Dr. Amanda M. Keys


Department

School-Mental Health and Behavior Sci

Role: Faculty
Campus: Springfield

Postal mail

Missouri State University
School-Mental Health and Behavior Sci
901 S. National Ave.
Springfield, MO 65897

Biography

Dr. Amanda Keys is an associate professor in the School of Social Work at Missouri State University, where she has been a faculty member since 2014. She served as the BSW program coordinator from 2014-2019 and transitioned into the role of MSW coordinator in 2019. Prior to starting at MSU, she spent three years developing a BSW field education program for a private liberal arts university. She teaches courses across the MSW curriculum.

Keys completed her PhD at University of Missouri-Columbia and her undergraduate studies at Missouri State. She is a licensed clinical social worker who practiced for more than a decade in child welfare. Her research interests lie in the area of child welfare and social work education. She has more than a decade of experience as a presenter and academic researcher. She has also co-authored a book titled, “Social Work and Family Violence.” Keys presently serves on the Springfield Area Social Workers Committee and is actively involved in providing educational supervision to students in the Springfield area.  


Details

Education

  • PhD, Social Work, 2013, University of Missouri-Columbia
  • MSW, Social Work, 2005, Missouri State University
  • BSW, Social Work, 2001, Missouri State University 

Certification

  • Clinical Social Worker License

Teaching

  • SWK 710 Generalist Social Work Practice with Individuals
  • SWK 746 Advanced Generalist Social Work Research
  • SWK 750 Advanced Generalist Practice with Individuals
  • SWK 760 Advanced Policy Practice

Professional experience

  • Assistant Professor/MSW Program Coordinator, School of Social Work, Missouri State University, Present
  • Assistant Professor/BSW Program Coordinator, School of Social Work, Missouri State University, 2014-2019
  • Family Resource Development Specialist, MBCH Children and Family Ministries, 2014-2015
  • Director of Field Education, Southwest Baptist University, 2011-2014
  • Assistant Director of Community Based Services, MBCH Children and Family Ministries, 2007-2011
  • Family Foster Care Supervisor, MBCH Children and Family Ministries, 2005-2007
  • Licensed Counselor of Social Work, Greater Ozarks Counseling, 2006-2008
  • Residential Coordinator of Specialized Teams, Missouri Children's Division, Regional Office, 2003-2005
  • Career Plus Worker, Missouri Children's Division, Greene County, 2002-2003
  • Alternative Care Worker, Missouri Children's Division, Greene County, 2001-2002

Professional affiliations

  • North American Association of Christians in Social Work, 2016-present

Publications

Research and professional interests

  • Foster parent retention and motivation
  • Students’ experiences leading IEP meetings
  • Family engagement with the Head Start program
  • Social work students' investment in social activism
  • Social connectivity of students to social work programs
  • Weight stigma

Additional resources


Area of expertise

Social Issues