Caroline Macke
PhD, MSW
School of Social Work Director
Professor
MEP 222D
859-572-6661
mackec1@nku.edu
PROFILE
Education: MSW & PhD in Social Work from the University of Kentucky
Credentials: PhD, MSW
Teaching Interests: Human Behavior Theory, Applied Research, Ethics
Research Interests: Campus climate, diversity/inclusion, pedagogy, food insecurity among college students, educational opportunities among justice-involved individuals, partner violence & sexual assault intervention/prevention
Practice Interests: Community organization and program/policy-development related to the above topics
Year Started at NKU: 2008
Fun Fact! I have 4 awesome kids and an amazing husband. My husband & I love to be outdoors and recently summitted Mount St. Helens. It was an AMAZING experience.
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Jessica Averitt Taylor
PhD, MSW
BSW Program Director
Professor
MEP 237
859-572-6511
taylorj28@nku.edu
profile
Education: PhD from the University of Alabama
Credentials: PhD, MSW
Teaching Interests: Research, social welfare policy, community organization, professional social work communication skills, BSW and MSW field experiences, social work and the community
Research Interests: Food insecurity; poverty and social determinants of health; social supports; access and inclusion in higher education; pedagogy; leadership and mentorship
Practice Interests: Community organization and macro social work; reproductive health and social determinants of health; poverty and food insecurity; access and inclusion in higher education; leadership and mentorship
Year Started at NKU: 2012
Fun Fact! I am a major bookworm, and love to read across genres including social and cultural histories, public health, and fantasy (both high-fantasy and pure candy).
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers (for more information, please visit the GLSEN pronoun guide )
Tara McLendon
PhD, MSW
BSW Field Director
Professor
MEP 222C
859-572-1920
mclendont1@nku.edu
PROFILE
Education: BSW, MSW, & PhD from the University of Kansas
Credentials: PhD, MSW
Teaching, Research, and Practice Interests: I love teaching Field! It is a privilege to share a bit in this part of students' journeys. I am also currently involved in developing and maintaining police social work programs in Kentucky and across the country. This includes researching and developing best practices in this field.
Year Started at NKU: 2010
Fun Fact! I hiked rim-to-rim of the Grand Canyon in July 1999. It was 123 degrees at the bottom of the Canyon - UGH!
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Katherina Terhune
PhD, MSW, LCSW
MSW Program Director
Associate Professor
MEP 233
859-572-6007
terhunek1@nku.edu
PROFILE
Education: MSW & PhD in Gerontology from the University of Kentucky
Credentials: PhD, LCSW, MSW
Teaching Interests: Mental health diagnosis, mental health and aging, ageism, group theory and practice, human behavior and the social environment, clinical decision-making
Research Interests: Mental health impacts of dementia caregiving, age-inclusivity in higher education, gerontological literacy
Practice Interests: I still practice as a mental health therapist specializing in adult mental health, including depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, bipolar disorder, and issues relating to aging and caregiving
Year Started at NKU: 2016
Fun Fact! I am the mother of 7 children and two cats!
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Kelly Fallon
Ed.D, MSW, LISW-S, LCSW
MSW Field Director
MEP 231
859-572-6391
fallonk2@nku.edu
PROFILE
Education: MSW from the University of Cincinnati
Credentials: Ed.D, MSW, LISW-S, LCSW
Teaching, Research, and Practice Interests: Social Work Education, Social Work Practice
Year Started at NKU: 2020
Fun Fact! I ran my first Ultra Marathon in 2021.
Nycole Brundidge
MSW
Clinical Assistant Professor
CW PREP Site Coordinator
MEP 241
859-572-7504
brundidgen@nku.edu
PROFILE
Education: BSW 2005; MSW 2016 NKU Alum.
Credentials: MSW
Teaching, Research, and Practice Interests: Child Welfare, Social work practice, Field Experience series. I enjoy teaching in person! I love having discussions about social work.
Year Started at NKU: Adjunct in 2018, Full Time in 2021
Fun Fact! I have seen the WEBN fireworks every year since 1980.
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Emilie Carter
MSW
Lecturer
MEP 222G
859-572-5547
cartere7@nku.edu
PROFILE
Education: BSW, University of Kentucky 2001; MSW, Spalding University 2006
Credentials: LCSW
Teaching Interests: Clinical Behavioral Health, Mental Health Diagnosis, Trauma-Informed Care
Practice Interests: I own my own practice serving adult women called Made for More Counseling. My areas of specialty include mood disorders, life transitions, codependency, and trauma. I hold Master Certification in Accelerated Resolution Therapy and very much enjoy helping others overcome lasting effects of childhood and other trauma.
Year started: 2021
Fun fact: I love being creative and am always working on a project—more recent endeavors include building Legos, crochet, and refinishing furniture!
Deborah Henry
MSW
Lecturer
MEP 222
859-572-1383
henryde@nku.edu
PROFILE
Education: BSW from Northern Kentucky University; MSW from University of Kentucky
Credentials: MSW, BSW
Teaching: Social Work & the Community, Introduction to Social Justice, Social Work Ethics, Professional Social Work Communication
Practice Interest: Advocacy, Mental Health/Substance Abuse, Special Education, Social Justice
Year Started at NKU: 2000
Fun Fact: I have raised/raising three generations of children (2 birth children, 5 grandchildren, and currently 2 great grandchildren). Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Suk-hee Kim
PhD, COI, MSW
Associate Professor
MEP 239
859-572-6031
kims16@nku.edu
PROFILE
Education: Joint PhD in Social Work from the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky, an MSW from Boston University, and a B.A. in Social Welfare from Hanil University and Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Credentials: PhD, COI, MSW, BA
Teaching Interests: Gerontology; Aging and Mental Health; Social Work Ethics
Research Interests: Healthy Aging & Social Engagement; Opioid & Mental Health; Brain Function & Cognition; Social Work Education; Multiculturalism & Diversity; Community Empowerment & Advocacy; Human Trafficking; Primary Care & HIV/AIDS·
Practice Interests: Active Professional Leadership; Community Engagement; Mentorship
Year Started at NKU: 2014
Fun Fact: I enjoy Family Travel; Kayaking; Gathering and Fellowship
Reiko Ozaki
PhD, MSW, LISW-S
Associate Professor
MEP 222F
859-572-5167
ozakir1@nku.edu
PROFILE
Education: PhD from the University of Kentucky, & BSW and MSW from The Ohio State University
Credentials: PhD, MSW, LISW-S
Teaching, Research, and Practice Interests: My practice area has been gender-based violence (mainly intimate partner violence), mental health, anti-oppression, and refugee/immigrant communities. These practice interests touch all that I do in teaching and research.
