Southeastern Social Work Conference

Voices from the Field: Rural Social Workers Responding to Structural Changes

Sub-themes/Content Areas

1. Advocacy In Action: Mobilizing For Rural Policy Change
2. Environmental Justice And Health Impacts In Rural Towns
3. The Opioid Crisis: Advocating For Effective Change
4. Youth And Aging In Rural America: Tailored Approaches Across The Lifespan
5. Innovations In Social Work Education For Rural Practice
6. Lived Experience Panels: What Rural Residents Want Social Workers To Know
7. Upholding Social Work Values And Ethics In Evolving Rural Contexts
8. Rural Communities, Global Connections: A Comparative Look At Social Work Responses Across Borders

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The registration deadline is March 22, 2026 at 11:59pm.

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Keynote Speaker

Dr. Jovita Lee Miller is the deputy director for the North Carolina Black Alliance, making history as the youngest incoming director in the organization's history. She also serves as Policy Director for Advance Carolina and convener of the North Carolina Black and Brown Policy Network. As a testament to her impact, she was awarded the 2024 Steve Wing International Environmental Justice Award.

Dr. Lee Miller serves on the boards for NC Budget and Tax Center, North Carolina For the People, Lead NC, MAAME Inc. and Spiritual Learners. Dr. Lee Miller is an appointed member of the Governor's Environmental Justice Advisory Council. Dr. Lee Miller holds a B.A. in International Studies and a PgD in Business Administration from Meredith College, an M.P.A. from North Carolina Central University and an Ed.D. in organizational leadership from Gardner-Webb University. She is also a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

Plenary Speaker

Dr. Jacqueline MacDonald Gibson serves as the Twisdale Family Head of the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering at North Carolina State University, where she leads a dynamic engineering department that is engaged in a wide range of big problems that affect everyday lives — from designing safer skyscrapers, airports and roadways to ensuring access to safe, affordable drinking water and clean air. With a foundation of 13 years in high-impact public policy roles before transitioning to academia, Dr. Gibson's research integrates advanced engineering methods to identify innovative solutions for mitigating environmental risks and shaping evidence-based public policy.

Her distinguished public policy career includes serving as Associate Director of the U.S. National Research Council's Water Science and Technology Board and acting as a key liaison to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy during her tenure with The RAND Corporation. Her interdisciplinary research addresses critical global challenges, ranging from optimizing water infrastructure to enhance public health in the United States to developing strategic frameworks for prioritizing environmental policy initiatives in the United Arab Emirates.

A recognized leader in the field, Dr. Gibson is the Past President of the Society for Risk Analysis and serves as an Associate Editor for Environmental Science & Technology, one of the premier journals in environmental engineering and science. She holds dual PhDs in Engineering and Public Policy and in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, an MS in Environmental Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a BA in Mathematics from Bryn Mawr College. Dr. Gibson's career exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary expertise to address pressing environmental challenges and influence transformative policy decisions worldwide.

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A tentative agenda, including available contact hours, is available for review.

View the Agenda

Contact Hours

Total Maximum Contact Hours for March 26th: 6 (up to 3 Ethics)
Total Maximum Contact Hours for March 27th: 2.75 (up to 2 Ethics)
Total Maximum Contact Hours for Both Days: 8.75 (up to 5 Ethics)

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Holiday Inn Express , Pembroke, NC

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