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Deirdra Robinson
Paintsville
Deirdra Robinson grew up in Eastern Kentucky. Graduating from a high school with 22 in her class, she went to the University of Kentucky and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work in 1993. She completed her Master of Social Work degree in 1994 and balanced her passion for promoting social justice by working in various positions in both medical social work and community development. In 1999, Deirdra accepted an appointment with the University of Kentucky College of Social Work as a clinical faculty. In addition to teaching, Deirdra is also the Administrative Coordinator of the Southeast Kentucky MSW Program with campuses in Hazard and Prestonsburg. She is the Kentucky Program Manager for the Appalachian Community Cancer Network. Her research and community development work focuses on health disparities and rural health issues. She is currently the Vice President for the National Association of Social Workers-Kentucky. She also serves on multiple community advisory boards and collaborates with multiple partners to support the activities of the students enrolled in the MSW program and the community-based research teams in her region. Through this effort, she is helping to stimulate novel research that advances our understanding of health disparities in rural areas. Ms. Robinson is a standing member of the National Health Service Corps, the Kentucky Fairness Alliance, the National Association of Social Workers, and is a Faculty Associate of the University of Kentucky Appalachian Center. She has presented research at local, state, and national conferences, and mentors student trainees. Deirdra is also in the process of writing her dissertation with an anticipated completion of her Doctorate of Philosophy in Social Work in 2011.
The Ampersand symbolizes the solidarity we are building through Friends & Family, and suggests the inclusiveness we are working toward. It reflects the idea that no one individual, legislator, organization, or city can carry all the water for equality. Our success lies in our solidarity.