Year Started at NKU: 2017
Fun Fact! I am good at cooking something GOOD out of nothing (e.g., leftover veggies, things about to expire, bare fridge).
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Steve Poulin
PhD, MSW
Lecturer
MEP 256
859-572-7554
poulins1@nku.edu
PROFILE
Education: BSW and MSW, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work; Ph.D., Columbia University School of Social Work
Teaching interests: Research and Social Policy
Research interests: After managing a shelter for homeless persons in Richmond, Virginia, I became interested in the historical and current role of shelters in addressing homelessness, and the potential of homelessness information system HMIS) data for shaping services.
Year started: 2022
Pronouns: He/him
Fun fact: I love science – I subscribe to Scientific American, religiously watch NOVA on PBS, and buy the paper copy of the New York Times every Tuesday for the Science Times section.
Holly Riffe
PhD, MSW
Professor
MEP 235
859-572-5609
riffeh@nku.edu
PROFILE
Education: PhD., Ohio State University, MSW University of Kentucky, BS (Psychological Sciences) NKU
Teaching Interests: Social Justice Studies, Compassion, Empathy and Forgiveness, and Social Work Ethics
Research Interests: Impact of culture and belief systems on our lives
Year Started at NKU 2001
Fun Fact: I’ve traveled to about 30 different countries. My favorite thing is to share a cup of tea with just about anyone to hear their story.
Karen Tapp
DSW, JD, MSSW
Associate Professor
MEP 222E
859-572-5605
tappk@nku.edu
PROFILE
Education: BSW from University of Kentucky, MSSW from University of Tennessee, and JD from NKU Chase College of Law
Credentials: BSW, MSSW, JD
Teaching, Research, and Practice Interests: Field Education, Service Learning, Duty to Protect, Ethics, Beyond Guilt Initiative
Year Started at NKU: 2012
Fun Fact! I am an ardent supporter of Beyond Guilt.
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
James Taylor
MSW
Senior Lecturer
MEP 245
859-572-5559
taylorj29@nku.edu
PROFILE
Education: BSW from University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) & MSW from the University of Alabama
Credentials: MSW
Teaching Interests: I teach primarily SWK 303 Professional Interactional Skills, SWK 392 Research Methods, and SWK 407 Social Welfare Policy at the undergraduate level. However, I have also taught multiple other classes over the years at NKU (SWK 106, SWK 105, SWK 304, SWK 406, SWK 408, etc..). I have also taught several classes at the graduate level.
Year Started at NKU: 2012
Fun Fact! I am obsessed with music.
Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his
David Wilkerson
MSW, LCSW-S (KY), LISW-S (OH)
Senior Lecturer
SBIRT Investigator
MEP 260
859-572-7841
wilkersond1@nku.edu
PROFILE
Education: MSW from the University of Cincinnati
Credentials: MSW, LCSW-S (KY), LISW-S (OH)
Teaching and Practice Interests: Psychotherapy, Group Treatment, Assessment/Diagnosis, Children/Families, Behavioral Health Techniques, Agency Administration, Substance Use Disorders
Research Interests: Opioid use disorder, Multi-system Service Issues, Program Development, Use of Self in Therapy, SBIRT
Year Started at NKU: 2008
Fun Fact! I was once the only passenger on a commercial flight and was out numbered 4:1 by the flight crew.
Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his
Emma Bernardi
Academic Advisor
859-572-1442
bernardie1@nku.edu
PROFILE
Title: Academic Advisor
Job Responsibilities: Advising undergraduate Students (30 credit hours or more) in Social Work major and Social Justice minor students and Master of Social Work (Standard Track only)
Year Started at NKU: 2023
Fun Fact! I have a minor in American Sign Language and I enjoy practicing ASL!
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Melanie Hall
Academic Coordinator
MEP 222B
859-572-5604
hallm10@nku.edu
PROFILE
Title: Academic Coordinator
Job Responsibilities: Budget, personnel, reporting, and course scheduling.
Year Started at NKU: 2013
Fun Fact! I have a polydactyl (or Hemingway) cat with extra toes.
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Heidi Waters
Graduate Coordinator
859-572-7892
watersh2@nku.edu
Profile
Title: MSW Graduate Coordinator, School of Social Work//CHHS and Counseling Graduate Coordinator, School of KCRS//CHHS
Job Responsibilities: As graduate coordinator I typically interact with students from inquiry through graduation and licensure. Admissions, curriculum, advising, registration, student advocacy, program certification for graduation, licensure forms, etc. Involves being part of a dynamic team of administrators, program directors, faculty, staff, and students to make the transition into and progress through professional graduate degrees as meaningful and enlightening as possible.
Year Started at NKU: 2005
Fun Fact! I showed and trained jumpers for over 20 years and taught English Hunt Seat and Basic Dressage.
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
