Our MSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
The Master of Social Work (MSW) degree is required for advanced clinical or macro practice, and is in high demand for employers seeking social work professionals who can work with clients and provide leadership in the agency and community.
Graduates in social work pursue careers in a range of industries, excelling in jobs that require a deep knowledge of diversity, interpersonal communication, and community relations.
Madonna University's Masters of Social Work program is career oriented and accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
Natalie Taylor (MSW student) and Katherine Schmaltz (BSW student) have been chosen as Madonna University's NASW Student Social Workers of the Year! The students were chosen by the professors for their community involvement, academic achievement, and dedication to the Social Work profession.
Both students were recognized at a ceremony on April 9, 2019 at Wayne State University. Congratulations Natalie & Katie!
This certificate is a credential, and with a MSW in clinical social work fulfills the requirement of the Michigan Department of Education.
This certificate prepares MSWs for leadership and administrative roles in the field of Social Work across settings.
This certificate is an academic credential for students wishing to pursue the State of Michigan certifcation as a Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (CADC) .
Chair, Social Work Department
Director, MSW Program
Associate Professor, Social Work
B.A., University of Detroit Mercy
M.S.W, Wayne State University
Ph.D., Walden University
734-432-5569
Irena Glover, Ph.D., LMSW, joined the Social Work Department at Madonna University in August 2017 as an Assistant Professor. She earned a BA in Developmental Psychology from the University of Detroit Mercy in 1998. She went on to earn her MSW in 2000 from Wayne State University. In 2016, Irena earned her Ph.D. in Human Services with a specialization in Family Studies and Intervention Strategies.
Prior to arriving at Madonna, Irena worked in various settings, including Children’s Hospital of Michigan and the Family Reunification Program. She also has experience with nonprofit and program development. Her interests include parenting education, father engagement, working with at-risk children and youth, intergenerational issues such as poverty and teenage pregnancy, and individual and family counseling.
B.A., University of Toledo
M.S.S.A., Case Western Reserve University
Ph.D., University of Toledo
734-432-5498
Sarah Jo Twitchell holds her LISW-S license in Ohio and joined the Social Work faculty in August 2016 as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Twitchell earned her MSSA from Case Western Reserve University and her doctorate from The University of Toledo. Before arriving at Madonna University, Dr. Twitchell has also taught social work courses at Owens Community College and Glenville State College in West Virginia. In addition to teaching at the college level, Dr. Twitchell serves as a consultant to various non-profits in the areas of development and grant writing. She has held numerous positions in Toledo area agencies focusing on homelessness, poverty, education and faith-based services.
B.A., San Francisco State University
M.S.W & Ph.D., University of Michigan
734-432-5781
Cathryn Fabian joined the Social Work faculty at Madonna University in 2017 as an Assistant Professor. She earned both her MSW (Community Organization/Community and Social Systems) and her Ph.D. (Social Work and Psychology) from the University of Michigan.
Prior to coming to Madonna, Dr. Fabian was a lecturer at the University of Michigan and at Eastern Michigan University, and was also a research associate at the University of Notre Dame. Her practice experience includes working with homeless and elderly populations, and in community-based program development and evaluation. Dr. Fabian also has expertise on the role of service learning in higher education, particularly as it relates to cognitive and career development.
Samantha Hallman joined the faculty at Madonna University in the fall of 2017 as an Assistant Professor of Social Work. Prior to that time, she held a variety of teaching and research positions at the University of Michigan, including a Postdoctoral Assessment and Evaluation position at the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching; a Graduate Student Instructor for several courses in both Social Work and Psychology; and Research Assistant positions at the Institute for Social Research, the School of Education, and the Department of Psychology.
In addition to those roles, she was a Research and Evaluation Manager at the non-profit Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality. She received a B.A. in Psychology with Honors in 2006, a Master's in Social Work in 2008, and a Ph.D. in Social Work and Psychology in 2015 from the University of Michigan. Broadly speaking, her research interests lie in understanding the "achievement gap" and bio-psycho-social models of intervention aimed at ameliorating it. Her dissertation explored the role of self-regulatory strength, in conjunction with expectancy and value, in explaining differences in levels of homework completion as a function of race and socioeconomic status.
Janice King, LMSW, joined the Social Work Department at Madonna University in 2004 as an adjunct assistant professor. Ms. King earned a MSW in Social Work (organizations and communities) and a BA, in Humanistic Studies at Wayne State University. In August 2014 she became the new Field Education Director for the Social Work program and continues to teach practice method courses in groups and families, and organizations.
Ms. King was previously the Program Manager for the National Resource Center for Adoption at Spaulding for Children, supporting States, Tribes and Territories with relevant practice information in the area of public child welfare adoption, child and family well-being, disproportionality and adoption support and preservation services.
B.A. Liberal Arts, Wilberforce University
MSW, Wayne State University
P.H.D, Oakland University
Issmith@madonna.edu
734-432-5509
La Toi S. Smith, PhD, LMSW has joined the department as an adjunct instructor in the fall of 2019. She joined the department in Fall 2022 as an assistant professor. She earned B.A in liberal arts in social work from Wilber University in Wilberforce, OH in 2000. She went on to earn her MSW in 2002 from Wayne State University. She has been licensed through the state of Michigan as a micro/macro level clinical. In 2018, La Toi earned her PhD in counceling from Oakland University. Her dessertation focused on the experiences of African American who grew up with nonresidential father.
Dr. Smith was previously employed with a local health system working with individual who suffered from end stage Renel Disease. While there she assisted in interviewing on onboarding LLMSW and LMSWs. She was also employed as an adult outpatient supervisor at a local community mental health center in Detroit, Mi.
B.A., Occidental College
M.A., University of Pennsylvania
M.S.W., California State University, Sacramento
Ph.D., Wayne State University
734-432-5872
Cristina Tucker, who goes by Shelly, joined our Social Work faculty in 2018. Shelly earned her PhD in Social Work from Wayne State University in 2010. Her dissertation research focused on the acculturation of Latino immigrants in the US, including experiences with discrimination, racism, and other barriers to full integration into American society. Shelly also holds an MA in Hispanic Studies from the University of Pennsylvania, an MSW from California State University Sacramento, and a BA in Spanish from Occidental College.
She most recently comes to us from the non-profit arena where she developed and ran an innovative prisoner reentry program in Michigan and Oklahoma. She has vast experience working in all levels of practice and enjoys guiding students to find their best fit in the social work field. Shelly specializes in immigration, reentry, program development, social policy, and organizational leadership.
