School of Social Work Faculty
The following faculty list represents those appointed in the 2026 spring semester.
Alyssa Aguirre, Assistant Professor of Practice
School of Social Work and Department of Neurology
MSW, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, 2009
Jess Paul Ambiee, Assistant Professor of Practice
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2012
Sheila C Arnold, Assistant Professor of Instruction
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2006
Joan E Asseff, Clinical Associate Professor
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2006
Earley Regina Barnes-Ullrich, Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2009
Mary C Beer, Clinical Associate Professor
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2001
Octavious D Bishop, Lecturer
School of Social Work
PhD, Walden University, 2018
Elisa Vinson Borah, Research Professor
Department of Psychiatry, Office of The Associate Dean for Research, and School of Social Work
PhD, University of Texas at Austin, 2010
Valerie M Braden, Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2009
Mary-Ellen Brown, Associate Professor
School of Social Work
PhD, Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, 2015
Noel B Busch-Armendariz, Professor
Endowed President's Professorship
School of Social Work and Center for Women's and Gender Studies
PhD, University of South Carolina - Columbia, 2000
Meagan G Butler, Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MEd, University of Texas at Austin, 2010
Esther Calzada, Professor
Norma and Clay Leben Professorship in Child and Family Behavioral Health
School of Social Work
PhD, University of Florida, 2000
Jason Castillo, Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MPA, University of Texas at Austin, 2022
Yessenia Castro, Professor
School of Social Work
PhD, Florida State University, 2008
Namkee Choi, Professor
Louis and Ann Wolens Centennial Chair in Gerontology
School of Social Work and Department of Psychiatry
PhD, University of California-Berkeley, 1987
Kasey Claborn, Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry and School of Social Work
PhD, Oklahoma State University Main Campus, 2013
Patricia A Cody, Assistant Professor of Instruction
School of Social Work
PhD, University of Texas at Austin, 2007
Deborah Cohen, Research Associate Professor
School of Social Work, Department of Psychiatry, and Office of The Associate Dean for Research
PhD, University of Kentucky, 2015
Allan H Cole Jr, Professor
The Robert Lee Sutherland Chair in Mental Health and Social Policy, Bert Kruger Smith Centennial Professorship in Social Work
School of Social Work and Department of Psychiatry
PhD, Princeton University, 2001
Lori Lewis Conerly, Assistant Professor of Instruction
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2006
Fiona Conway, Associate Professor
School of Social Work
PhD, Rutgers the State University of New Jersey New Brunswick Campus, 2016
Catherine Cubbin, Professor
Clara Pope Willoughby Centennial Professorship in Community Safety
School of Social Work and Department of Population Health
PhD, Johns Hopkins University, 1998
Jeanette R Davidson, Professor of Instruction
School of Social Work
PhD, University of Texas at Arlington, 1991
Andy Davis, Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2018
Diana M Dinitto, Professor
Cullen Trust Centennial Professorship in Alcohol Studies and Education
School of Social Work and Center for Women's and Gender Studies
PhD, Florida State University, 1980
Kcie Driggers, Clinical Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2018
Krystal Duran, Assistant Professor of Practice
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2018
Monica R Faulkner, Research Associate Professor
Office of The Associate Dean for Research and School of Social Work
PhD, University of Texas at Austin, 2010
John N Feather, Assistant Professor of Instruction
School of Social Work
PhD, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, 1978
Anna Hardy Finger, Clinical Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2009
Cynthia G Franklin, Professor
Stiernberg/Spencer Family Professorship in Mental Health
School of Social Work and Department of Psychiatry
PhD, University of Texas at Arlington, 1989
Mikaela Frissell, Assistant Professor of Practice
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2016
Jaime Fuentes Balderrama, Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
PhD, Universidad Iberoamericana IBERO, 2020
Rene J Gaitan, Clinical Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2010
Joseph M Germano, Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MSW, Indiana University Bloomington, 2021
Claire McCullough Godfrey, Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2007
Rebecca Gomez, Associate Professor
School of Social Work
PhD, University of Texas at Austin, 2012
Anita Guajardo, Clinical Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2012
Ashley Marie Guidry, Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MS, Texas Christian University, 2021
Lauren E Gulbas, Associate Professor
School of Social Work, Department of Anthropology, and Department of Population Health
PhD, Southern Methodist University, 2008
Maj Henriksson, Assistant Professor of Practice
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2004
Mayan Herman, Clinical Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MSW, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, 2016
Mercedes Hernandez, Associate Professor
School of Social Work and Department of Psychiatry
PhD, University of Southern California, 2014
Rachel Holliman, Assistant Professor of Practice
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2016
Sommer M Howser, Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
PhD, University of Southern California, 2020
Barbara Jefferson, Assistant Professor of Instruction
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 1986
Rhodalynn Jetton, Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2024
Dana R Jones, Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 1993
