Walla Walla University—College Place
Wilma Hepker School of Social Work and Sociology
Our mission is to train competent and ethical professionals who: embody integrity, value all people, serve their communities, and pursue social justice. Our program is designed for commuter students with one day a week classes. This makes it easy to complete your degree while still managing the demands of life. An MSW can be earned in six quarters. A four quarter advanced standing program is also available to BSW graduates who have graduated from a CSWE accredited institution.
The focus of the program is advanced clinical practice. Students may take electives in areas such as addictions, aging, child welfare, children and families, mental health, medical social work, and school social work.
The Master of Social Work program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Meet the faculty
Our faculty of full-time professors and supporting contract teachers is large enough to offer experience in a diverse range of areas, but small enough to allow students to get to know each faculty member. We strive to offer a quality program for our majors, including a wide range of class options and small class sizes.
Darold Bigger
Dean
Professor Emeritus of Social Work and Theology
(509) 527-2389
Education
- B.A. & M.S.W Walla Walla College
- M.Div. Andrews University
- Ph.D. Claremont School of Theology
- ACSW
- LMFT
Research/Interests
- Forgiveness
- Resiliency
Hobbies
Snow skiing, boating, and horses
Service
- Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, volunteer
- Five Loaves Foundation, board member
- Possibilities Ministries, mental health team
- Rotary Club, member
- Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, Cadre speaker
Professional Memberships/Affiliations
- Adventist Society for Religious Studies
- American Academy of Religion
- American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
- American Association of Behavioral and Social Sciences
- Council on Social Work Education
- National Association of Social Workers
- Phi Alpha--Honor Society in Social Work
Faculty Awards
- NASW Blue Mountain Region Social Work Educator of the Year, 2003
- Walla Walla University Community Service Award, 2008
- Faculty Development Grant for studying Ministerial Personality and Outreach Style, 2011
- Walla Walla University Honored Alumnus of the Year, 2011
- Faculty Development Grant for developing the Forgive Now Workshop, 2011
- Faculty Development Grant for studying Resilience Lessons from Prisoners of War, 2014
Susan B. Smith
D.S.W. Program Director
Professor of Social Work and Sociology
(509) 527-2443
Education
- BS Southern College
- MSW Florida International University
- PhD Andrews University
- LICSW
- LCSW
Teaching Areas
- Leadership
- Social Work Education
- Mental Health
- Social Work Practice
Research/Interests
- Mental Health
- Teaching and Learning
- Assessment in Higher Learning
Hobbies
- Travel and Reading
Other
Service
- Board of Directors and Volunteer, REACH, Tacoma, Washington
- Board of Directors, Housing Groups Board, Walla Walla, Washington
- Mental Health First Aid Community Training
Professional Memberships/Affiliations
- Association for the Assessment of Learning in Higher Education
- Council on Social Work Education
- National Association of Social Workers
- Pi Lambda Theta – Honor Society in Education
- Phi Alpha—Honor Society in Social Work
Faculty Awards
- NASW-WA Social Worker of the Year Award 2019
- National Academic Advising Association, Outstanding Faculty Advisor, 2011
- Walla Walla University Excellence in Advising Award, 2010
- Walla Walla University Community Service Award, 2010
- NASW Washington Chapter, Educator of the Year Award, 2007
Laurellé C. Warner
M.S.W. Program Director
Missoula Program Coordinator
Associate Professor of Social Work and Sociology
(406) 549-1050
Education
- M.S.W. University of Connecticut School of Social Work, 1989
- Ph.D., Loma Linda University; Social Policy and Social Research
- Certificate: Basic Mediation Training, Center for Conflict Resolution, La Sierra University, 2013
- Certificate: Research on Spirituality and Health, Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health, Duke University Medical Center, 2011
- Certificate: Addiction, New England Institute of Addiction Studies and Colby College, 1989
