New Director of Colorado State University School of Social Work Takes Helm

Note to Reporters: A photo of Shillington is available upon request.

Colorado State University has named Audrey Mengwasser Shillington the new director of the School of Social Work.

Shillington began the position Sept. 1, replacing long-time director Deborah Valentine, who is retiring. Shillington joins CSU from the San Diego State University School of Social Work, where she was an associate director for the Center for Alcohol and Drug Studies.

Shillington’s research focuses on substance abuse, high risk behaviors among adolescents and young adults and consequences of drug abuse among young adults, as well as methods of studying substance abuse disorders. She has received more than $9 million in funding from National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute on Drug Abuse and the state of California.

“I am excited that Audrey Shillington is joining Colorado State as our new director of the School of Social Work. She has an exceptional record of funded research projects and scholarly productivity. With a new doctoral program in Social Work just launched, she brings excellent leadership skills and experience to help grow the program. I’m looking forward to working with her,” said Jeff McCubbin, dean of the College of Applied Human Sciences.

Shillington is a graduate of the Washington University School of Medicine where she received a master’s of psychiatric epidemiology degree with an emphasis in substance abuse and AIDS. She obtained her doctorate degree in adolescent risk behaviors and her master’s in research at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis.

In addition to serving as the associate director of the Center for Alcohol and Drug Studies at San Diego State, she also was an adjunct faculty member in the Graduate School of Public Health. She previously taught at Utah State University, St. Louis University and the Washington University School of Medicine where she was on the training faculty. Prior to those experiences, she served in the Peace Corps in Benin, West Africa. As a volunteer, she taught rural women’s groups and governmental agricultural outreach workers a new energy-saving technology.

Valentine served as director of the School of Social Work for 10 years. She continues to serve the school as a faculty member while she transitions into retirement.

The School of Social Work at Colorado State University trains students to serve as social work practitioners nationally and internationally. Graduates work with a wide range of clientele including individuals, families or other households, groups, organizations and communities. An emphasis is placed on providing students with a challenging learning environment and graduating social work practitioners who excel in their professional lives. The school is noted for its excellent students and exceptional faculty.

The School of Social Work is part of the College of Applied Human Sciences.

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