Associate Clinical Professor
MSW Director of Field Education
Sociology, Anthropology & Social Work
By Appointment
MSW, Florida State University
BSW, Troy State University
Dr. Wells holds licensure as a clinical social worker in addition to bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in social work. With more than twenty years of work experience in medical social work, including acute and outpatient settings, Dr. Wells assisted in the development and implementation of the first patient health home for Alabama Medicaid recipients. Dr. Wells is currently an Associate Clinical Professor of Social Work and MSW Director of Field Education at Auburn University where she routinely integrates service-learning into undergraduate and graduate coursework. As MSW Director of Field Education, Dr. Wells is responsible for placing more than 30 students/semester into generalist and advanced internships. This process has led to a partnership with Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine where Dr. Wells has provided training and supervision for Veterinary Social Work staff and students. Dr. Wells is leading the implementation of the Veterinary Social Work Certificate curriculum proposal to Auburn University.
Dr. Wells provides clinical and administrative support to programs, including BraveHearts, a fine arts, health and wellness program for adolescents and young adults with moderate to severe communication and cognition challenges; Alabama Rural Health Outreach, an initiative of Auburn University to implement mobile, rural health units throughout the state of Alabama; and Bright Ideas Traumatic Brain Injury Camp, a service-learning initiative for Dr. Wells’ Social Work in Health Care course for adult survivors of Traumatic Brain Injury. Dr. Wells has also provided training and supervision for Veterinary Social Work staff and students.
Dr. Wells areas of research are related to the outreach initiatives described above in addition to service-learning, emotional aspects of diabetes and emerging adult self-efficacy and anxiety.