Three degrees, one purpose: advancing social work through research and practice

For Ashley Logsdon, PhD, social work has not been restricted to a single path. Starting as a child welfare caseworker then expanding into research, program evaluation and clinical practice, her career reflects a commitment to using evidence-based research and practice to improve outcomes for children and families.

As a three-time graduate of the University of Louisville Kent School of Social Work and Family Science, Logsdon earned her Bachelor of Social Work in 2017 and Master of Science in Social Work in 2020. Logsdon earned her PhD in 2024 under the mentorship of Dr. Becky Antle, director of the Center for Family and Community Well-Being. Her doctoral dissertation, A Quantitative Evaluation of an Innovative Family Treatment Court Program for Families with Co-Occurring Child Maltreatment and Substance Use, examined the effectiveness of Kentucky’s Family Recovery Court (FRC) model. FRC is a voluntary program that helps parents in the child welfare system overcome substance use challenges to promote stable, healthy families. 

Before entering academia full time, Logsdon worked as a social service worker with Kentucky’s Department for Community Based Services. Her experience investigating child welfare cases and collaborating with families and community partners shaped her understanding of the challenges parents face while involved in the child welfare system.

At the University of Louisville’s Center for Family and Community Well-Being (CFCWB), Logsdon advanced from a graduate student to research manager and is now serving as a data analyst. Throughout her time at CFCWB, she led the evaluation of Family Recovery Court programs across Kentucky. Recent qualitative findings from court graduates highlighted the importance of supportive relationships, trauma-informed care, peer support and family-focused services in sustaining recovery and strengthening families. 

Logsdon’s professional interests continue to center on conducting ethical data analysis, translating complex findings into information that communities, providers and decision-makers can use. Through research reports, evaluations and presentations, she works to ensure data is accessible and communicated accurately. Alongside her research career, Logsdon is a Kentucky Certified Social Worker and mental health therapist pursuing her clinical social work license. 

Her journey demonstrates that the profession offers many avenues for impact. The skills developed through social work education and hands-on experiences can be applied across settings, all while maintaining a focus on improving the lives of individuals, families and communities to create a just and better world.