Social Work & Human Services Faculty & Staff

Javier Boyas, Ph.D., MSW

Assistant Dean of Research, College of Health Sciences
Professor and Director, School of Social Work and Human Services
211-D Wright Hall
Troy Campus
jboyas@troy.edu
334-670-3927

Education
Ph.D., Boston College

Leading Change in building knowledge that contributes to effective intervention and prevention approaches to reduce and ultimately eradicate health and mental health disparities among vulnerable populations, such as communities of color and child protection workers. My program of research aims to build knowledge that contributes to effective intervention and prevention approaches to reduce and ultimately eliminate health and mental health disparities among communities of color, particularly among the Latina/o/x community. Dr. Boyas' scholarship can be found in the journals: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology; Journal of Skin Cancer, American Journal of Men's Health; Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine; Children & Youth Services Review, Community Mental Health Journal, and Hispanic Health Care International. His teaching interests are in the areas of social research methods, human diversity, social welfare policy and racial and ethnic relations within a U.S. context.

Boyas CV

Dana Bush

Lecturer
112-C Wright Hall
Troy Campus
dbush@troy.edu
(334) 670-6540

Education
MSW, Troy University

Leading Change by building the next generation of social workers with in-class experiences and field placements that will serve to prepare them to empower their future clients and communities. Prof. Bush's dual expertise in social work and higher education uniquely equips her to engage with students on a profound level and forge connections among them and with crucial agencies. Professor Bush's passion lies in assisting students in pinpointing their ideal social work and human services domains tailored to their skills and passions. A steadfast advocate for community welfare, Prof. Bush actively contributes as a member of Troy's Basic Needs Committee, championing co-curricular initiatives that empower students to address the pressing needs of underserved communities through civic engagement. Rooted in her mission is the comprehensive education of students in the tenets of social work, human services, and human behavior, drawing from her extensive background in medical social work, group home and foster care management, and case management.

Bush CV

Emily Cason, LICSW

Lecturer and Coordinator of Practicum Education
411-B Whitley Hall
Montgomery Campus
ecason@troy.edu
(334) 241-5425

Education
MSW, Florida State University

Leading Change by using her experiences as a social worker in multiple healthcare settings to educate students on social workers' roles in the healthcare field. Professor Cason values interdisciplinary teamwork and aims to share this knowledge with her students and community members. She uses these experiences to teach students direct practice and case management as they transition to field education and professional social work opportunities. Professor Cason's educational interests are in the area of field education as well as social work in healthcare settings and assessment and psychopathology.

Cason CV

Rebecca Clark, PhD, LICSW

Lecturer
317E River Front Campus
Phenix City
rclark194284@troy.edu
(334) 448-5156

Education
Ph.D., University of Louisville

Leading Change in building knowledge that contributes to effective and evidence-based interventions and prevention approaches for trauma, anxiety, and behavior modification. My research and scholarly initiatives aim to build knowledge that contributes to education prevention, and intervention for those that have experienced trauma with an emphasis on mission critical team members such as first responders, clergy, and military members. My current initiatives and scholarly pursuits also revolve around program development and holistic operational plans. Dr. Clark's teaching interests are in the areas of psychopathology and assessment, social work with individuals, families, and groups, and social work in health care settings.

Clark CV

Amy E. Cox, PhD, LMSW

Assistant Professor and MSW Program Director
112-D Wright Hall
Troy Campus
acox114746@troy.edu
(334) 670-3355

Education
Ph.D., Troy University

Leading Change in mental health with a focus on military families and student-athletes. As a military spouse, Dr. Cox has research interests related to military families, which have led her to present, publish, and create social work courses related to fostering an awareness of the unique issues impacting our military service members and their families. An additional area of research focus relates to the promotion of mental health literacy among sport management curricula, athletes, coaches, and staff. In collaboration with various institutional departments and leaders, Dr. Cox has sought to promote social justice, advocacy, and positive mental health among student-athletes.

