Amy Skeen serves as the MSW Program Associate Director, Professor of Practice, and Editor-in-Chief of the Applied Learning in Social Work Education journal.
She brings over 20 of direct practice as a social worker and nonprofit leader to her role as social work educator which strengthens her ability to connect theory to practice and cultivate meaningful partnerships with universities, community-based organizations, governmental agencies, and funding sources. She remains engaged with the nonprofit sector, assisting with curriculum development and program evaluation.
Her overall goal is to work as a part of a multidisciplinary team to prepare bold, dedicated, and impactful social workers who contribute to the development of self, community, and society. As she looks forward to the future, she explains, “I do so with immense gratitude for the opportunity I have been given to work as a part of a social work department and as a member of a campus community. Whether it has been learning with and from knowledgeable and dedicated colleagues or engaging with students as they discover their professional paths, these experiences have made me a better educator, social work professional, and person.”
Education
- Doctor of Social Work, University of St. Thomas, Minnesota
- Master of Social Work, Management & Policy Concentration, from University of Illinois at Chicago
- BS, Psychology Major, Women’s Studies Minor, from Loyola University Chicago
Area of Expertise
Youth and Families, Nonprofit Management and Organizational Development, Practicum Education, Simulation Training
Licenses/Certifications
LCSW, PEL
Professional Affiliations & Memberships
- NASW
- CSWE
- NANFED
Courses
SWO 421A and 421B
SWO 569
SWO 596
SWO 597
SWO 446X
SWO 446B
SWO 447AX
SWO 447BX
Community Engagement
(2022–present) Peer Reviewer, Advances in Social Work
(2022–present) Refugee Support Chicago
(2018–present) The Honeycomb Project
(2017–present) St. Gertrude Refugee Ministry
(2014–present) Girls in the Game, President Emeritus and Volunteer
Research and/or Special Projects
Aligned to her teaching philosophy, Amy Skeen's research experiences involve identifying evidence-based best practices that can be applied to improve or enhance the real-life experiences of individuals and/or groups. Her research agenda is influenced by an ecosystems framework and a transformational leadership approach to advance social work education, specifically by engaging in a bi-directional integration of practicum education and classroom instruction to advance an expanded signature pedagogy for the field.
Publications
Skeen, A. (2023). Field education as the signature pedagogy of social work: Rhetoric or reality. Advances in Social Work, 23(1), 204-220. https://doi-org.ezproxy.simmons.edu/10.18060/26234
Holcomb, D., Skeen, A., & Collins, C. (2024). A Focus on equity: An exploration Of practicum directors' experiences. Field Educator, 14 (2), 1-15.
Presentations
Skeen, A. & Holcomb, D. (October 2024) A Focus on Equity: An Exploration Of Practicum Directors' Experiences. Presented at CSWE Annual Meeting
Skeen, A. (October 2020). Fully realizing field methods and practice of education. Presented at the National Association of Social Workers, Iowa Annual Conference
Skeen, A. (November 2020). Realizing field education as the signature pedagogy of social work education. Presented at the National Association of Social Workers, Ohio Annual Conference (selected as Research Presentation Winner: Content Analysis)
Bohnert, A. & Skeen, A. (2010). Promotion of health & wellness in after-school: Lessons from the field. Presented at the National After School Alliance, Washington, DC