During the Spring 2025 Practicum Instructor Development Institute on January 31, Texas Social Work celebrated four of its finest representatives of practicum education who work in our communities in Austin.
“Practicum education is the signature pedagogy of social work education and we are privileged to have the best of the best in Austin to help teach our students in real-life settings,” said Mary Beer, assistant dean for practicum education. “Year in and year out, the social work champions who serve as our practicum instructors make our future generations of social work students stronger than ever. We are so grateful to them and so honored to recognize several stars this year!”
These standouts have advanced practicum education in Central Texas and are considered to be indispensable in developing the next generation of social workers.
Rising Star
Deja Gamble, Wellness Counselor at Govalle Elementary in Austin ISD
Gamble, a 2021 MSSW graduate of Texas Social Work, turned her social work passion into teaching and being a mentor for interns. She strives to be the best possible PI, reaching out for assistance navigating challenging situations. She is currently developing her new role and position to support interns. She consistently exudes excitement for learning and for hosting interns and reaches out for supervision ideas and how to better integrate interns into the school environment. Gamble also serves as a volunteer committee member and presenter for the Texas School Social Workers Conference, which has over 900 school social workers from across the state attend each year.
PI of the Year
Corrie Cormie, Administrator of Programs at Travis County HHS
Corrie Cormie has been an extraordinary PI for Texas Social Work for many years, where has found ways to connect students effectively in social work. At Travis County, she connects students with parents struggling with substance use problems, with families involved with Child Protective Services, and with wraparound services for families with significant mental health and case management needs. Her compassionate approach facilitates students’ abilities to use supervision effectively while expanding their vulnerability to learn. Cormie challenges students intellectually and encourages them to deepen their learning when working directly with clients. She offers excellent feedback to students both in writing and face to face, and her midterm and final evaluations have been used as examples for other PIs to learn from. Students see Cormie as their teacher, their mentor, and an excellent social work role model.
Pal in Practicum
Shawn Bailey, Work-Study Employment Program Director at The University of Texas at Austin
Shawn Bailey, in conjunction with clinical professor Tanya Voss, kicked off the federal work study program, which has resulted in more than $270,000 being sent in student support for students participating in practicum education. Bailey has been known to be a significant asset to SHS students and community partners, and has a reputation for being available for agencies, students, and the Office of Professional Education. His work has created new paid practicum opportunities for students and agencies alike, and he continues to grow the playing field for future social workers.
Lifetime Achievement
Rob Thurlow, Program Director at Lifeworks
Rob Thurlow, one of the most dedicated practicum instructors in the Texas Social Work community, has been a champion of social work interns for decades. Thurlow was the director of community-based services at Lifeworks, where he worked for 18 years. He hosted his first intern in 2003 and never looked back, supporting more than 30 students in his supervision. Known well for his self-care advice, Thurlow has a legacy of shaping and mentoring practicum instructors, clinical faculty, students, and many, many more in his social work career.
Practicum instruction is one of the most important parts of a social work education, and we are honored to have some of the best as our practicum instructors. The Steve Hicks School of Social Work thanks ALL of our practicum instructors who make practicum education possible!