Angela Pittman Vanderweide
Lecturer
Areas of Expertise
- SW892: Colloquium I
- SW894: Colloquium II
- SW852 Introduction to Doctoral Studies
- SW877: Scholarship in Social Work Education
- SW859 Statistics for Social Workers
Highlighted Publications
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/23303131.2019.1696910
- Pittman-Vanderweide, A.L., O'Brien, R., & Vilay, E. (2020). Video conferencing in child welfare: An appreciative inquiry. Child Welfare League of America Press. Retrieved from
Student & Research Availability
- Research or Interest Area Key Words: neuroscience-informed leadership, leadership capacity-building, workforce retention, emotional regulation, growth mindset, child welfare, human services, psychological safety, organizational health and culture, program improvement, performance outcomes
Alma Mater
University of St. Thomas - DSW University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill - MSW Western Carolina University - BSW
Get to Know Angela
Dr. Angela Pittman–Vanderweide is a Lecturer in the University of Kentucky College of Social Work, where she teaches and coordinates courses in both the DSW and MSW programs. With more than 38 years of executive leadership experience across nonprofit, for-profit, state (NC DHHS), federal, and local government systems, she brings a practice-informed, systems-level perspective to her teaching. Her approach centers on bridging theory and application, equipping students with the skills needed to lead effectively in complex human service environments. Dr. Pittman–Vanderweide is also the founder of Allies4Outcomes (A4O), a certified Woman-Owned Small Business dedicated to strengthening human services organizations.
Dr. Pittman-Vanderweide’s teaching focuses on leadership, organizational effectiveness, and systems change, particularly within child welfare and human services. She integrates key concepts such as psychological safety, trust-building, workforce resilience, and equity-centered practice into the classroom. Drawing on national consulting experience across national and international jurisdictions, she prepares students to navigate interdisciplinary systems and drive measurable outcomes in public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
Dr. Pittman–Vanderweide is committed to advancing social justice, cultural humility, and inclusive leadership. Her teaching is informed by both professional expertise and lived experience, including her role as a legal guardian to a former foster youth, which deepens her focus on ethical practice and relational leadership. She holds a Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) from the University of St. Thomas. She is also the author of “Leadership Rebooted: Cultivating Trust with the Brain in Mind,” which advances a neuroscience-informed approach to leadership aligned with the values and ethics of human service organizations.