Details

Jackson State University

Dr. Angela Savage is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at Jackson State University and served as the Title IV-E Student Engagement, Research and Recruitment Coordinator. She holds a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) from Tulane University (2018), a Master of Social Work (MSW, 2006), and a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW, 2001), both from The University of Southern Mississippi. 

Dr. Savage has over two decades of distinguished experience in social work education, clinical practice, and community engagement. She previously served as Director of Social Work and Assistant Clinical Professor at Mississippi State University–Meridian (2021–2025), where she led CSWE accreditation processes, developed curriculum, and spearheaded various projects related to Title IV-E and curriculum development. Prior to that role, she served as Instructor and Director of Field Education at MSU–Meridian from 2012–2021, and held clinical positions at South Mississippi State Hospital and North Mississippi State Hospital. 

A nationally recognized leader in social work education, Dr. Savage has received numerous accolades including the 2024 Top 10 Alumni Award from The University of Southern Mississippi School of Social Work, the 2023 Mississippi Social Worker of the Year Award, and the 2023 NASW-MS Chapter Social Worker of the Year Award. She served as Treasurer of the North American Network of Field Educators and Directors (NANFED) and President of the NASW-MS Chapter. 

Dr. Savage’s scholarly work focuses on field education, ethics, diversity and inclusion, community engagement, and preparing students for rural social work practice. She is a published author, co-authoring Research Basics for BSW College Students (2019) and contributing to peer-reviewed articles in the Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work, including “Making Sense of Poverty Through the Use of Simulative Learning” (2018). She serves as a peer reviewer for the Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work and the Research on Social Work Practice Journal. 

An accomplished grant writer, principal investigator and co–principal investigator, Dr. Savage has secured over $2 million in funding, including multiple Title IV-E grants through the Mississippi Academic Pathway (MAP) program and the Bower Foundation Grant ($498,599). Her current grant work supports child welfare workforce development and student scholarship opportunities across Mississippi’s institutions of higher learning. 

Dr. Savage is a prolific presenter at national and regional conferences, having delivered over 60 presentations on topics including ethics, diversity, field education, licensure preparation, and community partnerships. She has presented at NASW National Conferences, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Program Meetings, and the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors (BPD) conferences. She served as National Conference Planner for BPD (2023–2024) and chaired multiple committees focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion in social work education.