LEXINGTON, Ky. —The University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) is pleased to welcome Carly Kimiecik, PhD, MSW, as an incoming Assistant Professor. She will also serve as Assistant Director of the CoSW Sport Social Work Research Lab, working alongside Director Dr. Tarkington Newman to further the field of sport social work.
Originally from Oxford, Ohio, Carly has called Columbus and West Lafayette home while completing graduate studies and pursuing community-engaged work in youth development, sport, and public health. She will relocate to Lexington this August to begin her new role.
Carly brings with her a dynamic background that bridges youth programming, social work, and sport-based development. After earning dual undergraduate degrees from Miami University in Health Promotion and American Studies, Carly worked with After-School All-Stars and LiFEsports in Columbus, Ohio, where she served in multiple roles including program assistant, behavior specialist, and college and career readiness co-lead.
She earned her MSW from The Ohio State University, where she contributed to student-athlete support initiatives and gained experience in program development, implementation, and evaluation through her work with LiFEsports. Following her time at Ohio State, she pursued a Ph.D. in public health at Purdue University. While at Purdue, she managed a public health research lab, contributed to the Center for Health Excellence, Quality, and Innovation, and served as a mentor for student-athletes through the Center for Academic Vision and Excellence in the athletics department.
Carly’s research explores the lived experiences of youth and student-athletes through strengths-based and community-engaged approaches. Her work focuses on the intersection of health, development, and well-being across socio-ecological systems—especially in sport and play-based settings. She is particularly passionate about integrating social work into athletic contexts to promote holistic youth development and to strengthen community partnerships that address social determinants of health.
Prior to joining the University of Kentucky, Carly served as an assistant professor in the Department of Family Science and Social Work at Miami University.
“Dr. Kimiecik brings an exciting depth of experience to our growing sport social work efforts,” said Dr. Jackie Duron, Associate Dean of Faculty Advancement. “Her community-engaged research and commitment to youth development will not only enrich our academic programs, but also strengthen our partnerships across Kentucky and beyond.”
Outside of her academic work, Carly enjoys spending time with her cats, friends, and partner, staying active through running, boxing, and tennis, and tuning into her favorite podcasts while out on walks. She’s also a college sports enthusiast and—fun fact—is ambidextrous!