Research

Association of MSW Program Directors (AMPD)

Mission Statement

The Association of MSW Program Directors (AMPD) connects the leaders of MSW programs to facilitate strategic networking, peer mentoring, and coordinated problem-solving, and serves as a platform for gathering and disseminating collective insight from program leadership.

Organizational Objectives

As an organization, AMPD seeks to:

  • Advance research- and practice-informed educational innovation
  • Promote best practices in program administration, curriculum design, and workforce development
  • Support program directors and chairs as they navigate evolving landscapes in social work and higher education
  • Provide timely insight from MSW program leaders on contemporary issues impacting social work education

Core Initiatives

National Program Director Listserv

A centralized communication infrastructure for sharing announcements, opportunities, policy developments, and real-time leadership insights.

Become an AMPD Member and join the listserv here: Membership Registration Link

Bi-Semesterly (“BiS”) Virtual Meetings

Themed 1.5-hour drop-in virtual meetings held twice per semester to foster peer consultation, mentoring, and collaborative problem-solving among MSW leaders.

Become an AMPD Member to receive invitations to BiS meetings.

CSWE SPARC Problem-Solving Forum

A moderated resource-sharing and discussion space hosted on the CSWE SPARC platform supporting administrative navigation, curriculum innovation, workforce strategy, and teaching excellence.

Become an AMPD Member to receive an invitation to the AMPD SPARC forum.

AMPD Podcast

A national podcast featuring leadership conversations, program-level innovation, systems challenges, and emerging trends in MSW education.

Subscribe to the AMPD podcast!

Conference Meetups

In-person meetups held at:

  • Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
  • National Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work (NADD)
  • Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR)
  • National Association of Social Workers (NASW) National Conference

Become an AMPD Member to receive updates on meetups and other events.

Leadership Council

Co-Chairs

  • Robin Hernandez-Mekonnen, Stockton University
  • Laura Ainsworth, Louisiana State University

Members

  • Mia Ocean, Wichita State University
  • Quincy Dinnerson, North Carolina A&T
  • Liam Heerten-Rodriguez, University of Nebraska-Omaha
  • Rachel Schwartz, University of Connecticut
  • Vickie Lynn, University of South Florida
  • Corinne Warrener, Clark Atlanta University
  • Gary Bailey, Simmons University

Convenor

  • Dane Minnick, University of South Florida

AMPD is funded through the USF Duvall Chair for Family and Community Health and hosted by the USF School of Social Work.