BROWNWOOD – April 10, 2025 – HPU’s Student Association of Social Work (SASW) hosted its first Social Work Alumni Brunch on March 29 in the Newbury Family Welcome Center. The event was a time to build community with professionals in the fields of social work and criminal justice to help students make new connections. The four speakers included Morgan Lacy ’18, hospice social worker; JulieAnn Greenfield ’13, faith-based and community engagement specialist; Leah Joiner ’12, senior project manager for Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute; and Noah Acord ’20, Brownwood police officer.
“We had a great showing of alumni and current students within the social work, psychology and criminal justice fields,” said Ciera Ray, assistant professor of social work and field director. “The current Student Association of Social Work president, Alexis Ewen, did an excellent job moderating discussion for the panel of alumni speakers we had present. Panel participants shared how the Lord prepared them during their time at Howard Payne through coursework, extracurricular activities, and even on-campus jobs to make an impact in the fields of social work and criminal justice. Overall, it was a fruitful day of testimony to the Lord and how He continues to send out students from Howard Payne University to further His kingdom.”
The speakers provided students with advice about the value of self-care, how to navigate grad school and the importance of support in helping professions.
Lacy works for Interim Hospice and part-time for Senior Psych Care as a clinical provider in nursing homes. He has also worked in child mental health within school districts and helped a local church to create a non-profit counseling ministry for a rural community.
Greenfield has worked in the child welfare system for 10 years, with experience including work as a case manager, investigator, conservatorship worker, and investigation supervisor.
Joiner supports health system transformation by integrating behavioral health into primary healthcare settings. Joiner also worked for over six years as the Policy and Advocacy Associate for Healthy Future of Texas’ Advocacy projects, the Texas Women’s Healthcare Coalition.
Acord is an officer for the city of Brownwood. He previously worked as a youth pastor before he felt the call to enter law enforcement.
For more information about the HPU social work program, contact Shantel Oplotnik, social work program director, at soplotnik@hputx.edu. Applications are now being accepted for fall 2025.
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Cutline 1: Alumni panelists pictured with Dr. Cory Hines (left), HPU president, are (left to right) Noah Acord, Leah Joiner, JulieAnn Greenfield and Morgan Lacy.
Cutline 2: HPU social work students attended the Social Work Alumni Brunch.