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News
“We are thrilled to welcome these 10 outstanding leaders in social work education to CSWE governance—and we look forward to the ideas, energy, and enthusiasm they will bring with them to their leadership roles,” said CSWE President and CEO Halaevalu Vakalahi, PhD, MSW, MEd. “CSWE continues to be blessed by its talented member volunteers, and we rely on them to help us advance excellence and innovation in social work education.”
The newest members of the CSWE Board of Directors are:
Dr. Tiffany D. Baffour of East Carolina University
Graduate Program Representative
Dr. Baffour is the director of the School of Social Work at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C. She has more than 25 years of experience in teaching, curriculum development, clinical practice, advocacy, research and administrative leadership in social work and organizational development. Baffour earned her PhD in social work from Howard University, her Master of Social Service from Bryn Mawr College, her MA in sociology from the University of Delaware, and her BA in political science from New Jersey City University.
Dr. Jeremy Vu of Oglala Lakota College
Undergraduate Program Representative
Dr. Vu is an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota people and the current
BSW Program Director and Practicum Coordinator at Oglala Lakota College in Kyle, S.D. He brings a perspective deeply rooted in the strengths and systems of Indigenous people, informed by over nine and a half years of dedicated service to Indigenous social work education. Dr. Vu received his DSW from the University of St. Thomas, and both his MSW and BSW from Washington University in St. Louis.
Dr. Brittany Lytle-Rodriguez of California Baptist University
Undergraduate Program Representative
Dr. Lytle-Rodriguez serves as a tenure-track faculty member and the BSW Field Director at California Baptist University in Riverside, CA, where she provides comprehensive leadership across undergraduate program administration, curriculum development, accreditation alignment, and field education oversight. She received her DrPH from Claremont Graduate University, her MSW from Columbia University, and her BA in psychology from the University of California, Riverside.
Dr. Laura Wernick of Fordham University
Graduate Faculty Representative
Dr. Wernick is an Associate Professor at Fordham University's Graduate School of Social
Service in New York City, teaching leadership, community organizing, and nonprofit management. Dr. Wernick has chaired Fordham's DEI Council, co-directed the Research Consortium on Disabilities, and helped coordinate the university's disability ecosystem. Dr. Wernick earned both a PhD and MA from the University of Michigan, a MSW and MPA from Columbia University, and a BA from the University of California at Berkley.
April M. Christman of Virginia Wesleyan University
Undergraduate Faculty Representative
April M. Christman is an Assistant Professor of Social Work and Field Education Coordinator at Virginia Wesleyan University in Virginia Beach, VA. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Christman’s clinical expertise includes depression, anxiety, stress management, grief, trauma, substance abuse, and suicide intervention. She completed her MSW at Smith College and her BSW at Virginia Wesleyan.
CSWE’s National Nominating Committee, which prepares slates of candidates for election to CSWE’s core governance groups, welcomes five new members. They include:
Dr. Daniel Wallace of the University of Kentucky
Undergraduate Faculty Representative
Dr. Wallace is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with professional experience spanning mental health, substance use, homelessness and housing instability, hospital-based care, insurance and court systems, and community-based practice. He serves as a part-time social work professor at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY, where he also earned his DSW. Dr. Wallace earned an MSW at Aurora University and a BA in psychology from Eastern Illinois University.
Kathy Ruiz of Southern Utah University
Undergraduate Faculty Representative
Kathy Ruiz is an Assistant Professor and Director of Social Work Field Education at Southern Utah University in Cedar City, UT. She currently teaches across the BSW curriculum, working closely with undergraduate students from the start of their journey to their final time in field education. Ruiz earned her MSW from the University of Denver, as well as a MA from the University of Oregon and a BA from Grinnell College.
Dr. Dione King of the University of Alabama
Graduate Program Representative
Dr. King serves as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professional Advancement at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL, where she oversees faculty affairs, curricular instruction and assessment, and provides supervision across key academic operations. She earned both her PhD and MSW from the University of Georgia, as well as a BA in sociology from Spelman College.
Dr. Laura Curran of the University of Connecticut
Graduate Program Representative
Dr. Curran brings more than 20 years of experience in academic social work and currently serves as Dean and Professor at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work in Hartford, CT. She earned her PhD from the University of California at Berkeley School of Social Welfare, her MSW from Columbia University, and her BA from Barnard College.
Dr. Jodi Helbert of Tennessee Wesleyan University
Undergraduate Program Representative
Dr. Helbert serves as the BSW Program Director and Full Professor at Tennessee Wesleyan
University in Athens, TN, where her work centers on student success, teaching excellence, program leadership, development and innovation, accreditation compliance, and professional alignment. She earned her PhD from Norfolk State University, her MSW from Radford University, and her BA from Virginia Intermont College.
Each member elected to both the National Nominating Committee and the Board of Directors will serve 3-year terms beginning on July 1, 2026.
CSWE congratulates its new volunteer leaders and thanks all members who participated in this year’s nomination and election processes.
Founded in 1952, CSWE is the national association representing social work education in the United States. Its members include more than 900 accredited baccalaureate, master’s, and practice doctorate degree social work programs and their affiliated social work educators, students, and staff, as well as practitioners and agencies dedicated to advancing quality social work education.
Through its many initiatives, activities, and centers, CSWE supports quality social work education and provides opportunities for leadership and professional development so that social workers are empowered to play a central role in achieving the profession’s goals of social and economic justice. CSWE’s Board of Accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the sole accrediting agency for social work education in the United States and its territories.
