Faculty & Staff

As a student in our social work programs, you’ll be mentored by a diverse faculty that shares your passion for equity, social justice, inclusion and service. They are experts in a wide range of disciplines, from early childhood development, grief, and geriatric social work practice to alcohol and drug counseling, crisis response and intervention, adoption, and child welfare.

Collectively, they are committed to your development as a competent, ethical social worker who practices with integrity, values the dignity and worth of all people, and advocates for marginalized and vulnerable individuals and communities.

Faculty

Yong Qiang Zheng

Yong Qiang Zheng, PhD, MSW

Director, Master of Social Work Program

Associate Professor of Social Work

Areas of Expertise

  • Aging Populations
  • End of Life Care
  • Grief
Erin Johnson

Associate Dean, Behavioral Health Sciences

Director, Bachelor of Social Work Program

Associate Professor of Social Work

Areas of Expertise

  • Trauma-Informed Practice
  • Play Therapy
  • Family Therapy
  • Collaborative Problem Solving
Steffanie Altenbern

Steffanie Altenbern, DHSc, MSW

Assistant Professor of Social Work

Areas of Expertise

  • Homeless and at-risk populations
  • Program development
  • Healthcare disparities and policy
Rhonda Andrews

Rhonda Andrews, LCSW, MSW, RPT-S

Director of Field Education, Master of Social Work Program

Associate Professor of Social Work

Areas of Expertise

  • Play Therapy
  • Adoption
  • Child Welfare
  • Attachment
  • EAGALA, equine assisted therapy
Daphne Vaughn

Daphne Vaughn, MSW, BS

Assistant Professor of Social Work

Areas of Expertise

  • Early childhood development
  • Parenting support and education
  • Developing social service delivery models in organizational settings
Jeongah Kim

Jeongah Kim, PhD, MPA, BSW

Associate Professor of Social Work

Young-IL Kim

Associate Professor of Sociology

Kathryn Saunders

Kathryn Saunders, MSW, LMSW

Assistant Professor of Social Work

Areas of Expertise

  • Geriatric Social Work, Dementia Support
  • Health Care Administration
  • Servant Leadership
  • Crisis Response and Intervention
Ali Toedtemeier

Ali Toedtemeier, MSW, LCSW

Director of Field Education, Bachelor of Social Work Program

Assistant Professor of Social Work

Areas of Expertise

  • Individual therapy for adults
  • Alcohol and drug counseling
Leslie Wuest

Leslie Wuest, PhD, MSW

Assistant Professor of Social Work

Staff

Caroline Hottmann

Caroline Hottmann

Program Coordinator, Master of Social Work Program

Kim Rapp

Kim Rapp

BSW Administrative Assistant

Trisha Stickler

Trisha Stickler

Admissions Counselor, Master of Social Work Program