- LCSW, State of Montana, 2016
- LCSW, State of Connecticut, 1997
Teaching Areas
- Practice with Individuals and Field Seminar
- Practice with Groups
- Practice with Couples and Families
- Field Seminar
Research/Interests
- Resilience in the Lives of Black Women
Hobbies
- Knowing, understanding, and applying theories from various fields; enjoying the beauty of nature
Other
Faculty Awards
- 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award, National Association of Social Workers, California Inland Empire
Service
- Civically engaged, on a range of committees and fellowship at WWU, pro bono counseling/therapeutic services offered
- Phi Alpha National Social Work Honor Society, NASW member
Emily Tillotson
B.S.W. Program Director
Associate Professor of Social Work and Sociology
(509) 527-2705
Education
- BSW Walla Walla University, 1997
- MSW Walla Walla University, 2000
- DSW University of Southern California, 2020
- LICSW
Teaching Areas
Inequality, race and gender, criminal justice and social work practice
Research/Interests
Race and ethnicity, families and parenting and mental health
Hobbies
Gardening, cooking, tennis
Other
Professional Memberships/Affiliations
- NASW
- CSWE
Faculty Awards
- 2015 Walla Walla University Community Service Award
Service
- President NASW-Washington Chapter
- Walla Walla Housing Authority Commissioner
Deisy Haid
Field Education Director
Assistant Professor of Social Work and Sociology
(509) 527-2472
Education
- LCSW Oregon
- BSW Walla Walla University
- MSW Walla Walla University
Teaching Areas
Field education
Research/Interests
Crisis intervention and stabilization, children psychiatric residential, juvenile justice, child welfare and adoptions, trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy, child and family therapy, collaborative problem solving and wraparound
Hobbies
Family time, making authentic Mexican food, reading, playing sports/exercising and binge watching Netflix
Other
Professional Memberships/Affiliations
- Charter member of the National Honor Society of Social Work Students PI XI Chapter since 2009
Faculty Awards
- Community Partner of the Month Award from Clackamas County Behavioral Health Division—2016
- Clinician of the Month Award from Clackamas County Behavioral Health Division—2012
Service
- Hispanic and Latino Faculty and Staff Association—2018–current
- Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Volunteer—2017–current
- Hispanic Interagency Networking Team and Gang Violence Task Force—2012-2013
Heather Rodriguez
MSW Program Coordinator - College Place
Assistant Professor of Social Work and Sociology
(509) 527-2359
Education
- BSW Walla Walla University, 1999
- MSW Walla Walla University, 2000
- LICSW
Teaching Areas
Psychopathology, advanced clinical practice with individuals, advanced clinical practice with couples and families, clinical treatment of trauma, clinical treatment of children and adolescents and foundational practice with couples and families
Hobbies
Travel, photography, painting, antiquing, music and being a tea enthusiast
Other
Professional Memberships/Affiliations
- Phi Alpha Honor Society for Social Work
Service
- Member of Suicide Prevention Work Group (SPWG) Leadership Team/Coalition
- Chair of Walla Walla Diversity Coalition
- Member of Community Resilience Initiative (CRI)
- Weekly volunteer for Triple Point Walla Walla with Children’s Home Society of Washington
Education
- BA, Communication & Media
- MSW
- PhD, Organization and Management
Teaching Areas
- Practice with Individuals
- Advanced Practice with Groups
- Social Work, Religion and Spirituality
- Attachment Theory
- Marriage and Family Life
Research/Interests
- Attachment and Leadership
- Pedagogy of Social Work, Religion and Spirituality
Marriage, Family, Men’s Mental Health, Horses, Sheep and “Squirrels”
Other
Faculty Awards
- Zip
- Zero
- Nada
Professional Memberships/Affiliations
- Council on Social Work Education
Service
- Church Music Ministry
- Home Church Ministry
- Men’s Ministry
Education
- MSW Walla Walla University
- MPH Loma Linda University
- PhD Oregon State University
Teaching Areas
Parents and children, play therapy and spiritual development
Research/Interests
“Can a Christian social worker be a contemplative?”
