State NASW chapter taps Mississippi College social work chair as Social Worker of the Year

Laurie Smith Lawson displays the Social Worker of the Year Award she received from the Mississippi Chapter of the NASW.

Laurie Smith Lawson, associate professor and chair of the Mississippi College Department of Social Work, has been named Social Worker of the Year by the Mississippi Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.

Lawson received the award at the NASW-MS annual conference March 26-28 in Jackson. The honor recognizes excellence in education and the social work profession.

“To be recognized by my peers in the social work profession is one of the highest honors I've ever received,” said Lawson, who has served as a social worker for nearly 42 years. She has been a member of the National Association of Social Workers since graduating from ±«Óãtvin 1983.

A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Lawson obtained her graduate degree in social work from the University of Southern Mississippi and her Ph.D. in social work from Tulane University in New Orleans. Executive director of the Clinton Community Christian Corporation (4Cs), she was named the 2012 Alumnus of the Year by the ±«ÓãtvDepartment of Social Work and the 2021 Distinguished Lecturer for the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Lawson said it is important for faculty members at ±«Óãtvto model involvement in professional societies for their students.

“Being active in professional bodies such as the NASW, the Council on Social Work Education and the Board of Program Directors, to name a few, provides current information about the social work profession, such as the latest social work research, policy and practice issues, the latest information on social work education, field education, updated information on social work licensure and updated information on different populations served,” she said.

“Being active in these groups, including attending annual meetings and other trainings, help faculty to remain "current" on various areas of social work practice.”

She credited ±«Óãtvfor helping put her in an optimum setting to be considered for the award.

“As a social work educator, I am provided the wonderful opportunity to influence young minds through formal education,” she said. “As a social work practitioner, I'm able to ‘bring the textbook to life’ in my classroom lectures. Our students are provided hands-on learning experiences, preparing them for real-life social work practice before actually entering the professional world.

“I take teaching very seriously because it influences how our students view the profession, as well as how important their jobs will be in helping those who are facing challenges due to various circumstances.”

Lawson plays an instrumental role in her community and civic and service organizations. She has served as a board member for Clinton Habitat for Humanity, the Mental Health Association, the Mississippi Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and the Hinds County Human Resource Agency. She serves on the Mississippi Department of Mental Health Suicide Prevention Task Force and is co-chair of Christians Understanding Race and Equality (CURE) at MC. She is committed to empowering others and promoting awareness and acceptance of self through mentorship efforts.

Lawson and her husband, Donald, live in Raymond and are the parents of four children: April, Douglas, Dierdre and Marshall.