These nine highlights represent 90 years of the school’s impact:

1. Kent School is recognized as the best social work program in Kentucky and nationally ranked as a top 50 social work graduate program based on U.S. News and World Report 2025 rankings.
2. Faculty and staff conduct research around the globe. The Kent School and its Center for Family and Community Well-Being has established and maintains a robust $27+ million research portfolio. The research – collaborative, community-based and evidence-driven – has been disseminated through a record 90 presentations and 60 professional publications. It continues to make a positive impact on hundreds of individuals, families and communities every day.
3. Kent School offers five degree programs, including the bachelor’s in social work, master of science in social work, master of science in couple and family therapy, doctor of philosophy in social work and doctor of social work program, which launched in 2021. Few social work schools offer a full array of programs to provide students an educational pathway that takes them from a bachelor’s to a doctoral degree.
4. While Kent School celebrates the milestone of 90 years, the PhD program, which now spans 120 graduates, 25 states and three countries, marks 30 years. Today, these graduates are embedded in 56 colleges and universities. Both of the school’s doctoral programs are directed by distinguished professors who are Society for Social Work Research (SSWR) Fellows. Anita Barbee and Heather Storer are part of this esteemed fellowship society which honors individuals for their accomplishments, leadership and contributions to the scientific society. Fellows serve as role models and mentors for individuals pursuing careers in social work research.
5. Through the work of Professor Karlynn BrintzenhofeSzoc, the Dr. Renato LaRocca Endowed Chair in Oncology Social Work, Kent School is helping to fill the gaps as the need for professionals in the specialty area of oncology social work continues to grow. Associate Professor Tara Schapmire recently received a five-year, $1.6 million grant to lead a national training initiative providing specialized training for 250 social workers across the United States.
6. UofL is one of only two universities in the nation that houses a couple and family therapy program in a school of social work. Established 30 years ago, the Couple and Family Therapy (CFT) Program, located on Shelby Campus, educates graduate students to become marriage and family therapists. In addition, the CFT program manages the Relationship Solutions Clinic, a valuable resource that offers therapy services to the local community. Services are provided by graduate level CFT students under supervision in a professional setting.
7. Our students are everywhere! Through practicum site placements across 31 states and two countries, Kent School students gained valuable hands-on learning experience by providing more than 124,000 hours of service working with local, national and global community partners from fall 2024 through spring 2025.
8. Kent School is a participating partner in Kentucky’s program, an innovative career preparation program for students interested in making a positive impact serving the children and families of Kentucky. Undergraduate students who enroll in this program receive benefits including free in-state tuition, mentorship, skills training and priority job placement after graduation. The Kent School staff member overseeing the UofL student participants, Emily Watts, is an alumnae and student in the DSW program. 
9. Each year, faculty design and host study abroad programs that expand upon classroom learning, engaging students in new cultural experiences. Past study abroad opportunities included trips to Belize, Peru and Vietnam.

The school recently celebrated 90 years of impact through education, research and service at an anniversary gala on March 28. Held at the Speed Art Museum, the event honored the past, present and future of the school.

A unique 90^th anniversary art collage entitled “Art of our Mission,” facilitated by Kent School alumnae Toya Northington ‘18 and Kent School professor Lesley Harris, represents the contributions of faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends. Pieces of the collage were on display at the gala, and the final compilation will have a permanent home in the Kent School’s Oppenheimer Hall.

“Many of those kids were in foster care for much longer than they needed to be, because as an agency, we weren’t doing anything to reach out to the children’s fathers,” Perry said. “All the caseloads were in the mother’s names, and dads, if anything, were an afterthought.”

Perry said once he understood it was just about “checking off a box” so the system could move forward, it was a gamechanger for him. “It was deeply impactful to me because it set the course of my professional life for the next 25 years.”

It set the stage for his interest and focus on fatherhood within his professional life for the next two plus decades, most of which he has devoted as a professor at . Perry works with agencies and organizations trying to help them improve capacity for helping dads to take more active roles in their children’s lives.

In 2015, Perry was involved in a five-year federally funded fatherhood program for nearly 1,500 non-resident dads that featured 28 hours of parent education and up to six months of case management services. “The program’s aim was to help connect dads to places and spaces that might be able to assist them in removal or reduction of whatever barriers were standing in their way to becoming the type of active and involved fathers that they wanted to be,” Perry said.

The 28 hours came from a curriculum called 24/7 Dad, developed by The National Fatherhood Initiative, along with four additional hours of a co-parenting curriculum called Together We Can. “When people share children but don’t necessarily have a romantic connection or relationship, they need to determine how they can set their differences aside for their children,” Perry said. Outcomes from the fatherhood study included statistically significant improvements in parent education, parenting knowledge and resolution skills.

