Katelin East, LMSW is a faculty member in ACU's School of Social Work and Director of Practicum Education. Her work centers on education, student support, and community engagement. Her professional interests include advocating for immigrant communities, addressing collegiate food insecurity, and preparing students for ethical, trauma-informed social work practice. She is committed to collaborative partnerships that promote access, dignity, and community well-being.

Kelly Barneche, LMSW is an Assistant Professor of Social Work and the Associate Director of Practicum Education at Abilene Christian University. Her teaching and research interests include the role of faith communities in refugee resettlement, using literature to teach cultural humility in Interprofessional Education, moral injury and meaning-making among humanitarian workers, and the role of social work education in preparing students to work ethically and effectively with immigrant communities. 

 Elizabeth Gillette is the third executive director of the Grand Challenges for Social Work. A nationally recognized executive leader in institutional strategy and public policy, Gillette has spent her career working on bipartisan efforts advancing civil rights, gender equity, and durable systems change. As executive director of the Grand Challenges for Social Work (GCSW), she leads the national initiative uniting more than 60 universities to advance measurable solutions to the country’s most complex social challenges.