Ashaad Hipps
Visiting Clinical Assistant Professor
Areas of Expertise
- MSW Courses Taught:
- SW724: Advanced Practice with Individuals and Families: Assessment and Treatment Planning
- SW650: Research Methods in Social Work
- SW728: Comparative Treatment Modalities
- SW750: Applied Research Methods
Highlighted Publications
- Hipps, A. D. (2026). State of emergency: The psychological Impact of climate change on African American youth. Social Work in Public Health, 1–9.
- Hipps, A. D. (2024). Addressing sex trafficking of African American youth with dual system involvement. Child Welfare, 102(2), 23–42.
- Hipps, A. (2024, August 26). The impact of poverty on youth: A whole family problem. Social Work Today, 24(3), 28-29.
Student & Research Availability
- Research or Interest Area Key Words: Child Welfare, mentorship, sports social work, and improving mental health access for disadvantaged populations.
Alma Mater
University of Kentucky
Get to Know Ashaad
Dr. Ashaad Hipps is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW-CP), a Certified Youth Mental Health Specialist, and a Certified Specialist in Child and Adolescent Anger Management. Dr. Hipps received his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a concentration in human services from the University of South Carolina-Aiken and a Master of Social Work from the University of Central Florida. Dr. Hipps also holds a Doctorate in Social Work with a concentration in Administrative Leadership from the University of Kentucky. He has 10+ years of experience working in a variety of settings with children and families, and served in the Air Force for 6 years.
Dr. Hipps’ research interests include child welfare, sports social work, improving access to mental health for disadvantaged populations, as well as the benefits of mentoring programs. Dr. Hipps has been published in the NASW-SC Newsletter, Social Work Today, The New Social Worker, Social Work in Public Health, and the Journal of Child Welfare.
Dr. Hipps currently works full-time at the University of Kentucky, where he teaches in the Master of Social Work and Doctor of Social Work programs. Dr. Hipps is the founder and Director of Gears of Change, where he often provides virtual and in-person mental health workshops.