The College of Education and Health Professions welcomes Dr. Stephen Kapp, who has been hired as director of the School of Social Work. He starts July 1.

Kapp has been a faculty member at the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare for more than 20 years. He has held leadership positions, including that of associate dean for academic affairs and interim dean of the School of Social Welfare.

As director of the School of Social Work, he will oversee 16 faculty members and two academic programs within the school, including the Bachelor of Social Work and the Master of Science in Social Work degree programs. In addition, he will work collaboratively with the director of the MidSOUTH Center, which is the community service arm of the school.

“Dr. Kapp is a teacher-scholar who brings substantial scholarly and administrative accomplishments to this important role,” said Velmer Burton, executive vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost for UA Little Rock. “I believe that his appointment will greatly benefit our students, faculty and staff in social work and enhance our ability to work with the Little Rock community and local social service agencies.”

The School of Social Work is one of the schools within the College of Education and Health Professions.

“We believe Dr. Kapp is the perfect visionary to lead the School of Social Work,” said Dr. Ann Bain, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions. “He has professional experience as a social work practitioner as well as a proven track record of leadership in administrative leadership.”

Before working in higher education, Kapp was a social work practitioner for 15 years. The vast majority of his work has focused on services to children and families in mental health, child welfare and juvenile justice.  His scholarship and teaching have both focused on agency-based evaluation. His work has focused on the use of various forms of administrative and evaluative data in decision-making processes.

Kapp holds an interdisciplinary doctorate in social science and social work from Michigan State University; a Master of Social Work from University of Michigan; and a BA in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“I feel very fortunate to join a program with a proud tradition supported by talented staff/faculty, passionate students and dedicated alumni,” Kapp said. “It is very exciting to have a opportunity to work with the entire UA Little Rock School of Social Work community in support of its history of quality and  innovation.”

He and his wife, Mary Kennedy, have three adult children and one grandchild.

Dr. Stephen Kapp, (pictured above right), will be the new director for UA Little Rock’s School of Social Work.