Since that time, Perry has shared his recommendations and implications for best practices through dozens of conferences, workshops and presentations throughout the country.

“Equipping moms and dads with the necessary skills and knowledge to be able to contribute to the children’s healthy growth and development is what I’m all about,” Perry said.

According to Perry, one vital factor for fathers is to engage with their children early in life. “We can’t expect dads to be the fathers that we want them to be and just flip a switch when the child is four or five years old, if we haven’t adequately prepared them and provided them opportunities earlier on.”

Perry said ideally children need a balance of the two diverse types of development offered by mothers and fathers. “Fathers have the capacity to uniquely impact their children’s development in what they call rough and tumble play,” he explained. “That type of parenting promotes competence and confidence because it teaches children that they can gain mastery over the world.”

In addition, Perry said research indicates when children have active and involved fathers in their lives they tend to do better academically, they’re much less likely to have mental health concerns, less likely to get involved in juvenile delinquency, much less likely to have an unwanted teenage pregnancy, and much less likely to grow up in poverty.

While there are still many challenges to making these paradigm shifts in the role of fatherhood in our society, Perry is proud to have contributed to this work over the years and to see the meaningful growth that has transpired.

“The type of work that I do now, I could not have envisioned 20 years ago,” he said. “So much progress has been made to bring these issues related to fathers and the role that they play in their children’s growth and development to the forefront, so I’m excited about that.”  

Perry said he believes being a father is the “highest calling a man can have on earth. Their role is unique and irreplaceable, and that’s the message I send every single day to the men that I come across,” he said.

, an associate professor in the , and an associate professor at the , has worked decades to help individuals and families impacted by cancer. 

Schapmire was recently awarded a five-year, $1.6 million grant from NCI to lead a national training initiative aimed at transforming psychosocial and palliative care in oncology. The grant will support an intensive training and mentorship program, and 50 social workers from across the U.S. will be competitively selected each year to receive fully funded palliative oncology training and structured mentorship.

UofL News connected with Schapmire to learn more about this new innovative initiative.

UofL News: What piqued your interest in oncology social work?

Schapmire: Fresh out of my Masters of Social Work (MSSW) program at UofL in 1996, I discovered my professional calling. Working with individuals and families facing cancer opened my eyes to the profound impact that compassionate, skilled psychosocial support can have. I became deeply committed to improving the quality of life for all those affected by cancer—patients, families and care teams alike—and that sense of purpose has guided my work ever since.

UofL News: What was your response to receiving this grant?

Schapmire: I was absolutely thrilled—both personally and professionally. I felt deeply validated that the National Cancer Institute recognized oncology social workers as essential to high-quality cancer and palliative care yet often lack access to quality training opportunities compared to other disciplines. This award provides the opportunity to elevate our field’s role in transforming cancer care nationwide.

Educating Social Workers in Palliative and End-of-Life Care (ESPEC) Oncology builds on two prior NCI-funded programs at the UofL School of Medicine that advanced interprofessional palliative care education. Training 250 oncology social workers over the next five years will have a transformative impact on the quality and compassion of cancer care nationwide.

UofL News: What does this mean for patients with cancer? How can it help them and their families cope with the life transitions their diagnosis can bring?

Schapmire: This grant strengthens the ability of oncology social workers to support patients and families through every phase of the cancer journey—helping them manage distress, navigate complex decisions, and sustain quality of life even in the face of serious illness. ESPEC Oncology expands nationally what the Kent School of Social Work and Family Science at UofL has long done through its oncology social work specialization—preparing clinicians to address the full biopsychosocial, spiritual and cultural dimensions of cancer care. Together, they advance a model of compassionate, whole-person care that helps patients and families find meaning and maintain dignity throughout serious illness.

UofL News: What has been the most gratifying aspect of this project?

Schapmire: What I find most meaningful about this project is its potential for lasting, system-level impact. It isn’t just about training 250 oncology social workers—it’s about creating a national community of leaders who will return to their institutions equipped to strengthen teams, improve communication, and integrate psychosocial and palliative care principles into everyday oncology practice.

This initiative also represents the culmination of years of collaborative work with an incredible team of national experts and partner organizations, started by Dr. Myra Glajchen at MJHS Institute for Innovation in Palliative Care in New York, who share a vision for transforming the way cancer care is delivered. 

By investing in the people who provide the psychosocial and emotional backbone of cancer care, we’re not only improving patient and family experiences but also supporting the well-being and professional growth of the workforce that serves them.

