Hailey Wetherill is a doctoral student at The University of Texas at Austin’s Steve Hicks School of Social Work. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Columbia University and a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin, with a specialization in administration and policy practice. She is actively involved in the Steve Hicks School of Social Work’s Administration and Policy Practice (APP) Committee. Her research interests involve leadership development, organizational assessment, program evaluation, and administration policy.
During her Master’s program, Hailey gained valuable macro social work experience through internships at CapCity Kids and Athletes for Hope. At CapCity Kids, she worked to connect students with essential services by conducting behavioral assessments and designing trauma-informed interventions that addressed both individual needs and larger systemic challenges.
At Athletes for Hope, she played a key role in the Whole Being Athlete Program, planning Advocacy Day in Washington, DC, coordinating legislative meetings, and developing advocacy materials and platforms. She co-chaired the Legislative Committee, creating toolkits, newsletters, and training resources to support athlete mental health advocacy, while also implementing new data collection protocols and conducting a program evaluation to enhance organizational impact. Her work reflects a strong commitment to using macro social work to advocate for policy change and improve program outcomes in nonprofit and educational settings.
Additionally, Hailey’s work with the Institute for Organizational Excellence (IOE) has deepened her commitment to leadership development and organizational assessment. She has contributed to the statewide Survey of Employee Engagement, developed leadership assessments for state agencies and nonprofits, and designed needs assessments and focus group curricula for agencies like the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and Health and Human Services. Her project management and leadership consultation skills have supported a wide range of initiatives, from customer service feedback to journal editing and facilitating focus groups.
Hailey is currently working under the mentorship of Dr. Noel Landuyt, Director of the IOE and Assistant Professor of Instruction, and Dr. Diana DiNitto, Cullen Trust Centennial Professor in Alcohol Studies and Education and Distinguished Teaching Professor. Hailey’s research aims to enhance the effectiveness of public sector organizations by analyzing existing structures and proposing strategies to foster stronger leadership and more resilient organizational growth.