Laura Ainsworth, PhD, LCSW

Associate Professor
Human Development & Family Science Program Director and Graduate Coordinator

3210 Huey P. Long Field House
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Phone: 225-578-6829
lainsworth@lsu.edu

Education

PhD, Social Work, Louisiana State University, 2013
MSW, Social Work, Louisiana State University, 2001
BA, Psychology, The University of Southern Mississippi, 1990

Brief Biography

Laura has worked in the College of Human Science & Education's Social Research & Evaluation Center since 2019. She has experience in administration and teaching, micro and macro social work practice, program design and implementation, grant writing, evaluation research and community-based participatory research. Her work involves research in school social work, school mental health, and access to services for underserved populations. Laura was previously an associate professor and served as the Associate Director and BSW Director at The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi before returning to LSU.

Selected Publications

Richard, L., Hurst, T., & Lee, J. (2019). Lifetime exposure to abuse, current stressors, and health in federally qualified health center patients. Journal of Human Behavior and the Social Environment, 845651.

Richard, L., Monroe, P. A., & Garand, J. C. (2019). School social work roles, caseload size, and employment settings. School Social Work Journal.

Richard, L., & Hardin, L. (2018). Suspensions and special education: An examination of disproportionate practices. National Teacher Education Journal, 11(2), 67-74.

Selected Presentations

Rhodes, J., Ainsworth, L, Murray, G., Cupit, L., & Bailey, J. (2021, January). Implementation Science: School Social Work Research in the School Environment. Presented at the Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference, virtual.