ESPEC Oncology: Transforming Psychosocial and Palliative Cancer Care is accepting training program applications. For more information, email ESPECO@louisville.edu

“Giving back has always been a priority,” said Maldonado. “It’s something that my wife and I feel very passionate about.”

Maldonado, a first-generation student and retired military veteran, crossed the stage May 11 with eighteen other students who were part of the inaugural cohort of the the students at the . He was still on active duty in Fort Knox, KY, in 2012 when he began his master’s in social work program at Kent School, taking classes online, and in person on nights and weekends.

After Maldonado completed his MSSW and retired from the military in 2015, he was able to advance his career with a DSW he completed 100% online from his current home in Washington state with the support of his family and his employer, the Washington Air National Guard at the U.S. Army’s Joint Base Lewis McChord near Tacoma, Washington.

As an embedded mental health provider on the base, he has implemented a peer-supported resilience program designed to aid military personnel with anxiety and depression. “It can become overwhelming for any of us at any given time,” he said.

Maldonado said his studies gave him a better understanding of social work industry standards. “There have been significant changes in the direction of social justice and anti-racist practice at the forefront of our profession in the last few years,” he said. “I am now prepared to go from helping the individual navigate through the system to helping shape the system so that it better serves the individual, empowering them to make better decisions,” Maldonado said.

In addition to his busy day job, Maldonado has volunteered once a week for the past year with a substance abuse program for active-duty personnel.

“We need to continue to increase access to care not just for our service members but for their family members because the wellness of the member and the family cannot be separated,” he said.

Managing a family, full-time job and doctoral studies was no easy feat, but Maldonado said Kent School helped him feel he was never alone.

“There were so many times I felt overwhelmed but my advisor, , continued to be such a positive cheerleader even when I thought maybe I wasn’t going to make it,” he said. “All of the Kent School faculty and staff were genuinely interested in my success. Since I completed the program, I honestly believe that I am a better version of my capacity, and a better social worker.”     

“I look at these students as the pioneers and recently encouraged the DSW students to think about their impact. We are producing passionate, well-trained effective change agents, and when we launch students, it’s their opportunity to go forth and create the world we seek,” said Kent School Dean John Miller.

The new DSW program aims “to create leaders that can go into the community and social service programs in educational institutions, in health institutions, in the military,” said Lynetta Mathis, associate professor and director of the DSW program.

She said the structure of the program opens doors for practicing social workers with experience and practice wisdom to pursue doctoral education while retaining their current employment.  

“Quality social workers provide value in every space, and I’m most proud that we are giving geographically diverse leaders the opportunity to make a difference working and serving in their communities across the nation,” Miller said.

In his first year as dean of the school, Miller said he is proud to see the school’s evolution into the doctoral space.

“I am watching new social work leaders take their stance and say, ‘I am part of the answer’,” he said. “That gives me joy, and fires me up as dean of the Kent School of Social Work and Family Science — to see them answering the leadership call.”

After working for a decade with youth and their families as a site supervisor for school-based services at the local non-profit , Cortes, 33, joined the Kent School staff in October 2023 as the Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSW) Program Admissions and Recruitment Coordinator.

First-Gen student success
A first-generation student, Cortes grew up in Oldham County in a family that valued education.

“My mom was one of only two of the six kids in her family who completed high school, and my dad was an immigrant from Mexico who completed the ninth grade,” said Cortes. “My parents were both laborers, and they were breaking their backs and coming home late at night, and they just didn’t want that same burden for their kids; they didn’t want that life for us.”

Each year, over a third of UofL’s first-year students are first-generation. To support this growing population, UofL joined the , which helps universities share data, model innovations and scale impact to advance student outcomes. Since 2019, these efforts have contributed to a 3% increase in first-to-second-year retention for first-gen students.

Finding a supportive environment at UofL
Cortes attended other colleges briefly before transferring to Louisville, where he found a niche he didn’t expect for a “guy who grew up in Oldham County on a horse farm. The only time I came to Louisville as a kid was to go to Kentucky Kingdom or the rodeo,” he said. “So, for me to go to this city and feel as comfortable as I did is a testament to everything, all the work they did to help me, not only at Kent school but at UofL, in general.”

Cortes said the University of Louisville felt personal and was responsive to his needs, including helping him balance academics with working night shifts at UPS and fulfilling his practicum hours.

“My advisors, the staff and the professors that I worked with looked out for me as an individual,” he said. “They supported me through my journey as a nontraditional student, and were able to meet me where I was…that made me feel like more than a number or just the next student coming through. They get to know me as a whole person.”

