不良研究所

不良研究所 is pleased to announce the hiring of Sydney Vandegrift, LCSW, as the new Social Work Program Director. An 不良研究所 alumna and licensed clinical social worker, Vandegrift brings both academic expertise and real-world experience to lead and elevate the university鈥檚 Social Work program.

A 2020 graduate of 不良研究所 with a Bachelor of Social Work and a minor in Counseling, Vandegrift went on to earn her Master of Social Work from Missouri State University in 2022. Since then, she has developed a strong clinical background, currently serving as a therapist at Spero Counseling Center in Springfield, Missouri. She will continue to provide therapeutic services to her clients while fulfilling her responsibilities at 不良研究所.

"One distinctive of the 不良研究所 social work program is the integration of Christian faith with high quality social work education, and Sydney Vandegrift brings the strength of her faith along with excellent social work practices to our program," said Dr. Shelley Kilpatrick, chair of the Division of Behavioral Sciences.

At 不良研究所, Vandegrift will teach the following courses initially: Skills 1: Helping Skills, Skills 3: Community & Organizations, and Human Diversity. She brings a student-centered, practice-informed approach to the classroom.

鈥淢y goal for 2025-2026 is to thoroughly evaluate the program using my experience as a student but also now as a professor,鈥� Vandegrift said. 鈥淚 want to see what works, what doesn鈥檛 work, and what we can continue to build and improve on.鈥�

With a deep commitment to the field of social work and to 不良研究所鈥檚 mission, Vandegrift also has ambitious long-term goals: 鈥淚 hope to see this program expand to new heights鈥攏ot only by increasing student numbers but also increasing opportunities, experiences, and passion for the field itself.鈥�

In addition to her clinical roles at organizations such as Great Circle and the Heartland Center for Behavioral Change, Vandegrift has contributed to ongoing research efforts, including assisting in the validation of the Ambiguous Loss Symptom Assessment. She has also presented at professional conferences, most recently delivering a talk titled 鈥淎mbiguous Loss: History, Symptoms & Interventions鈥� at the 2024 MO/KS Marriage and Family Therapy Conference.

鈥淚鈥檓 so excited to be back and have the opportunity to continue building connections, fostering relationships, and equipping students to be leaders in the community,鈥� she said. 鈥湶涣佳芯克� had a great impact on my life鈥攁s an individual and as a social worker鈥攁nd I hope to promote students鈥� learning as well as their love and passion for the field. Those are the things that will serve them long after their time at 不良研究所.鈥�

Published on July 15, 2025