Deborah Stiles

Deborah Stiles serves as Department Chair, Program Director, and Associate Professor of Social Work within the Sociology & Social Work Department at Taylor University. She brings twenty years of professional social work experience, including clinical practice in inpatient psychiatric hospitals and school-based therapy settings across all age groups from children to geriatric populations.

Her educational background comprises:

• Doctor of Social Work (DSW) in Teaching and Leadership, University of St. Thomas (2022)
• Master of Social Work (MSW) with specialization in Children & Families and Schools, University of Kansas (1994)
• Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), Northwest Nazarene University (1990)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Indiana (2008)

Dr. Stiles' research centers on trauma-informed care integration within Baccalaureate Social Work (BSW) education, examining its application in school settings and with vulnerable populations to promote economic justice. Her work emphasizes practical frameworks for enhancing client-worker interactions through trauma-informed principles while addressing systemic marginalization.

As an educator, she advises students in advanced courses including Senior Practicum and Integrative Senior Seminar. Her international impact is demonstrated through trauma-informed care workshops for Bahamian social workers commissioned by the Ministry of Youth and Sport and Ministry of Social Services, with a third workshop scheduled for November 2023.

Grounded in Christian higher education philosophy, Dr. Stiles teaches students to embody Micah 6:8 through critical engagement, empathy, and collaborative client-centered practice while preparing them to serve as advocates for justice and mercy.