The path to success wasn’t always a smooth one for Cortes, and there were times when things were tough, and he felt too exhausted to go on. He relied on his family for moral and emotional support, and on his UofL family, as well. 

“I remember thinking there’s no way I can squeeze in the time to write this 10-page paper and then study for this exam and read those four chapters,” he said. “There was no downtime, and I felt like I was on autopilot for the better part of those years.”

But the memories of those times ultimately made the achievement sweeter.

“It makes me feel incredibly accomplished in a way that I really can’t describe. I knew that I wanted it, but I also knew I was really going to have to work for it,” he said.

New role creates new opportunities to serve
After receiving his BSW degree, Cortes worked as a youth social worker in the Louisville community. Now, in his new career as an admissions and recruitment coordinator at UofL, he’s come full-circle and is preparing the next generation of social workers to make a difference.

“I’m now in this position, advocating for my students and providing resources, counseling, sometimes crisis management,” he said. “They all have unique circumstances and backgrounds, and even though every situation is different, I feel I was once in their shoes. I really want to pay that forward for more UofL students,” said Cortes.

Cortes says he also hopes to help grow the Kent School, encouraging others to pursue a social work degree, noting the importance of addressing mental health.

“As professionals, we need to grow and advocate for mental health and talk about it as plainly as you would a physical injury,” said Cortes. “Nobody has any problem going to the doctor with a sprained wrist, but you might be hesitant to say you’re really feeling uneasy and need to go talk to somebody about it.”

Bobby Cortes treasures the messages from former families and students about things he has taught them and the impact it’s had on their lives. “For example, they’ve told me something we did together framed their thinking in a different way,” said Cortes. “I really, really love those kinds of a-ha moments.”

He’s looking forward to more of those a-ha moments in his new role with aspiring social workers.  

March is National Social Work month. to find out more about Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work and Family Science.

UofL News: How does it feel to be a first-generation graduate?

Brown-Lewis: It feels both humbling and an honor! I have been afforded many privileges in my life despite having many other shortcomings. I was fortunate to have a village made up of family, friends and mentors that aided in my success over the years. Yes, I am a first-generation graduate, but this success speaks more to my family’s ability to love me through this journey. It’s been an honor to represent my family in these spaces and chart the path to being a good ancestor. 

UofL News: What were the biggest challenges you overcame during your educational journey?

Brown-Lewis: The biggest challenge I had along this journey was losing my grandparents in April 2021 and October 2021. My grandparents raised me while my mother worked during my childhood and early adolescence. Losing them was so hard because they had a ninth and 11th-grade education and sacrificed everything. They wanted to raise a family and I am the fruit of their labor. They won’t get to see what they produced and that to me is heartbreaking. My grandmother said to me during the summer of 2019 when I was living with her as she was going through chemo, “I never dreamed I graduated high school, but I did dream I graduated college.” I am her wildest dream.

UofL News: What drove you to complete your degree?

Brown-Lewis: I have a duty to see these degrees through because of all the hard work and sacrifice of my village, especially my mother. I wanted to ensure the seeds they planted in me did not die because the journey was too rough. I was driven by my family and Brielle, my cousin-niece, because she must see that achieving great things is possible and that nothing can stop her except herself. It has been hard, but I, too, must sacrifice as my grandparents did to plant the seed in the next person to go and be as great as they imagine.

UofL News: Why did you choose UofL?

Brown-Lewis: The Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work and Family Science was always a dream of mine. Being a social worker and a licensed therapist was always my dream, and when I came out of UK, I knew exactly where I wanted to go and what I wanted to study – social work at the Kent School.

UofL News: You have a passion for youth and are engaged in some amazing work in the city. Tell us about that.

Brown-Lewis: I am the youth engagement specialist for the Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods in the mayor’s Office of Innovation. I engage with the mayor’s youth implementation team which teaches youth social-emotional and political development through the application of social justice youth development. The youth engage in this type of development to work toward creating policy resolutions. One of these policy resolutions is then taken to the National Conference of Mayors. I also work with other youth-serving organizations to coordinate services for youth across Louisville. 

UofL News: What is next for you?

Brown-Lewis: Continuing work in youth development and the macro applications of policy work and social justice youth development. I will be starting my career as a therapist and work diligently to fuse both the macro work and micro work. Next for me is rest! The last seven years of schooling has been a challenging journey and I have reached the end. One day I will pursue a higher degree in public health or family sciences. 

UofL News: What advice do you have for other social work students?

Brown-Lewis: Follow your dreams despite naysayers. Find the gap in services and fill it, be creative, don’t do something unless you love it. Intentionally invest in your personal and professional life, and get a therapist!