The Office of Practicum Education collaborates with students in the thoughtful selection of their practicum or internship sites, employing a curriculum that places strong emphasis on evidence-based practice, equity, and the development of professional skills. During the practicum experience itself, the dedicated practicum instructors, assuming the primary role of supervision, engage in weekly 60-minute meetings with the students. Additionally, a practicum faculty member is assigned to each student, responsible for providing guidance, orientation, and assessment across all aspects of the practicum education curriculum. This faculty member also maintains a close working relationship and consults regularly with the practicum agency to ensure seamless coordination. It is worth noting that the practicum faculty members possess specialized expertise in specific areas aligned with the program concentrations and specializations.
Beginning fall 2026, every MSW student receives financial support for required practicum education, including tuition coverage and a living stipend.
Practicum education is integral to social work and social policy education at the Brown School. It is designed to translate the theories and skills learned in the classroom into applied practice in varied community settings. These applied learning experiences allow students to practice professional behaviors and develop skills related to their practicum of study.
Jewel Stafford, MSW
Assistant Dean of Practicum Engaged Scholarship, Teaching Professor, Director, Racial Equity Fellows Concentrations: American Indian/Alaska Native
Alison Rico, MSW, LCSW
Lecturer, Concentrations: Mental Health
Atia Thurman, MSW
Lecturer, Concentrations: Children, Youth & Families, Social Impact Leadership
Joe Jovanovich, MSW
Lecturer, Concentrations: Social and Economic Development – Domestic, Master of Social Policy
Katie VonDeLinde, MSW, LCSW
Director of Practicum Education, Senior Lecturer, Concentrations: Mental Health, Health
Erica Jones
Practicum Education/Practicum Coordinator
Li Zou, international director at the WashU Brown School’s Center for Social Development, has been appointed to represent the International…
Saria Bechara, a social work doctoral student at the WashU Brown School, has received grant funding to launch a community-based…
New research from Washington University in St. Louis argues that policymakers should enact gradual cutoffs for public benefits such as…
Hilary Thibodeau, a social work doctoral student at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, is the lead…
Jin Huang, the Irving Louis Horowitz Professor in Social Policy at the WashU Brown School, has been appointed to serve…
As Americans work longer than previous generations, employers have an opportunity to create workplaces that support employees of all ages,…