by Chris Hilburn-Trenkle
A professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work was recently recognized as a member of a prestigious leadership organization at Carolina.
Interim Director of Practicum Education Amy Levine was selected as part of the UNC Center for Faculty Excellence’s 2024–2025 ADVANCE Leadership Journeys cohort. The organization was established to support leadership development for mid-career faculty members interested in reaching senior teaching, research and leadership positions.
“Amy is a critical leader in our School,” said Dean Ramona Denby-Brinson. “I am so glad to see her receive this opportunity to participate in the ADVANCE Leadership program as she works toward her career goals. The fact that Amy, who is already an accomplished and well-respected leader, maintains a focus on her own professional growth and development, tells you a lot about who she is. She is a true visionary, consensus-builder, and a person who will continue to make her mark in our School, University and beyond.”
A 2002 MSW graduate, Levine returned to the School of Social Work as a clinical instructor in 2015 with more than a decade of on-the-ground experience as a social worker. That work took her around the state and was focused on public and private child welfare.
Levine, who became a clinical assistant professor in 2019, specializes in multiple areas including child and adolescent mental health, trauma-informed care and the convergence of behavioral health services and child welfare. Along with Interim Associate Dean of MSW Education Andrea Murray-Lichtman, Levine also oversees the School’s practicum program, which has expanded rapidly as the School’s enrollment increases, as does the need for social workers around the state.
She will now collaborate with members across the University through ADVANCE Leadership’s monthly workshops, discussions and lectures from featured speakers in leadership positions. Before their time in the program concludes, each cohort member is also encouraged to plan or oversee a leadership change project that pertains to their department.
“Last year, I completed the Team ADVANCE Peer Mentoring Circles program through the Center for Faculty Excellence, and I really enjoyed the support and mentorship I received from colleagues across campus,” Levine said. “I’m excited about this next opportunity with the ADVANCE Leadership program to continue building connections with my UNC colleagues and further developing my own skills and attributes as a leader.”
