Forward & Acknowledgments

The idea for this book was born out of my desire to guide and enrich the experiences of DSW students at the UK’s College of Social Work (CoSW). As a graduate of the program and now a faculty member at the CoSW, I have had the fortune of experiencing the program from both sides. Joining these experiences through the scholarship of teaching and learning felt like a natural next step. Unlike PhD programs, wherein the faculty-student relationship is characteristically mentorship-based, in an advanced practice degree such as a DSW, the focus is on developing a community of learning where students deepen their knowledge, competencies, and skills by learning as much from the explicit as from the implicit curriculum. This book is intended as a tool in this social learning by providing an open-access resource with tips and advice for students, informed by alumni, faculty, and staff. I hope you find it helpful and will consider submitting your feedback so this book can continue evolving. Best of luck on your DSW journey!

Acknowledgments

This book was made possible by the generous OER Grant Program from the University of Kentucky Libraries. This project would not have been made possible without the generosity and expertise provided by my friends at the UK Libraries,  Stephen Krueger, Affordable Course Content Librarian, and Margie Ruppel, Social Sciences Librarian and Social Work Liaison.

I am indebted to the many friends and scholars who graciously shared their insights and experiences, some of which are captured in this book as quotes. Additionally, I am grateful to Laura Escobar-Ratliff, DSW Program Director, for being a mindful, kind, and conscientious leader with unmatched editing skills.

December 2024

Priscila Llamosa (formerly Norris)