Patricia Kay Digby

Patricia Kay Digby is an Instructional Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of Mississippi's Department of Social Work, part of the School of Applied Sciences. She holds a B.A. in Business Administration (1981) from the University of Mississippi and an M.A. in Social Work from the University of Southern Mississippi (1989).

Her research focuses on child welfare systems, adoption processes, and domestic violence interventions. With over 30 years in child welfare, she emphasizes experiential learning in social work education, as demonstrated in her 2021 publication on BSW student engagement with intimate partner violence topics. She teaches courses including Child Welfare Policies, Social Work Practice series, and Human Behavior in the Social Environment.

Outside academia, Digby engages in community service through her local church and food bank. She enjoys adventurous activities like parasailing and skydiving, and maintains a close-knit family life spanning 42 years of marriage and five grandchildren.