LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 4, 2024) — Matt Moore, Ph.D., associate dean of student and academic affairs in the College of Social Work (CoSW) at the University of Kentucky, has been elected president of the Alliance of Social Workers in Sports (ASWIS).
He will serve a two-year term.
ASWIS is an international organization dedicated to integrating social work principles into sports, focusing on athlete well-being and supporting professionals in the industry. It’s the only global group addressing the unique needs of athletes and the athletic community through the lens of social work.
Moore, a longtime member of ASWIS, has served in various leadership roles within the organization. As president, he plans to focus on expanding awareness and outreach for sport social work.
“This year marks the 10th anniversary of ASWIS, which is a tremendous accomplishment unto itself,” Moore said. “This milestone presents an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come and to envision the future of sport social work and the industry as a whole.”
Honored with the Sport Social Work Legacy award earlier this year, Moore’s innovative approaches and commitment to the field have been pivotal in advancing the profession. He is also the founder and editor of Sport Social Work Journal.
Looking ahead, Moore identified three key priorities for ASWIS. “I will focus on expanding educational opportunities at all levels, growing research to establish sports social work as an evidence-based entity, and building national and international partnerships to create internships, career opportunities and collaborations with organizations that can drive change in the sports world.”
Last month, the CoSW announced the launch of The Sport Social Work Collaborative — a partnership between ASWIS, the Sport Social Work Journal, and the college’s Sport Social Work Research Lab.
The collaborative is focused on leading research, teaching and outreach efforts that seek to promote the healthy development of athletes, coaches and communities. The CoSW is also home of the International Institute on Sport Social Work.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It’s all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.