Hatcher named inaugural director for School of Social Work

Schnavia Hatcher is the inaugural director of the School of Social Work in the College of Health and Human Services.

Hatcher will begin her position with the University in early August. She will join UNC Charlotte from the University of Texas at Arlington, where she serves as a tenured professor in the School of Social Work and director of the Center for African American Studies.

As the inaugural director of the School of Social Work, Hatcher will lead and advise faculty, coordinate strategic planning, promote research and scholarly activities within the unit and sit on the college’s Administrative Council.

“Schnavia brings a unique skill set and perspective to the role that will serve the school and the college well in positioning us for increasingly strong relationships in the community and in enhancing the high quality of our programs,” said CHHS Dean Nancy Fey-Yensan. “She truly understands interdisciplinary approaches in the health and human services arena and has a forward-thinking vision for the vast impact we and our graduates can have on the community and the profession.”

Hatcher is a licensed clinical social worker and also served as the BSW program director for a year while on faculty at the University of Georgia.

“Given my experience in developing the infrastructure of an academic unit focused on teaching, community-based research and civic engagement, I considered this position a perfect fit,” she said.

Hatcher added that she will look to bolster the instructional and programmatic capacity of the school, focusing especially on student success, service and research and development.

The School of Social Work transitioned from department status in 2015, a recognition of increasing production and prominence in faculty research, as well as high-quality academic programs.

“Ideally, this type of change increases capacity to emphasize both teaching and research, thereby facilitating recruitment and retention of diverse faculty, student body and staff,” Hatcher said.

Supporting the School of Social Work’s relationships with the social services community will be an early priority for Hatcher.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to help shape the vision, support the mission and lead the next stage of development for this incredible unit,” she said.

Hatcher has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Georgia and earned a doctorate from the School of Social Welfare at the University of Kansas.