معرفی
Sara Bennetts serves as an Assistant Professor of Social Work within the Harriet Emily Scott Social Work Program at the Sharon Lust School of Education, Augustana University. She joined the institution in 2025 and holds dual licensure as a Certified Social Worker–Private Independent Practice (CSW-PIP) and Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) in South Dakota, alongside international certification as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Her clinical expertise spans two decades across military, veteran, and civilian populations globally.
Her educational credentials include:
- Doctor of Social Work (candidate), Barry University
- Master of Social Work (MSW), 2005, Walla Walla University
- Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), 2002, University of South Dakota
Professor Bennetts' research integrates trauma science with creative therapeutic modalities, emphasizing resilience-building through expressive arts interventions. Her scholarship bridges complex trauma theory with practical applications in high-stress environments, particularly military behavioral health systems. She actively develops pedagogical frameworks for cultivating leadership confidence in emerging social work practitioners, addressing critical workforce development needs in clinical settings.
No scientific awards were documented in the provided text.
Her pre-Augustana career featured significant leadership roles: clinical consultant for the U.S. Army’s Substance Use Disorder Clinical Care program in Europe, clinical director of the Army’s inaugural geo-remote behavioral health initiative, and program manager for VA Mental Health Outpatient Services. The text does not specify current grant funding or formal student advising relationships at Augustana.
While her prior institutional affiliations involved structured military behavioral health teams, no active research laboratories or specialized clinical teams at Augustana University are described in the source material.