Stacey E Jordan, Clinical Assistant Professor
School of Social Work and Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 1996
Vanessa Vorhies Klodnick, Research Associate Professor
School of Social Work
PhD, University of Chicago, 2015
Noel G Landuyt, Assistant Professor of Instruction
School of Social Work and Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
PhD, University of Texas at Austin, 1999
Savannah Lee, Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Houston, 2023
Tamera B Linseisen, Clinical Professor
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 1989
Patrick M Lloyd, Clinical Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2012
Molly A Lopez, Research Associate Professor
Office of The Associate Dean for Research and School of Social Work
PhD, Texas A & M University, 1998
Erin K MacDonald, Assistant Professor of Instruction
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2016
Sandy Magana, Professor
Professorship in Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
School of Social Work, Department of Mexican American and Latino/a Studies, and Department of Pediatrics
PhD, Brandeis University, 1999
Octavio N Martinez, Clinical Professor
School of Social Work and Department of Psychiatry
MD, Baylor College of Medicine, 1997
Sarah M McCafferty, Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2006
Adam G McCormick, Assistant Professor of Instruction
School of Social Work
PhD, University of Texas at Arlington, 2009
Kirsta Leeburg Melton, Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
JD, University of Texas at Austin, 1998
Arlene K Montgomery, Assistant Professor of Instruction
School of Social Work
PhD, Smith College, 1999
Cory Shea Morris, Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MSSW, Columbia University (New York), 2008
Angela Nguyen, Assistant Professor of Practice
School of Social Work
MSW, Boston College, 2004
Lailea Noel, Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine and School of Social Work
PhD, Washington University in St Louis, 2016
Yolanda C Padilla, Professor
Clara Pope Willoughby Centennial Professorship in Child Welfare
School of Social Work, Center for Women's and Gender Studies, and Center for Mexican American Studies
PhD, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, 1993
Danielle Parrish, Professor
Steve Hicks Professor in Addictions and Substance Abuse Services
School of Social Work
PhD, University of Texas at Austin, 2008
Cynthia S Penwell, Assistant Professor of Instruction
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2010
Farya Phillips, Research Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
PhD, University of Texas at Austin, 2013
Suzanne Potts, Assistant Professor of Instruction
School of Social Work
MSW, San Diego State University, 1998
Jahanett Ramirez, Research Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MD, Wake Forest University, 2016
Lisa A Ramirez, Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MA, Southwestern College, 2005
Diane McDaniel Rhodes, Senior Lecturer
School of Social Work
MA, The Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest, 2001
Stephanie Ritcherson, Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MA, St Edward's University, 2015
Stephanie L Rivaux, Assistant Professor of Instruction
School of Social Work
PhD, University of Texas at Austin, 2009
Tiffany Nicole Ryan, Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
PhD, University of Texas at Austin, 2014
Melanie D Sage, Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
PhD, Portland State University, 2010
Tahirah Samuels, Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Arlington, 2008
Robert E Sebesta, Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2002
Donna Shanor, Assistant Professor of Practice
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2005
Emily Shryock, Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2015
Starla Simmons, Clinical Associate Professor
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2007
Sarah Kaye Sloan, Clinical Professor
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2003
Robin M Smith, Clinical Associate Professor
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 1992
Stephen M Sonnenberg, Professor of Instruction
Department of Medical Education, Department of Population Health, School of Social Work, and Department of Psychiatry
MD, Yeshiva University, 1965
Jinane Sounny-Slitine, Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MSW, Texas State University, 2012
Erin P Spalding, Assistant Professor of Instruction
School of Social Work
MSSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2007
Anita Swanson, Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
PhD, University of Kansas Main Campus, 2010
Heather Van Diest, Assistant Professor of Practice
School of Social Work and Department of Pediatrics
MPH, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 2018
Sandra Vanegas, Research Associate Professor
School of Social Work
PhD, Loyola University Chicago, 2013
Mary M Velasquez, Professor
Lori Holleran Steiker Endowed Chair in Substance Use and Recovery, Centennial Professorship in Leadership for Community, Professional, and Corporate Excellence
School of Social Work, Department of Psychiatry, and Department of Population Health
PhD, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 1997
April C Viverette, Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
PhD, Our Lady of the Lake University, 2022
Kirk L Von Sternberg, Professor
School of Social Work
PhD, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 2005
Tanya M Voss, Clinical Professor
School of Social Work
MSW, University of Texas at Austin, 1996
Jennifer Lee Schurman Wade, Assistant Professor of Practice
School of Social Work
MSW, University of Texas at Austin, 2007
Yuanjin Zhou, Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
MSSW, Xiamen University, 2016
Nina Isabel Zuna, Assistant Professor of Instruction
School of Social Work
PhD, University of Kansas Main Campus, 2007