Faculty members are all social workers involved in myriad areas of interest and expertise.

Full Time Faculty

	Kevin Borders, PhD, MSSW, MDiv, earned his MSSW and PhD from the University of Louisville, Kent School of Social Work, and his MDiv from a local seminary.  His areas of interest are in advocacy with older adults, community and organizational practice, program evaluation, and effective teaching. When not teaching research, critical thinking or working with field practicum students, Kevin works with local agencies around program evaluation. Kevin is married, and has one daughter and three cats. Contact Kevin at kborders@spalding.edu or 502-873-4474.
	Shannon Emory Cambron, MSW, Director of the BSSW Program, earned her MSW as a part of the first masters’ cohort at Spalding University. After graduation, Shannon worked as a clinical therapist/site director for CLASP, a non-residential treatment program administered through Maryhurst, Inc.  in Louisville, Kentucky. With over 11 years of experience in the areas of clinical practice, family preservation and community engagement, Shannon serves on the advisory boards of numerous local agencies and consults with regional faith communities on women’s and children’s issues.  Shannon is currently pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership. She and her husband Terry are the doting parents of two children, Caroline and Tyler. Contact her at Shannon Cambron, scambron@spalding.edu or 502-873-4475.
	Barbara Carter, MSSW comes to Spalding from Administration at Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services’ Department for Community Based Services.  She is currently the Coordinator for the PCWCP (Public Child Welfare Certification Program) in the BSSW program and is the Director of Field Education for both the BSSW and MSW programs. Contact her at Barbara Carter, bcarter@spalding.edu or 502-873-4476.
	Stacy Deck, PhD, MSSW earned her MSSW and PhD from the University of Louisville, Kent School of Social Work, and she has a BS in Education.  Her areas of interest include poverty, welfare reform, affordable housing, homelessness, aging, health social work, advocacy, policy and applied research/program evaluation.  Stacy serves on the Board of Directors for the Coalition for the Homeless and the Emerging Workforce Initiative, and she is a consultant to the KY Cabinet for Health and Human Services.  She is actively involved in political organizing at the local, state and national level.  Stacy and her husband, Steve Wirth, are parents of four children.  Contact Stacy at sdeck@spalding.edu or 502-873-4477.
	Erlene Grise-Owens, EdD, MSW Director & Professor earned both a Master of Religious Education (MRE) and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS), as well as an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Spalding University. Previously, Erlene taught in the Carver School of Social Work – SBTS where she also served as the Director of Field Instruction and Associate Director of the Gheens Center for Family Ministry.  Holding a LCSW and LMFT, Erlene has worked in both direct practice and administrative roles, including child welfare, behavioral health, community centers, and religious-affiliated contexts. Other areas of professional interest include clinical practice, leadership, gender and sexual orientation, wellness, and spirituality.  Complementing her ongoing service commitments and passion for social work education, Erlene has substantive scholarship, particularly in Scholarship of Teaching-Learning (SoTL). Contact her at Erlene Grise-Owens, egrise-owens@spalding.edu or 502-873-4478.
	Ron M. Jackson, MSSW earned his social work degree from the University of Louisville, Kent School of Social Work.  Ron has worked in the field of social work for over 20 years and brings a deep knowledge of social service systems and collaboration through his intense involvement with Neighborhood Place in direct service and administrative roles.  Ron’s passion for children and families manifests in his work with Financial Education, Community Collaboration and Racial Healing initiatives.  He continues to broaden his scope in Social Services Leadership Dynamics as an Annie E. Casey Foundation Fellow.  He is currently involved in the greater Louisville community on the Race, Community and Child Welfare Advisory Board, the Metropolitan Housing Coalition Board and the Bridges of Hope Neighborhood Place Community Council.  Ron is married, with 3 children.  Contact Ron at rjackson03@spalding.edu or  502-873-4479.
	Jennifer Jewell, PhD, MSW earned her Ph.D. from the University of Louisville, Kent School of Social Work and her MSW from Spalding University. Her areas of interest focus on social justice, grassroots organizing, international social work and the intersection between race, class, and gender. This is evident in her teaching, research, and practice. In 1998, she assisted in the development of Women In Transition (WIT), a grassroots organization run by and for poor people, and continues to be an active member and volunteer. Jennifer is also engaged in the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign (PPEHRC), a national poor people’s movement. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Jennifer continues to serve as an in-home therapist with families and children. To top it off, Jennifer is also busy raising three children. Contact Jennifer at jjewell@spalding.edu or 502-873-44805.
	Justin (Jay) Miller, MSW Justin (Jay) Miller, MSW, CSW is an alumni of Spalding University’s School of Social Work. Jay completed his undergraduate studies at Western Kentucky University.  Jay’s research and academic interests focus specifically on the sustainability of social work education and child welfare, particularly outcomes related to foster care and adoption.  Jay is actively involved in several community endeavors and has served as the co-founder/past president of the Louisville Association of Black Social Workers, and the founder of the Jefferson County Foster Care Peer Support Program. Jay is currently working on a PhD at the University of Louisville, Kent School of Social Work. Contact Jay at jmiller03@spalding.edu or 502-873-4481.
	Phyllis Platt, PhD, MSW Chair, School of Social Work received her MSW from the Carver School of Social Work – SBTS and her PhD from the University of Kentucky College of Social Work. Phyllis is a Certified School Social Worker with more than 15 years of practice experience working with organizations that serve children and families. Prior to joining the Spalding faculty, Phyllis taught part-time at the University of Kentucky. Her particular areas of practice interest include faith-based and community non-profits, innovation and organizational change, social work research, and school-based health and social services / FRYSC.  Community engagement is an integral part of the teaching-learning process for Phyllis as evidenced by a classroom focus on service learning. . Phyllis is currently engaged in grant-writing with particular emphasis on affordable, accessible health care and Eastern KY.  Contact Phyllis at pplatt@spalding.edu or 502-873-4482.

