Social Work Faculty

I have worked in the Department of Social Work since 2008. Since arriving at Belmont, I have taught in the Human Behavior Sequence, Policy and Policy Practice, Social Work Research, Introduction to Social Work, and First Year Seminar. I received my doctorate in 2007 from the College of Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee in 1999 and my Masters of Science in Social Work from the University of Tennessee in 2003.

From my early work as a teacher-counselor at a treatment program affiliated with Vanderbilt University, to my time in the Tennessee State Comptroller’s Office and more recent work in the area of women’s health education, I have gained valuable experience in both policy and direct practice. This experience has served as a solid foundation for both my time in the classroom as well as my current research agenda, wherein I have focused on student’s comfortability in engaging in practice related to Social Welfare Policy.

When not working, I enjoy spending time with my family, my husband Matt, my two daughters Mae and Lila, and our dogs George and Rosie. I also love running, reading, hiking, and listening to live music around Nashville.

Throughout my time at Belmont, I have been continuously honored and humbled to participate in the development and growth of students. I feel it is my great privilege to share in their journey toward becoming empathic and effective social work practitioners who not only have a command of the facts related to their area of practice, but also have the ability to respond to their clients with sensitivity as they partner with them in navigating their challenges in thoughtful, measured, and responsible ways.

Dr. Douglas Crews joined the faculty at Belmont in the Fall of 2017. He started his working life in Christian ministry through roles such as: youth minister, program director, missions, and spiritual formation. He is a certified Spiritual Director and Licensed Master Social Worker. After many years in Christian ministry, he discerned a call to move into more focused therapeutic work through social work. He has worked with diverse populations including: the developmentally disabled, older adults, sexual and gender minority persons, college students, and those experiencing homelessness. He has many years of experience as a clinician, and has also worked in a hospital social work, and has done grant writing, program evaluation, and community organizing.

When not working he enjoys traveling, road trips, exploring National and State Parks, discovering Nashville restaurants, and spending time with friends and family.

Responsibilities
Dr. Crews will teach in the BSW program across the curriculum.  He has a passion for teaching the intersection of spirituality and social work, diversity, and multi-level social work practice.

Research Interests
Self-compassion, mindfulness, diversity, social/economic/environmental justice, the intersection of spirituality and religion in social work, marginalized populations, issues and aspects of sexuality and gender, and social work education and professionalism.

Areas of Expertise
Self-Compassion, Mindfulness, Spirituality/Religion in Social Work practice, and working with marginalized populations. 

Publications
Bolin, B. L., Crews, D. A., Countryman-Roswurm, K., & Grant, N. (2014). Using six-word essays to explore social work identity.  Professional Development: The International Journal of Continuing Social Work Education, 17(1), 28-38.

Crawford, M. R., Grant, N. S., & Crews, D. A. (2014). Relationships and Rap: Using Ecomaps to Explore the Stories of Youth Who Rap. British Journal of Social Work Br J Soc Work, 46(1), 239-256. doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcu096

Crews, D., & Besthorn, F. H. (2016). Ecosocialwork and transformed consciousness: Reflections on eco-mindfulness engagement with the silence of the natural world. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work: Social Thought, 35(1-2), 91-107. doi:10.1080/15426432.2015.1067588

Crews, Douglas A., Bolin, B. L., & Lee, K. K. (2016). Research Orientation, Research Anxiety, Research Courses, and Empowerment among Social Work Students. Professional Development Journal: The International Journal of Continuing Social Work Education.

Crews, D., & Crawford, M. (2015). Exploring the Role of Being Out on a Queer Person's Self-Compassion. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, 27(2), 172-186. doi:10.1080/10538720.2015.1022272

Crews, Douglas A., Stolz-Newton, M., & Grant, N. S. (2016). The use of yoga to build self-compassion as a healing method for survivors of sexual violence. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work: Social Thought, 35(3), 139-156. doi:10.1080/15426432.2015.1067583

Stewart, K., Collins, B., Crews, D.A. (2014) Examining the Relationship between Substance Abuse and Suicide in the Mentally Ill Population: A review of the literature.  McNair Scholars Program Journal of Research Reports.  Volume 19, Wichita State University.

I have been teaching at Belmont in the social work department since the fall of 2000. After teaching for 8 years on a part time basis, I joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor in the fall of 2008 and became an Associate Professor in 2015. In the summer of 2016, I took on the role of Director of Field Education.

In my role as Field Director, I teach the Field Forum course which prepares students for their field placements as well as Field Seminar I and II, the courses which accompany the Field Experience during students’ senior year. I have the honor of helping students find their placements, visiting them in the community and encouraging them and speaking into their experience along the way. I also teach Practice I (Skills of Helping with Individuals), a class I enjoy, as it is a skill-building course that is the beginning of a sequence of practice courses in our curriculum.

In my time at Belmont I have developed and taught many subjects including: Introduction to Social Work, Child Welfare, Practice with Groups, School Social Work, Spiritual Issues and Formation in Social Work, and Exploring Human Diversity. Developing and refining curriculum and developing best practices is a passion of mine and the foundation of my scholarly work.

I graduated from Belmont in 1994 with a Bachelor of Social Work and then completed my Master of Science in Social Work at the University of Tennessee in 1997. In the spring of 2001 I obtained my License in Clinical Social Work.