Published on : June 15, 2026
ALEXANDRIA, VA—The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) announced today the election of 5 new members to the organization’s Board of Directors and 5 new members to the organization’s National Nominating Committee.“We are thrilled to welcome these 10 outstanding leaders in social work education to CSWE governance—and we look forward to the ideas, energy, and enthusiasm they will bring with them to their leadership roles,” said CSWE President and CEO Halaevalu Vakalahi, PhD, MSW, MEd. “CSWE continues to be blessed by its talented member volunteers, and we rely on them to help us advance excellence and innovation in social work education.”
The newest members of the CSWE Board of Directors are:
Dr. Tiffany D. Baffour of East Carolina University
Graduate Program Representative
Dr. Baffour is the director of the School of Social Work at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C. She has more than 25 years of experience in teaching, curriculum development, clinical practice, advocacy, research and administrative leadership in social work and organizational development. Baffour earned her PhD in social work from Howard University, her Master of Social Service from Bryn Mawr College, her MA in sociology from the University of Delaware, and her BA in political science from New Jersey City University.
Dr. Jeremy Vu of Oglala Lakota College
Undergraduate Program Representative
Dr. Vu is an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota people and the current
BSW Program Director and Practicum Coordinator at Oglala Lakota College in Kyle, S.D. He brings a perspective deeply rooted in the strengths and systems of Indigenous people, informed by over nine and a half years of dedicated service to Indigenous social work education. Dr. Vu received his DSW from the University of St. Thomas, and both his MSW and BSW from Washington University in St. Louis.
Dr. Brittany Lytle-Rodriguez of California Baptist University
Undergraduate Program Representative
Dr. Lytle-Rodriguez serves as a tenure-track faculty member and the BSW Field Director at California Baptist University in Riverside, CA, where she provides comprehensive leadership across undergraduate program administration, curriculum development, accreditation alignment, and field education oversight. She received her DrPH from Claremont Graduate University, her MSW from Columbia University, and her BA in psychology from the University of California, Riverside.
Dr. Laura Wernick of Fordham University
Graduate Faculty Representative
Dr. Wernick is an Associate Professor at Fordham University's Graduate School of Social
Service in New York City, teaching leadership, community organizing, and nonprofit management. Dr. Wernick has chaired Fordham's DEI Council, co-directed the Research Consortium on Disabilities, and helped coordinate the university's disability ecosystem. Dr. Wernick earned both a PhD and MA from the University of Michigan, a MSW and MPA from Columbia University, and a BA from the University of California at Berkley.
April M. Christman of Virginia Wesleyan University
Undergraduate Faculty Representative
April M. Christman is an Assistant Professor of Social Work and Field Education Coordinator at Virginia Wesleyan University in Virginia Beach, VA. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Christman’s clinical expertise includes depression, anxiety, stress management, grief, trauma, substance abuse, and suicide intervention. She completed her MSW at Smith College and her BSW at Virginia Wesleyan.
CSWE’s National Nominating Committee, which prepares slates of candidates for election to CSWE’s core governance groups, welcomes five new members. They include:
Dr. Daniel Wallace of the University of Kentucky
Undergraduate Faculty Representative
Dr. Wallace is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with professional experience spanning mental health, substance use, homelessness and housing instability, hospital-based care, insurance and court systems, and community-based practice. He serves as a part-time social work professor at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY, where he also earned his DSW. Dr. Wallace earned an MSW at Aurora University and a BA in psychology from Eastern Illinois University.
Kathy Ruiz of Southern Utah University
Undergraduate Faculty Representative
Kathy Ruiz is an Assistant Professor and Director of Social Work Field Education at Southern Utah University in Cedar City, UT. She currently teaches across the BSW curriculum, working closely with undergraduate students from the start of their journey to their final time in field education. Ruiz earned her MSW from the University of Denver, as well as a MA from the University of Oregon and a BA from Grinnell College.
Dr. Dione King of the University of Alabama
Graduate Program Representative
Dr. King serves as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professional Advancement at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL, where she oversees faculty affairs, curricular instruction and assessment, and provides supervision across key academic operations. She earned both her PhD and MSW from the University of Georgia, as well as a BA in sociology from Spelman College.
Dr. Laura Curran of the University of Connecticut
Graduate Program Representative
Dr. Curran brings more than 20 years of experience in academic social work and currently serves as Dean and Professor at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work in Hartford, CT. She earned her PhD from the University of California at Berkeley School of Social Welfare, her MSW from Columbia University, and her BA from Barnard College.
Dr. Jodi Helbert of Tennessee Wesleyan University
Undergraduate Program Representative
Dr. Helbert serves as the BSW Program Director and Full Professor at Tennessee Wesleyan
University in Athens, TN, where her work centers on student success, teaching excellence, program leadership, development and innovation, accreditation compliance, and professional alignment. She earned her PhD from Norfolk State University, her MSW from Radford University, and her BA from Virginia Intermont College.
Each member elected to both the National Nominating Committee and the Board of Directors will serve 3-year terms beginning on July 1, 2026.
CSWE congratulates its new volunteer leaders and thanks all members who participated in this year’s nomination and election processes.
Founded in 1952, CSWE is the national association representing social work education in the United States. Its members include more than 900 accredited baccalaureate, master’s, and practice doctorate degree social work programs and their affiliated social work educators, students, and staff, as well as practitioners and agencies dedicated to advancing quality social work education.
Through its many initiatives, activities, and centers, CSWE supports quality social work education and provides opportunities for leadership and professional development so that social workers are empowered to play a central role in achieving the profession’s goals of social and economic justice. CSWE’s Board of Accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the sole accrediting agency for social work education in the United States and its territories.