Meet DSW Graduate: Dr. Miranda Blackburn
Dr. Miranda Blackburn ‘24, shares her experiences throughout Millersville’s Doctor of Social Work program.
Dr. Miranda Blackburn, a clinical social worker and associate professor, has dedicated her career and research to supporting veterans, engaging in crisis response, preventing suicide and advancing social work education. Blackburn graduated from Millersville University’s Doctor of Social Work program in May 2024. Since her graduation, Blackburn has used her experience and expertise to navigate the field of social work with a passion for impactful change.
MU: Why did you choose Millersville for the DSW program?
Blackburn: Millersville offered coursework relevant to my career goals and is one of the DSW programs that requires a dissertation. This was important to me because I wanted a program that would prepare me to engage in meaningful research that is informed by clinical and practice experience.
MU: Tell us about your background.
Blackburn: My social work experience has mainly been corrections, military social work, crisis response, suicidology and academia. While working in corrections as a clinical social worker and later as an administrator, I found myself interacting with lots of justice-involved and incarcerated veterans. This inspired me to learn more about factors that influence what I was seeing and become more culturally aware. This directly informed the decision to be commissioned into the Army National Guard as a social worker.
MU: How are you using your degree?
Blackburn: Currently, I am fortunate enough to be in an associate professor position at Concord University’s accredited social work program. Additionally, the knowledge gained through the dissertation process has provided platforms in the professional space to address issues that are meaningful to me. I am also an active member of the West Virginia Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide in Service Members, Veterans and their Families. Recently, I was invited to join the West Virginia Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention as a board member. I am developing training and coursework to inform helping professionals about working with military and veteran populations.
MU: What inspired you to pursue a DSW degree?
Blackburn: Honestly, I wanted to remain in higher education, and the DSW gave me a pathway to increased job stability through access to tenure-track positions. Additionally, I wanted to get back into research because research-informed practice is an essential part of social work.
MU: Can you tell us about a specific project or research you worked on during your program that had a significant impact on you and your understanding of social work?
Blackburn: As someone who does not have a BSW (my undergraduate degree is in psychology), a lot of professional history was provided through the coursework, which helped me better understand social work origins and frameworks. I enjoyed the opportunity to formally research a topic that was important to me.
For the dissertation, I focused on the topic of military suicide. This was done through an examination of post-mortem investigations that were completed with National Guard service members where suicide was the cause of death. The Adjutant General of the Ohio National Guard invited me to discuss the findings of the research. This support provided the opportunity to engage in further discussions around prevention, intervention, and postvention within the organization. There is an amazing community that has been brought together through shared experiences around suicide. And while this carries a profound sadness, it also shows what people can accomplish when there is hope that things can get better.
This experience was a great reminder of the value of collaborative work and the impact that social work can have at all levels of practice. The dissertation structure at Millersville allowed me to explore areas of practice in ways that I would not have otherwise considered.
MU: What were some of the most challenging aspects of the DSW program, and how did you overcome them?
Blackburn: Life. Life happens no matter what your personal or professional career goals are. I had a lot of setbacks during the process due to health, military obligations, work and family. The cohort model was helpful because all of us supported each other through the process. I gained a lot of valued friendships. Some good mentorship arose from these challenges.
MU: Were there any mentors or professors who significantly influenced your journey through the DSW program?
Blackburn: I would like to thank my committee members. I am planning to collaborate on future research with members of my committee as they continue to support my professional journey after the doctorate.
MU: How do you envision applying your DSW degree to influence change within communities, organizations or the broader social systems?
Blackburn: There are a lot of opportunities to influence change through research and curriculum development. I have found that there is a dearth of formal training on suicide prevention and military culture in undergraduate and graduate social work programs.
Through collaborative efforts that come with working at a small Appalachian university, especially one that provides education to many first-generation students going into social work, current and relevant issues of the geographic region are brought to the forefront. This allows for engagement with all levels of systems in a more personalized and real way that bolsters not only the community but also student learning.
These students are the future of social work and having the opportunity to be a part of their journey influences change for the future. The skills and knowledge gained during my time in the DSW have shaped my approach as an educator.
MU: Looking back at your time in the DSW program, what are you most proud of accomplishing?
Blackburn: Although I have a lot of self-criticism on what could be better with my research, I know that the dissertation is only an introductory work that I will build upon as I continue to engage in research. It was important to me to tackle an issue and topic that would provide a challenge and be meaningful in my future work. I am proud that my topic created a forum for difficult conversations around suicide prevention and military populations. I hope that this discourse continues in a way that increases awareness and decreases stigma about suicide and military populations.
MU: What advice would you give students considering the DSW program today?
Blackburn: Understand your “why” for doing the program. It is a lot of time, money and work to invest in this journey. Have a clear intention with your journey, and it will make it easier to navigate the obstacles that will inevitably arise. The value is in the journey, and it will be worth it.
MU: What are your career goals moving forward, and how do you plan to use your DSW degree to shape your future in social work?
Blackburn: I plan to continue working in education (for which the DSW is essential) and incorporate clinical work more actively into my professional arena. I also hope to start working on some new research and community projects. An area of significant professional interest to me is the development of suicide mortality review boards, which are becoming more recognized and supported in suicide prevention work. I am also taking steps to engage with crisis response and crisis intervention teams in my community.