St. Edward’s University social work professor, Laurie Cook Heffron was named ‘Social Worker of the Year’ by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Texas Capitol Branch in early September. The award reflects years of Heffron’s dedication to her profession and to the community.
The NASW recognizes the contributions of those in the field of social work and, each year, announces recipients who exemplify dedication, leadership and service. Heffron, a licensed social worker with more than 20 years of experience, has focused on providing services and support for immigrant survivors of violence. Much of her research specializes in the relationship between immigration and violence and the impacts of violence towards immigrant women.
“An aspect of my research has been looking at the way that migration impacts immigrant women in particular and impacts violence that they’ve experienced in their interpersonal relationships, such as intimate partner violence and sexual assault,” Heffron said. “But also, the way that those things impact their decisions about migration, when to migrate, how to migrate, why, and these push and pull factors on folks who are trying to find safety.”
Heffron has worked directly with many refugees and immigrants that are residing or have been displaced in the Austin area, most of whom are survivors of violence and torture. She explains how her work has not only been about providing help through a social work lens, but also intersects with knowledge of public policy and mental health.
“Part of my career has been related to policy and how our policies either help people find their way and find health, wellness and wellbeing or, sometimes, how our policies hinder that for people or even create harm or additional violence,” Heffron said. “For the last 12 years, I’ve been providing pro bono mental health evaluations for people whose immigration relief might benefit from an additional perspective on what they experienced to help their case, whether it be asylum or a special kind of visa for crime victims.”
Along with being a licensed social worker, Heffron has been a professor at St. Edward’s for 10 years. As an educator, she has found effective ways to intersect her career in social work and academics.
“I saw my teaching as being social work focused and separate from all this other stuff I’ve always done, but recently I’ve been able to connect the two,” Heffron said. “It influences the kind of topics I teach about, the content or the texts that I bring into the classroom and the conversations I have.”
Heffron expresses her gratitude for not only being the recipient of the award, but for being motivated by her community to continue her work.
“This award is really meaningful, and I do feel proud of the work I’ve done,” Heffron said. “I’m proud to receive the award, and I don’t do this alone; it’s my colleagues, community partners and students that are all really doing it together.”
