Devon Ferguson is a licensed social worker with extensive experience in direct practice, supervision, and higher education. Prior to her faculty appointment, Devon held senior leadership roles in the nonprofit sector where she supervised multidisciplinary teams providing holistic, trauma-informed services to system-involved children and families. Her social work experience also includes practice in substance abuse, child welfare, and criminal and juvenile justice.
Devon has taught at the undergraduate and graduate levels, developing courses related to interpersonal relationships; human behavior and the social environment; forensic social work; substance abuse assessment and treatment; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and support for first-year college students. She oversees field education for undergraduate social work students, including training for practicum supervisors. Devon provides DEI consultation and training, and presents on interdisciplinary collaboration, forensic social work practice and education, and trauma-informed pedagogy.
Educational Background
Master of Social Service, Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research
Master of Law and Social Policy, Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research
Bachelor of Science in Sociology, Rosemont College
Bachelor of Arts in French, Rosemont College
Courses Taught
Introduction to Social Work
Diversity, Oppression, & Social Justice
Human Behavior & the Social Environment
Interpersonal Relationships
The Client Interview
Forensic Social Work
Understanding Mental Health Disorders
Social Work Pre-Practicum Seminar
Social Work Practicum Seminar I & II
First-Year Seminar Course
Exploring Diversity
Intercultural Cities
Substance Abuse Assessment & Intervention
Scholarly Interests
Equity-centered and trauma-informed pedagogy and campus environments
Forensic social work education and practice
Inclusive leadership practices
Publications
Ashton, T. J., Barrios, A., Ferguson, D.W., Gray, T., Chase, C., Riley, T., Collier-Jones, E., Schnauck, M., Forest, K., Burnett, J., Fraser, E., Dang, D., Edmonds, R., Maulucci, A., Ware, L., Pryce, Y., Laister, C., Valila, C., & Rock, J. (in press). Narratives of change: A collaborative autoethnography exploring the transformation of forensic social work practice and leadership through doctoral social work education. Journal of Forensic Social Work.
Chiang, P. P., Thomasey, T. L., & Ferguson, D. W. (in press). Empowering transitions: Trauma-sensitive support for aging-out youth. In E. Bowman & K. Dodd (Eds.), Practice in Action. Taylor & Francis.
Thomasey, T. L., Ferguson, D. W., Friend, C., McLean, A. H., Olson, L., Shimizu, R., & Wilkes, N. (in press). Preparing students for forensic social work practice: A cross-case comparative analysis of four university programs. Journal of Forensic Social Work.
Presentations and Workshops
Ashton, T., Barrios, A., & Ferguson, D. (2026, May 26-29). Narratives of Change: The Transformative Power of Doctoral Education in Forensic Social Work Practice and Leadership. Forensic Social Work Alliance, New Orleans, LA, United States.
Friend, C., Ferguson, D., McLean, A., & Thomasey, T. (2026, May 26-29). Bridging the Gap: Teaching Tomorrow’s Forensic Social Workers Today. Forensic Social Work Alliance, New Orleans, LA, United States.
Thomasey, T., & Ferguson, D. (2026, February 25-28). From Awareness to Action: Embedding Trauma-Informed Strategies into Social Work Classrooms. Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors, New Orleans, LA, United States.
Thomasey, T., & Ferguson, D. (2025, June 4-7). Cultivating Compassionate Classrooms: A Trauma-Informed Approach Inspired by St. Francis’s ‘Canticle of the Creatures’. Association of Franciscan Colleges & Universities Symposium, La Crosse, WI, United States.
Ferguson, D., & Thomasey, T. (2025, March 12-15). Supporting Students Through Crisis: Trauma-Informed Practices in the College Classroom. Association of Baccalaureate Program Directors Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV, United States.
Breen, A., Ferguson, D., & Hoshino-Browne, E. (Multiple dates.) Safe Zone Training: LGBTQ Awareness and Ally Training Workshop. Neumann University, Aston, PA, United States.
Ferguson, D. (2023). Why Social Workers are Essential to Interdisciplinary Forensic Practice. Social Work and Law: National Symposium, online.
Ferguson, D. (2022). Let’s Talk about Non-Compliance: How Social Workers Can Help Interdisciplinary Teams Reframe and Overcome Challenging Client Behavior. Social Work and Law: National Symposium, online.
