Michele Denise Smith
Adjunct
What I do
As Assistant Professor of the Practice, I partner with the Assistant Dean for Field Education and Community Partnerships and the Associate Director of Field Education to contribute to the integration of academic coursework and field placement; program and policy development; quality assurance and program assessment; agency screening, development, and approval; placement of students into appropriate field sites; the development, coordination, and delivery of field related events and trainings; provide training, supervision and coaching to approximately 20-25 field liaisons, and mediation, as needed, to facilitate communication and conflict resolution between students and agency field supervisors. I also track data related to all aspects of field administration. My role primarily supports the MSW@Denver and Denver Campus MSW programs.Specialization(s)
Teaching, Leadership, field education, coaching, training
Professional Biography
Michele D. Smith, EdD, DSW, LMSW, MSW is
a native of Chicago, Illinois. She currently resides in Kansas City, Missouri.
She has two living adult sons, one deceased son, and a deceased bonus daughter.
In addition to being a licensed master social worker and professor, she is an
entrepreneur, life coach, ordained minister, and poet. She has acquired
approximately 24 years of higher education experience (11 teaching), 25 years
of human/social services experience, and more than 20 years of legal
experience. She founded and managed a non-profit for women and teen girls in
crisis for 12 years; served as an Assistant Pastor for 12 years; and founded
and currently manages a coaching and consulting firm. She enjoys teaching,
coaching, politics, music, and reading. Her current passion and focus is accessibility and disability justice in higher
education with a special focus on the Black-IPOC communities.
a native of Chicago, Illinois. She currently resides in Kansas City, Missouri.
She has two living adult sons, one deceased son, and a deceased bonus daughter.
In addition to being a licensed master social worker and professor, she is an
entrepreneur, life coach, ordained minister, and poet. She has acquired
approximately 24 years of higher education experience (11 teaching), 25 years
of human/social services experience, and more than 20 years of legal
experience. She founded and managed a non-profit for women and teen girls in
crisis for 12 years; served as an Assistant Pastor for 12 years; and founded
and currently manages a coaching and consulting firm. She enjoys teaching,
coaching, politics, music, and reading. Her current passion and focus is accessibility and disability justice in higher
education with a special focus on the Black-IPOC communities.
Degree(s)
- BA, English, Creative Writing, University of Missouri-Kansas City
- EDD, Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership, Grand Canyon University
- MSW, Social Work, University of Missouri-Kansas City
- DSW, Social Work, Simmons University, 2025
Licensure / Accreditations
- LMSW
Professional Affiliations
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Awards
- Extraordinary Teaching in Extraordinary Times Award, University of Denver's Office of Teaching and Learning
- Excellence in Teaching Award for Adjunct Faculty, University of Denver
- Faculty Champion Nominee, University of Denver Career Services
- Faculty Champion Nominee, University of Denver Career Services
- Faculty Champion Nominee, University of Denver Career Services