Cox CV

Danielle Goodson, LMSW

Lecturer
Wright Hall 112-E
Troy Campus
dmgoodson@troy.edu
(334) 670-5767

Education
MSW, Troy University

Leading Change by strengthening and utilizing her experiences as a social worker to educate students on the various social work roles within the community, healthcare, and mental health fields. Prof. Goodson's professional odyssey is a testament to her adaptability and unwavering commitment to serving others. Professor Goodson's experiential spectrum is extensive as a trauma/medical social worker, community case manager, policy intern, mental health therapist, and family preservation specialist. This wealth of expertise is seamlessly woven into her pedagogical approach, reflected in her instruction of courses such as Social Work Practice in Healthcare Settings, Crisis Intervention, Social Work with Individuals, Human Behavior in the Social Environment, and Professional Interviewing/Communication. Her understanding of direct practice infuses her mentorship, equipping budding social workers with practical insights. Professor Goodson's academic passions span mental health, case management, social work in healthcare, human behavior, and field education, underscoring her dedication to shaping well-rounded and capable social work professionals.

Goodson CV

Audra Hines, LMSW, ADC

Lecturer
112E Wright Hall
Troy Campus
ahines36627@troy.edu
(334) 670-3367

Education
MSW, The University of Alabama

Leading Change by providing an educational environment of excellence for students to become critical thinkers, change agents, and community contributors. Professor Hines has over fifteen years of direct practice experience working with individuals, families, and communities struggling with mental illness and substance use. She has an interactive and engaging teaching style inspired by her real-world experiences with populations she has served. Professor Hines has a deep-rooted joy in journeying with students to become influential professionals in the field of social work. She teaches in both the BSW and MSW program, including courses in case management, ethics, social work in the health care setting, introduction to social work, advanced social work practice with groups, assessment, and psychopathology focusing on social work assessment methods. Her research interest includes mental health, substance use, and recovery, social determinants of health and well-being, and suicide prevention.

Hines CV

Riane Hinton-Smith, LMSW

Lecturer
W-427 Whitley Hall
Montgomery Campus
rhinton-smith@troy.edu
(334) 241-9711

Education
MSW, Alabama A&M University

Leading Change by advocating for disadvantaged populations and investigating factors that attract African American students to the social work profession. Professor Hinton Smith works towards increasing the number of social work practitioners to work with marginalized client populations as a key means of diversifying the social work workforce. Prof. Hinton-Smith's research agenda is focused on unearthing the academic motivation of African American undergraduate students who seek to become professional social workers. Additionally, she is interested in exploring how the self-efficacy of instructors in providing trauma-informed classroom instruction to students exposed to adverse conditions. Her teaching interests are in the areas of child welfare, trauma-informed treatment modalities, human services, human diversity, family social work, macro practice, social welfare policy and social justice initiatives.

Hinton-Smith CV

Rebecca Jones, MSW

Lecturer and Director of Practicum Education
411-A Whitley Hall
Montgomery Campus
rblankenship@troy.edu
(334) 241-5420

Education
MSW, Western Kentucky University

Leading Change in field education through partnerships with agencies within the Troy community and beyond. My main focus is to build relationships with community partners to help enhance student field experiences and to prepare students for a successful career in social work. Professor Jones' teaching interests primarily consist of practicum/field related courses. She has also taught courses related to human behavior in the social environment, crisis intervention, and case management. Her social work practice experience consists of school social work, therapeutic services with the juvenile population, and career exploration with young adults.

Jones CV

Onick Lewis, EdD, MSW

Assistant Professor and BSW Program Director
112-H Wright Hall
Troy Campus
olewis@troy.edu
(334) 670-3352

Education
Ed.D., Grand Canyon University

Leading Change in promoting happiness and self-care in social workers. That means preparing students to focus on the positive aspects of the social work profession and helping them to understand the importance of self-care, what leads to burnout, and how to notice the warning signs to prevent burnout before it happens. Dr. Lewis' research revolves around subjective well-being (happiness), organizational buy-in, humanizing a workplace, and how leadership styles can harness more productive and happier employees. His teaching interests are in the areas of organizational development and leadership, social work with communities and organizations, cultural/human diversity, and social policy and planning.

Lewis CV

Leah McCoy, Ph.D., LMSW

Assistant Professor
112-B Wright Hall
Troy Campus
lamccoy@troy.edu
(334) 670-3369

Education
Ph.D., Sam Houston State University

Leading change in strengthening the knowledge base for future social workers by using practical and research experience in mental health and nonprofit studies to empower and educate students. Dr. McCoy's research interests include mental health in the criminal justice population, and substance use among women in rural areas. Her work has most recently been published in Health Promotion Perspectives, Victims & Offenders, and the Community Mental Health Journal. Her teaching interests within the MSW and BSW programs include the areas of organizational management and leadership, research methods, and human behavior.

