Alicia Hawley-Bernardez, PhD

Associate Professor of Social Work
Remote Faculty
ahawley-bernardez@ollusa.edu

Curriculum Vitae

Areas of Expertise

My dissertation was related to issues pertaining to intimate partner violence and survivors who have left abusive partners. My research interests/projects include prevention of gun violence, intimate partner violence, mindfulness in social work education, self-care among students in an online environment, photovoice with survivors of sex trafficking who have exited the industry, and best practices for online education for social work faculty members. Additional areas of interest and research include intimate partner violence, teen dating violence, gender-based issues, human trafficking, and pedagogical issues in social work education. 

Teaching Philosophy

“Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” – Theodore Roosevelt

This thought-provoking quote by Theodore Roosevelt encourages me to show a sincere depth of compassion and empathy with my students in the hope that they will mirror that in their own lives. My commitment as an educator is to create an inclusive climate of scholarly, free expression whereby all students can contribute to discussion and the learning process of others by sharing their own experiences. My teaching philosophy also involves using respectful language, teaching, and demonstrating civil discourse, and listening to and purposely communicating with students. My love for teaching social work and life-long learning is what ultimately led me back to school to pursue my PhD. Learning as a lifelong process is congruent with my philosophy that knowledge for all individuals should be continuous and instinctive, which I hope to instill in my students.

Outside Interests

I am a volunteer with Moms Demand Action as the Be SMART lead. The Be SMART campaign was launched to raise awareness that secure gun storage—storing guns locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition—can save children’s lives. Additionally I also enjoy photography, reading, and spending time with my family and friends.