Christina M. Ireton, LCSW, MSW, is a Clinical Assistant Professor and the Field Director for the UAF Social Work Program. Christina has been working in the field since 2010 when she graduated with her BSW from Radford University, and prior to that completed her A.A.S. in Human Services. In 2015, she graduated from the distance-based advanced standing MSW program through the University of Southern California (USC) with a concentration in Community, Outreach, Programming and Administration (COPA). She began her career working with victims of violence in a domestic violence shelter, and she has worked extensively as a client advocate and community-based case manager for victims, people with disabilities, and people with mental health issues. In addition, she has implemented community-based violence prevention programs including Girls on the Run in the Fairbanks community, coordinated fundraisers, and provided clinical social work on an inpatient behavioral health unit working with adults. Additionally, she has served on various community committees, coalitions and board of directors. 

 

Christina currently resides in Fairbanks, Alaska, with her husband and young son. Adventure and a larger perspective on life brought her to Alaska from rural Virginia in 2011. Her desire to pursue her MSW and become a professor came from serving as a field instructor for social work students. She has a deep desire to see students be well prepared for the social work field when they graduate, and watching students progress and grow brings her true joy. 

 

Christina is a strong proponent for practicing self-care, especially as social workers who spend their lives helping others. She believes there is both peace and strength in the outdoors, in the mountains, and the land beneath our feet that grounds us as humans and as helpers. Christina’s own life experiences and work with diverse clients across the spectrum of social work gives her a deeper understanding of the complexity and influence of our experiences as humans. She is dedicated to lifelong learning and volunteer work, giving back to our neighbors and our communities.

Carol has been with the Social Work program since 1996. She is a 1984 graduate of UAF, with a B.A. in Foreign Languages, minoring in Music, and received her Master’s in Education, Special Education from UAA in 2004. She has lived in Fairbanks for the majority of her life, is married and has three children. In her spare time she enjoys listening to Southern Gospel music, dancing, singing, playing violin, and tennis.