Hobbies
Family time, raising animals, reading and keeping up with God and friends
Other
Faculty Awards
- Advising Award
- multiple teaching awards
Education
- PhD
- MA
Education
- PhD University of Utah, 1977
Teaching Areas
General sociology, sociological theory, sociology seminar, social research methods, social policy and advocacy
Research/Interests
The Social Transformation of Seventh-day Adventist Medicine and Health Care, Church and Sect in Postmodern America, Navajo Health Disparities
Hobbies
Traveling, indigenous art, reading, skiing and golf
Other
Professional Memberships/Affiliations
- Pacific Sociological Association
Service
- Walla Walla University Seventh-day Adventist Church
Idah Taruwinga
Assistant Professor of Social Work and Sociology
(509) 527-2410
Education
- M.S.W. Indiana University
- D.S.W. University of Southern California
- LICSW
- LCSW
Research/Interest
- Domestic violence
- Women and health
- Mental health
Teaching Area
- Direct social work practice
Hobbies
- Gardening and traveling
Other
Professional Memberships/Affiliations
- National Association of Social Workers
Heather Vonderfecht
Associate Professor of Social Work and Sociology
(509) 527-2584
Education
- BS Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA; Psychology
- MA Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC; Psychology
- MSW Walla Walla College, College Place WA; Clinical Social Work
- PhD Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO; Clinical Psychology
Teaching Areas
Research and evidence based practice, direct social work practice with individuals, families, and groups, looking at how culture distinguishes physical and psychological/neurological differences from disabilities
Research/Interests
The medicalizing problems caused by living in a stressful environment and the willingness of our culture to label individual differences as “diseases,” leading to unnecessary and potentially harmful pharmacological intervention, rather than addressing root causes which are often socio-environmental in nature
Hobbies
Gardening, Healthy Cooking, Reading
Other
Faculty Awards
- WWU Distinguished Teaching Award, Walla Walla University
Staff
Teri Bozeman
B.S.W./D.S.W. Program Assistant
Administrative Assistant
(509) 527-2273
Hobbies
Collecting antiques, repurposing things, collecting various memorabilia, foraging and collecting rocks, fungi, or medicinal plants
Other
Message to Students
Hello, my name is Teri Bozeman, I was born in Loma Linda California, and am a mother of three and a grandmother (currently) of two. Many of you may know, or become acquainted with, my eldest son Brandon Aberle who works as IT Director of Client Services here at the University. It was during my frequent travels to visit him here, from Boise, Idaho that my husband and I decided to build our retirement home in Touchet. Our travel distance remains reasonably close to my daughter and two granddaughters in Coeur D' Alene and youngest son who resides still in Boise, Idaho.
If you are an outdoor enthusiast, we may cross paths along the way, as I enjoy foraging and collecting of rocks, fungi, or medicinal plants. I also collect antiques, repurposed, and various memorabilia to maintain an antique booth here locally. Although a busy life, my main agenda is to live balanced life spiritually, physically, mentally, and in all that, I do.
As new hire here at the University, I am enthusiastic to have joined the wonderful team in the department of Social Work as Administrative Assistant. I am proud to represent and work for those professors or students who commemorate interest in the value or integrity of all people. As an opportunist, and as God continues to bless me, I look forward toward achieving new goals and meeting each one of you.
Hobbies
Crochet and embroidery, jigsaw puzzles, word puzzles, Teddy bears, playing the piano (for amusement and therapy since leaving California 20 years ago), spending time with family—especially grandchildren
Other
Staff Awards
- Staff Member of the Year Award, 2015
Service
I have been working for Walla Walla University in the School of Social Work and Sociology since 1998—when it was Walla Walla College—making lasting friends with, and helping literally hundreds of students make it to the graduation finish line with their MSW degrees.
Message to students
This little poem has been the mantra of my life since high school days at Gem State Academy:
“God has a thousand ways, where I cannot see one. When all my means have reached their end, His have just begun.” --Esther Guyot. A little longer version of “Let go and let God,” and a much older version!
Hobbies
Working out, stationary biking, yard work and keeping in touch with Jesus
Other
Service
- Member and Recording Secretary of WWU Diversity and Inclusion Council
- Sabbath School Periodicals Secretary
- Song Leader at Chan Shun Sabbath School