Before teaching I worked with adolescents at STARS, a school-based counseling program focused in Middle Tennessee. I loved the challenge of working with this population. Prior to this I coordinated teen volunteer services at Oasis Center. I have also had the opportunity to work at an International Adoption Agency, writing home studies and follow up reports for adoptive families. I have had the honor to provide clinical supervision to Licensed Master Social Workers (LMSW) preparing for their Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential.

In all of these parts of my career connection has been a theme. I love connecting with students, clients, practitioners and community members. I thrive on making connections between people and ideas. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to do this every day!

I am married to Dave Hunt, who is a worship leader and woodworker. We spend much of our time trying to keep up with our children: Asher, Lainey and Lucy. When there is time for hobbies, I enjoy antiquing, hiking, baking, reading, and spending time with friends and family.

I have been teaching in the Department of Social Work at Belmont since the fall semester of 2013. We have a great department of students, faculty and staff! Prior to coming here, I taught in the Indiana University College of Social Work for ten years. I teach in almost all curriculum areas of social work, but I am especially passionate about teaching courses on community practice, policy, human development, and poverty and child welfare. I have three degrees in Social Work: A Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from the University of Memphis, a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Tennessee, and a PhD in Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

My practice experience is primarily in the areas of child welfare (family preservation and reunification, residential treatment centers with adolescents), and program development and teacher support to improve inclusion of children with special needs into zoned schools). I also have a great deal of research and community practice experience in the realm of system reform and faith-based social services and social action.

My husband and I have three daughters: Cosette, Ireland and Avila. Among them they keep us busy with a number of activities! We are also very active in our church, serving as small group leaders, teaching a lot of Sunday School and planning retreats.

I love teaching, and I also keep my hand in the practice world with serving on the Davidson County Foster Care Review Board each month, and serving with Open Table Nashville, a grassroots organization working to end cycles of homelessness. For the past few years, I have been working with colleagues at other institutions on a multi-year study exploring attitudes of poverty. I also have research interests in other areas. Some of my publications are below.

Bloomquist, K. R., Wood, L., Sullenberger, S., & Hostetter, C. (2017). Doin’ meth or doin’ math: What clients’ constructions of poverty mean for social work practice. Journal of Community Practice, 25(2), 190-212.

Sullenberger, S.W., Wood, L., Hostetter, C. & Bloomquist, K.R. (2015). “You really have to play the hand you are dealt”: How traditional-aged college seniors understand class mobility. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 25(8). 10.1080/10911359.2015.1052719

Hostetter, C., Sullenberger, S.W. & Wood, L. (2015). “All these people who can do things that I can’t”: Adolescents’ reflections on class, poverty, and the American Dream. Journal of Poverty, 00:1-20

Wood, L., Hostetter, C. & Sullenberger, S.W. (2014). Waiting to be Cinderella’d?: Attitudes on class differences among women. Advances in Social Work, 15(2), 460-479.

Hostetter, C., Sullenberger, S.W. & Wood, L. (2013). The key to learning: Engaging undergraduate students in authentic social work research. Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work, 18, 47-62.

Cooksey-Campbell, K., Folaron, G., & Williamson, S. (2013). Supervision during child welfare system reform: Qualitative study of factors influencing case manager implementation of a new practice model. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 7(2), 123-141.

Sullenberger, S.W., Hostetter, C. & Wood, L. (2012). Families pass money and opportunities down: Adolescent constructions of social class. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 22(6), 635-652.

Williamson, S.A., Hostetter, C., Byers, K.V. & Huggins, P. (2010). I found myself at this practicum: Student reflections on field education. Advances in Social Work, 11(2), 235-247.

Williamson, S.A., Chang, V.N., & Decker, C.L. (2009). Enhancing the success of SOTL research: A case study using modified problem-based learning in social work education. Journal of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 9(2), 1-9.

Williamson, S.A. (2009). Every day miracles: Using client narratives to write teaching vignettes for faith communities. Journal of Poetry Therapy, 22(2), 77-88.

Hostetter, C., Williamson, S.A., Byers, K.V., & Huggins, P. (2007). The transformative power of a learning community. Advances in Social Work, 8(2), 252-263.

Williamson, S.A. & Hodges, V.G. (2006). It kind of made me feel important: Client reflections on faith-based social services. Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work, 25(2), 43-57.

Williamson, S.A. (2005). She saw something in me: Relationships between faith community volunteers and mothers leaving welfare. Journal of Social Work and Christianity, 32(2), 151-167.

Orthner, D.K., Jones-Sanpei, H., Williamson, S.A. (2004). The resilience and strengths of low income families. Journal of Family Relations, 53, 159-16.

Orthner, D.K., Jones-Sanpei, H., Williamson, S.A. (2003). Family strength and income in households with children. Journal of Family Social Work, 7(2), 5-23.

As the Program Assistant for the Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Science in Public Health , I handle any and all of the office requirements. The favorite part of my job is working for and with students (who are the best!) in a one on one basis. I also enjoy working with our faculty who are an outstanding and professional group of people.

I was a stay at home mom for years before becoming a Substitute teacher with the Nashville Metro Schools for 3 years. I have been working with the Belmont Social Work Department since 1997 and the Public Health program since it started just a few years ago. The working environment at Belmont is wonderful because it brings together a rich community of students, faculty, and staff where we all learn from each other. I graduated with my undergraduate degree in Liberal Studies from Belmont in December 2007.

Away from the office, I enjoy spending time with my husband (fondly called 'Peach'), my four daughters, and my eight grandchildren. I am from a very close knit extended family and love getting together to celebrate large to small events with them. I am also very active with my church family. I love to read, play cards, and get together with friends.