School of Social Work
If you want to spark change in individuals, families, communities, and organizations, we'll give you the skills to be an effective advocate and facilitate goals for your clients.
The School of Social Work at St. Ambrose University offers a BSW Dual Degree, an MSW, and MSW-MBA program. We've also partnered with Psychology to offer a microcredential in Trauma-Informed Care. Click below to learn more!
Ambrose Advantages
- Focus on Empowerment, Social Justice, and Advocacy
- Skills to Work With Individuals, Families, Communities & Organizations
- 400+ Agencies For Field Placement
The Empowerment Method
Learn More About Our School of Social Work
The empowerment method focuses on achieving goals and changing systems by using available strengths, resilience, and resources. By focusing on competence rather than deficits in individual or social functioning, the empowerment model supports resourcefulness and the development of skills to remove social barriers for individuals and communities.
SAU established the first Master of Social Work (MSW) program with an empowerment specialization in the U.S., and in the past 20 years, we've educated more than 500 students who are now actively helping individuals, families, communities, and society.
We want our undergraduate students to have a similar impact, so we designed a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program that teaches generalist social work practice skills through an empowerment lens.
Visit the Empowerment page to learn more
Let our students tell you more about the Empowerment Method. Watch this video.
Kristi Lohmeier, PhD, Professor and BSW Director; Director of SAU School of Social Work
Johny Augustine, PhD, Professor
Kyle Bennett, PhD, Asst. Professor
Jennifer Boedeker, MSW, Director of Field Education and Clinical Asst. Professor
Lisa Fortner, Online Program Coordinator
Jennifer Green, Administrative Assistant
Kathryn Lally, Clinical Instructor
Chris Martin, PhD, Assoc. Professor and MSW Director
Andrew Repp, PhD, Asst. Professor
Elizabeth Byram, PhD, Asst. Professor
Professors Emeriti
Pamela Long, ACSW, LISW, LCSW, Professor Emerita
Michael Jerin, PhD, Professor Emeritus
Michael O'Melia, MSW, Professor Emeritus
Adjunct Instructors
Kayla Behrens, LMSW, Case Management-Social Worker, Unity Point
Tesha Dobling, LMSW, Linn County Mental Health/Development Disability Central Point Coordination
Chelsey Haley, LMSW, BSBA, Black Hawk Area Special Education District
Lauren Gil Hayes, LMSW, Director of Supportive Services, The Project of the Quad Cities
Breann Hirst, LMSW, Family Therapist, Youth Service Bureau
Anne M. McNelis, LCSW, Director of Clinical Services, Transitions Mental Health Services
Angela Moody, MSW, Retired CEO, Arrowhead Youth and Family Services
Melanie Rice, MSW, School Social Worker, Geneseo Community School District #228
Nicholas Swanson, LMSW, School Social Worker, Mississippi Bend AEA
Katie Van Blair, PhD, MSW, Dean of Innovation, Adult, and Graduate Studies
Josh Breeden
Bachelor of Social Work,Class of 2021
Josh's high school experience – combined with a military tour in Iraq – showed him the many ways people use differences as weapons. Josh sought an education that teaches him how to bring people together and move the world forward. He found it at St. Ambrose.
Contact
Kristi Lohmeier, PhD, Director
Higgins Hall 121
518 W. Locust St.
Davenport, IA 52803
563-333-5889
LawKristiL@sau.edu