Amanda Brown
Clinical Instructor, Director of Graduate Studies
Areas of Expertise
- SW722: Psychopathology (MSW Program)
- SW 790: Seminar in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (PhD Program)
- SW 855: Supervision, Ethics, and Professional Practice (DSW Program)
- SW 865: Foundational Theory (DSW Program)
- SW 510 / SW 580: Understanding the Impact of Trauma (MSW Program)
Highlighted Publications
- Jones, A., Brown, A.D, & Miller, J.(2025) Investigating parental stress and sense of competence among foster and adoptive caregivers: A virtual support intervention. Journal of Public Child Welfare.
- Dishon-Brown, A., Glance, D., Ault, L., & Kettle, M. (2022). Using a short-term study abroad program to teach trauma-focused care: Design, implementation, & findings. Kentucky Journal of Excellence in College Teaching and Learning, 18, 32-39.
- Dishon-Brown, A., Golder, S., Renn, T., Higgins, G. E., & Logan, T.K. (2019). The effects of child and adult victimization on psychological distress: A mediated structural equation modeling analysis. Violence Against Women, 27(2), 143-166.
Get to Know Amanda
Amanda Dishon Brown, Ph.D., is a Clinical Assistant Faculty and MSW Program Director in the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky. She also serves as director of several graduate certificate programs, including Trauma-Responsive Practice, Clinical Social Work, Child Welfare, Substance Use, Military Behavioral Health, and Rural Health and Well-Being. In her leadership role, Dr. Brown oversees a large, multi-modal MSW program serving more than 2,000 students, with a focus on student success, curriculum quality, and accreditation standards.
Dr. Brown earned her Ph.D. and M.S.S.W. from the University of Louisville, specializing in Marriage and Family Therapy. Her scholarly work focuses on trauma, victimization, mental health, and resilience, with an emphasis on integrating neuroscience and evidence-based practices into both clinical work and social work education. She has published in peer-reviewed journals on topics including psychological distress, trauma-informed pedagogy, and social work supervision, and has contributed to externally funded projects addressing substance use treatment, recovery, and child welfare systems.
Dr. Brown is committed to innovative teaching and curriculum design, particularly in online and hybrid learning environments. Her work emphasizes preparing students to deliver trauma-responsive, evidence-based care across diverse practice settings.