



KU School of Social Welfare attendees will share their research in over 30 presentations, symposia, roundtable discussions and poster presentations. Their work covers a broad range of research areas, with topics including social movements, child welfare, LGBTQ+ activism, environmental justice, generational divides and more.
Sanburn and Handshy’s commitment to the school’s well-being was evident as they provided guidance and responsiveness to help navigate challenges during the school year.
Former associate professor of practice Dr. Renee White
Dr. Renee White’s extensive career in social work that spanned over four decades included difficult conversations with people in need, door-knocking in unsafe situations and teaching the next generation of social workers.

School of Social Welfare News

Social Welfare's road trip in Kansas City highlights importance of community-engaged work

The KU School of Social Welfare collaborated with ACOSA to visit the KC Beehive and discuss the fight to house the homeless.

Panel event centers around mental health of young children

On Feb. 25, Grand Challenges for Social Work panel “Focus on 4s: Advancing Family Well-Being Through Data-Driven Interventions in Early Childhood Mental Health” will be available for free on Zoom with prior registration.

Research finds alternative anxiety, depression treatment for LGBTQ individuals shows results

A University of Kansas researcher analyzed results of an alternate treatment for LGBTQ individuals contained in “LGBTQI Workbook for CTI,” which is designed to help individuals who can’t access or have not had success with professional therapy.

Former Social Welfare associate professor of practice Dr. Renee White reflects on social work career

Dr. Renee White’s extensive career in social work that spanned over four decades included difficult conversations with people in need, door-knocking in unsafe situations and teaching the next generation of social workers.

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Study Social Work at KU

KU's School of Social Welfare offers social work degree programs at undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels: BSW, MSW, DSW and PhD. Learn more.