Office of Field EducationPracticum education is integral to social work, public health, 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 field of study. The Office of Field Education has over 400 diverse community practicum placements in the St. Louis region, nationally and globally. Students will select a practicum site with a community partner organization whose mission aligns with their interests and career goals. At the Brown School, we do not assign students to specific practica. Students are responsible for selecting their own practicum experience. This approach allows students to build on knowledge and skills closely related to their career goals. Students must select practicum experiences from agencies affiliated with the School. Prospective StudentsCurrent StudentsField InstructorsMSW PracticumMPH PracticumMSP InternshipMSW/MPH Dual Degree PracticumMSW Field EducationMPH Field EducationMSP Field EducationDual Degree Field EducationField Instructor Resources The Office of Field 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 field instructors, assuming the primary role of supervision, engage in weekly 60-minute meetings with the students. Additionally, a field faculty member is assigned to each student, responsible for providing guidance, orientation, and assessment across all aspects of the field 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 field faculty members possess specialized expertise in specific areas aligned with the program concentrations and specializations. Field Faculty and Key Contacts Jewel Stafford, MSWAssistant Dean, Office of Field Education, Teaching Professor, Director, Racial Equity Fellows Concentrations: Individualized, American Indian/Alaska Native Phone: 314-935-2785 Email: staffordjd@wustl.edu Office: Brown Hall 312 Alison Rico, MSW, LCSWLecturer, Concentrations: Mental Health Phone: 314-935-4054 Email: arico@wustl.edu Office: Brown Hall 310 Atia Thurman, MSWLecturer, Concentrations: Children, Youth & Families, Social Impact Leadership Phone: 314-935-7849 Email: atiathurman@wustl.edu Office: Brown Hall 308 Kate Barbier, MSW, MPHLecturer, MPH Field Faculty, Focus: Master of Public Health Program Phone: 314-935-2170 Email: barbierk@wustl.edu Office: Brown Hall 305C Erica JonesField Education/Practicum Coordinator Phone: 314-935-4721 Email: ericaj@wustl.edu Social Work Student Draws on Experience to Support Student Athletes’ Mental HealthAli Margherio was five years into a stint as a St. Louis area wedding planner when the COVID-19 pandemic started to roll across the globe. A return to higher education and a career change was always the plan. But the time never seemed right. View Full StoryStudent Abram Saroufim Champions Mental Health Support in Immigrant CommunitiesHe has focused on mental health and has completed a practicum at LifeWork, a provider of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and counseling for adults, adolescents and families in the St. Louis area. View Full Story