February 25, 2022

BATON ROUGE - The LSU College of Human Sciences & Education named Michelle Livermore, LMSW, PhD, as director of the LSU School of Social Work. Livermore’s appointment follows the culmination of a national search upon Dr. Pam Monroe, Lois Canulette & W. A. "Buster" Baker Memorial LSU Alumni Association Departmental Professor, announcing her retirement this year.

Livermore is an associate professor and the Janet D. and Herman Moyse Ill Professor of Social Work at Louisiana State University. Her research focuses on the intersection between social and economic activities and outcomes among low-resource populations, reflecting the social development approach to community development and social policy that motivates her work. Her most recent research examines internet technology as an opportunity and a barrier for these populations. Other work examines alternative financial service use, work program outcomes, employment barriers, informal employment, civic engagement, community social capital, and inter-organizational collaboration.

“I enthusiastically welcome Dr. Livermore as director of the LSU School of Social Work,” said Dean Roland Mitchell. “Throughout this competitive search process, she demonstrated that her ability to lead with vision coupled with her depth and breadth of knowledge of the field is unparalleled. Dr. Livermore is committed to the college’s vision for innovation in service to our students, state, and beyond. I’m excited to see where she will lead our School of Social Work.”

Livermore’s administrative experience includes developing the Bachelor of Social Work Program at LSU and serving as the director of the MSW Program and a community-university partnership. She teaches courses in macro social work practice, policy, and research in the School of Social Work and currently serves as the Vice Chair of Programs of the Association of Community Organization and Social Action (ACOSA), the nation’s oldest social work macro practice and research organization. She will assume her role as director on June 1, 2022.

“I am honored to be selected to serve as the Director of the School of Social Work at LSU,” said Livermore. “Clearly, the world needs more social workers and more research to help social workers do their jobs more effectively. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such a talented and committed group of people who already work tirelessly every day to educate, research, and serve in Louisiana, nationally, and internationally. Together we will do great things. Geaux Tigers!”

About SSW
The LSU School of Social Work (SSW) aspires to be a leading school of social work, a vibrant center of intellectual development, a leader in promoting and supporting diverse communities, and an advocate for an integrated and inclusive model of social work, all within a learning environment that supports best educational practices. The SSW offers Child and Family Studies (CFS) and Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) undergraduate degrees, MSW, online MSW, and PhD. SSW is part of the College of Human Sciences & Education. Visit the School of Social Work at lsu.edu/socialwork.

About CHSE
As a college within Louisiana’s flagship university, the College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) impacts the lives of individuals in our state, nation, and the world through our research, service, teaching, and scholarship. We offer programs through our five schools: School of Education, School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, School of Kinesiology, School of Information Studies, and School of Social Work. The University Laboratory School (ULS) is also under the college umbrella, enrolling approximately 1,400 K-12 students. ULS was named a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in Fall 2015. The college is home to the Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool (ECELP) which enrolls 175 children ages six weeks to four years old. The ECELP is a NAEYC accredited institution. Visit the College of Human Sciences & Education at lsu.edu/chse.

Contact: Mary P. Woods
Director of Communications
LSU College of Human Sciences & Education
225-578-6796 (o)
mpwoods@lsu.edu