معرفی
Lori Messinger serves as the Dean and Professor at the University of Tennessee Knoxville's College of Social Work. With over 20 years of progressive leadership in public universities, she brings extensive experience in social work education, research, and administration. Prior to her current position at UTK (since July 2019), she held leadership roles at the University of North Carolina Wilmington as School of Social Work Director (2011-2015), Associate Vice Chancellor for Community Engagement (2015-2017), and Senior Fellow for Diversity Initiatives (2018). She also served as BSW Program Director at the University of Kansas (2004-2010) and held assistant professor positions at the University of Alabama and North Carolina State University.
Dr. Messinger's educational background includes:
- PhD in Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1999)
- MSW from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1996)
- MA in Political Science from Rutgers University (1993)
- BA in Philosophy from Douglass College, Rutgers University (1990)
As a macro-focused social worker and researcher, Dr. Messinger specializes in antiracist and culturally responsive social work education and practice, with particular emphasis on issues facing LGBTQ+ and Black populations. Her research program examines comprehensive community planning processes and organizational change processes, especially in higher education institutions. Her methodological approach primarily employs qualitative research methods including case studies, ethnography, and grounded theory, though she also has experience with mixed methods on collaborative projects. All her research is informed by a critical theory approach to research questions and analysis.
Dr. Messinger's scholarly work demonstrates a consistent focus on advancing LGBTQ+ inclusion in social work education and practice. Her publications trace the evolution of LGBTQ+ competency development in social work curricula, from early documentation of discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ students to the development of assessment tools for measuring affirmative practice. Her more recent work expands to address intersectional identities, workforce development, and innovative approaches to social work education delivery, including technology-enhanced learning.
Dr. Messinger has received research funding from diverse sources including the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), Lambda Legal, the Gill Foundation, the Arcus Foundation, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), where she served as a CSWE Senior Scholar, the Roddy Foundation, and the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Her funded projects have addressed critical issues at the intersection of LGBTQ+ identities, social work education, and community practice.
As an academic leader, Dr. Messinger has secured significant grant funding for social work education initiatives and has served in numerous leadership capacities. Her sponsored projects include the Tennessee Public Behavioral Health Workforce Recruitment and Outreach Initiative (2022-2023), Tele-Social Work: Expanding the use of technology in social work education and behavioral health practice in East Tennessee (2020-2022), and several projects focused on LGBTQ+ competency in social work education dating back to 2007. She has advised numerous students and has contributed to the development of social work professionals through her leadership in academic programs.
Dr. Messinger actively contributes to her professional community through service on the CSWE Board of Directors (2017-2023, including as Vice Chair/Secretary 2022-2023), the CSWE Program Director Academy Advisory Board, and various state-level advisory councils in Tennessee related to child welfare and behavioral health. She has also served on university committees including the Dean Search for College of Law and the Dean Reappointment Review Committee, demonstrating her institutional leadership beyond her college.
