Audrey Shillington, director of the School of Social Work, will assume responsibilities as the associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Health and Human Sciences on June 2. Shillington will continue as director of the school as well.

“Audrey Shillington has been an exemplary leader as the director of our School of Social Work for the past five years. I have every expectation that she will continue to serve as an outstanding leader within the college and across campus in this new dual role,” said Dean Jeff McCubbin.

Director since 2012

Shillington has served as director and professor in the School of Social Work since September 2012. Additionally, she is professor of epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health.

Shillington received her M.S.W. and doctoral degree from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. She was an NIMH Postdoctoral Fellow and received a master’s in psychiatric epidemiology from the School of Medicine at Washington University.

She was formerly professor at San Diego State University, where she helped create the NIH-funded Center for Alcohol and Drug Studies and Services and served as its associate director. Additionally, she was involved in HIV/AIDS research as a research investigator at the Center for Behavioral Epidemiology and Community Health.

Intervention and prevention research

She has published in the areas of psychometrics, epidemiology, prevention and intervention work aimed at adolescent and young adult risk behaviors. She has been PI and co-investigator on NIH NIDA, NIAAA and state grants totaling over $14 million. Her current work is focused on intervention and prevention work related to the changing landscape in legalization of recreational marijuana use.

Shillington takes over for Dale DeVoe, who served as associate dean for academic affairs in the college for the past 11 years. DeVoe will return to the faculty in the Department of Health and Exercise Science as professor.