McCoy CV

James (Jim) T. Meadows, PhD, LMSW

Assistant Professor
112-F Wright Hall
Troy Campus
jmeadows235311@troy.edu
(334) 670-3693

Education
Ph.D., University of Alabama

Leading Change by improving the lives of vulnerable populations through teaching, research, and service. Dr. Meadows brings nearly two decades of human service and social work practice experience into the classroom including experience as a vocational counselor, eligibility interviewer, adult protective case investigator, and mental health care provider to help develop the next generation of social workers. His areas of research are military-connected populations and populations experiencing disability, particularly focused on military families where a non-service member is experiencing a disability. This research stems from his lived experience as a third generation US Air Force veteran and later the parent of a disabled person. His teaching experience includes courses in human behavior in the social environment, social policy, the history of social welfare, direct practice evaluation, social work with military families, and social work practice with groups.

Meadows CV

Daniel Shea, MPA, LCSW, LICSW, PMP

Lecturer
112-F Wright Hall
Troy Campus
dshea227168@troy.edu
(334) 670-3693

Education
MSW – University of Missouri Kansas City

Leading change by cultivating knowledge that contributes to every student fully respecting the inherent dignity and worth in every person; as well as discovering their unique strengths and gifts. As a West Point graduate, Director of Psychological Health for two military organizations, military social worker and clinician, Prof. Shea promotes the development and access to support services to optimize psychological health and healthy readiness for clients and their families. He encourages relationships with community groups and collaborating with other disciplines and programs concerning family support, resiliency, suicide prevention, sexual assault, and substance use. Prof. Shea had the special privilege to work as a Veterans Affairs therapist for combat veterans, active duty military, Reservists, and National Guard members and their families, while specializing in community outreach to servicemembers and Veterans in rural, urban, educational, American Indian and military installation communities. His teaching interests include mental health, self-care, military social work and prospering and saving lives.

Shea CV

Madison Thomas, LICSW

Lecturer and Human Services Coordinator
112 Wright Hall
Troy Campus
mhale129331@troy.edu
(334) 465-2719

Education
MSW, Troy University

Leading Change in Human Services through a dedicated commitment to mentorship, guiding students and early-career professionals to become proactive change agents within their communities. With extensive experience as a Non-Profit Executive Director, Healthy Steps Specialist and ACEs Coordinator, Senior Social Worker, and Case Manager, Professor Thomas blends academic rigor with practical insights. This diverse background not only enriches the learning experience but also inspires students, colleagues, and community members alike. Primarily focused on Human Services and practicum/field-related courses, Professor Thomas strives to bridge the gap between education and real-world applications. By fostering a culture of community service, Professor Thomas inspires a new generation of learners, demonstrating that change is both necessary and an exciting opportunity for professional growth. Through continued education, leadership, and advocacy, Professor Thomas plays a pivotal figure in shaping the future of Human Services professionals, continually emphasizing the importance of engagement and real-world impact.

Thomas CV

Rachel Walker, LICSW, PIP

Lecturer
322 Malone Hall
Dothan Campus
rwalker11501@troy.edu
(334) 983-6556 ext. 21402

Education
MSW, Florida State University

Leading Change by promoting and enhancing student learning in the classroom while fostering a desire for community involvement. Bringing firsthand experiences as a social worker in the field of healthcare, Professor Walker enhances textbook material by juxtaposing concepts with real-life experiences. Her rich background in diverse practice settings will help students gain an understanding and perspective of direct practice methods. Professor Walker's research interest includes the multi-layered benefits of volunteerism, while her teaching interests are in the areas of human behavior, social work in health care settings, and field education as it relates to continued partnerships in building world-changing leaders in social work.

Walker CV

Katherine Womack, LMSW

Lecturer
Riverfront 418-B
Phenix City Campus
kwomack20705@troy.edu
(334) 448-5163

Education
MSW, Troy University

Leading Change in enhancing the future of social work by providing an environment of active learning, critical inquiry, and professional development in the classroom. Her teaching interests are in the area of child therapy, direct practice with individuals and families, and also include providing supervision and guidance in the area of field practicum. Concentrations of research include multiple aspects of child welfare, including attachment theories with adoptive families, therapeutic modalities of children who have experienced loss and trauma, parent training, and family engagement.

Womack CV