Part Time Faculty

Tiffany Cole Hall, MSW, CSW, CADC, earned her MSW from Spalding University. Her areas of interest are in chemical dependency, women and family issues, and advocacy for and work with individuals with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. In addition to teaching part-time, Tiffany has a part-time practice and works full-time for Volunteers of America, as Director of Intellectual/Developmental Disability services in Southern Indiana. Tiffany is married and is the doting mother of their son.  They live in Louisville.

Pamela Cotton, MSSW is currently the Vice President; Director of Social Services for New Hope Services in Jeffersonville In. Ms. Cotton has over 28 years of experience in various fields of Social Work. Currently her main concentration is Child Protection and Child Advocacy, along with serving developmentally disabled adults. Previously, she worked as a Medical Social Work for 5 years at a Home Health Agency. Ms. Cotton is a trained cultural diversity trainer and was a consultant for the state of Ky for 6 years, training the Dept of Mental Health staff. She continues to keep herself involved in humanitarian work along with raising two teenage boys.

Kimberly Garts Crum, MSW has her MSW from the University of Iowa (1980) and her MFA (in writing) from Spalding University (2003). She has practiced social work in medical and psychiatric settings, including the University of Iowa Hospitals Burn Center and in the Norton Hospital Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic. Her experience in a University medical setting convinced her of the importance of writing as a tool for education and persuasion. Currently, Kimberly is a freelance writer and a writing and Literature instructor at the Schools of Liberal Studies and Social Work at Spalding University. But in her heart, she is always a social worker!

April DuVal, MSW has worked at the Council on Developmental Disabilities for 40+ years, serving as Executive Director for the past 14 years. She is a graduate of Albion College (BA) and the University of Michigan (MSW). Ms. DuVal is an outspoken advocate for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families. She was the founder and director of Enabling Technologies of Kentuckiana (enTECH) and the Western KY Assistive Technology Consortium (WKATC), community assistive technology centers for persons with disabilities; administrator of state and federal grants and program; co-developer of the Coalition for Quality and Choice; co-developer of the CDD Leadership Institute; and administrator all CMR operations.

Laura Escobar-Ratliff, MSW, CSW, CPRP. Laura is an alumna of the MSW program at Spalding University. She completed her BA, focus in political science and women’s studies, at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky. When not working as an adjunct professor at Spalding, Laura works full-time as the director of the Welcome House program with Seven Counties Services, Inc. The Welcome House is a therapeutic rehabilitation program for adults with severe and persistent mental illness in Shelbyville, Kentucky. Additionally, Laura works as a contract counselor for LEAP, Inc. (Let’s Eliminate a Problem) which is an outpatient alcohol and drug treatment program in Louisville, Kentucky. Laura lives in Louisville with Robbi, her husband.