C. Jean Roberson
Associate Professor
School of Public Health
Department of Social Work
1603 CHS Building 1
croberso@samford.edu
205-726-4669

Jean Roberson serves as associate professor for the Master of Social Work program at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. She holds a Doctor of Social Work from St. Catherine University/University of St. Thomas, a Masters of Social Work and a Certificate in Theology from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. She is also a licensed certified social worker in the state of Alabama. Roberson has spent 16 years in social work practice with the majority of her career in a faith-based context. She is married and has two children. Her favorite accomplishment is that she has traveled to 22 different countries.

Degrees and Certifications

  • Doctor of Social Work, St. Catherine University/University of St. Thomas

  • Master of Social Work, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

  • Certificate of Theology, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

  • Bachelor of Arts, psychology, William Jewell College

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker-Supervisor (LICSW-S), Alabama

Expertise

  • Faith–Based Social Work
  • Simulation

Awards and  Honors

  • Mann Center Faculty Fellow in Community-Based Learning, 2019-20

  • Emerging Leader Award, Missouri Baptist Foundation, 2013

  • Samford Quality Enhancement Plan Top-Rated Assignment, 2021

  • Quality Matters National Certification for online course, 2021

  • Samford School of Public Health Teaching Award, 2024

Publications

  • Roberson, C.J. (2019). Teaching Note - Closing the health gap and social work education: A Grand Challenge. Journal of Social Work Education, 55(1). 188-193. doi:10.1080/10437797.2018.1498416

  • Roberson, C.J. and Adedoyin, A. (2019). Historical and contemporary synopsis of the development of field education guidelines in BSW, MSW, and doctoral programs. Professional Development: The International Journal of Continuing Social Work Education, 22(1), 22-27.

  • Roberson, C.J. (2019). Simulation in social work education: A Qualitative study of MSW student development. Manuscript accepted for publication by Journal of Social Work Education.

  • Roberson, C.J. (2018). Understanding simulation in social work education: A conceptual framework. Manuscript accepted by Journal of Social Work   Education.

  • Roberson, C. and Baker, L. (2021). Designing and implementing the use of VR in graduate social work education for clinical practice. The Journal of Technology in Human Services. doi:10.1080/15228835.2021.1915926

  • Roberson, C., Hagues, R., and Copeland, R. (2021). Addressing spirituality: Reflections on curriculum integration in a Christian university. Social Work & Christianity, 48(3). 275-287. doi:10.34043/swc.v48i3.215 

  • Peterson, L., Roberson, C., and Love-Schropshire, N. (2023). An ethical framework for simulation-based pedagogy: a strengths-based, anti-oppressive, and intersectional approach. Social Work Education, 43(9), 2520-2533. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2023.2270622

  • Roberson, C., Hagues, R., White, B. and Robbins, D. (2023). Emerging ideas. Addressing caregiver needs of brain injury survivors through telehealth: A pilot qualitative study. Family Relations. 73(3), 1920-1932. http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12971

  • Baker, L. Roberson, C., and Pence, J. (2025). The effectiveness of simulation for teaching disaster mental health. Journal of Social Work Education. 61(2), 284-295. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2025.2464534

Presentations

  • Thatcher, K., Roberson, C.J., and Crawford, S. (2016, June). Using simulation as a teaching strategy towards student interprofessional collaboration. Presentation at The Teaching Professor conference, Washington, D.C.

  • Roberson, C.J. (2017, March). Don’t forget the cream filling: Accessing spirituality in social work practice. Presentation at Children’s Hospital Eleanor Barnes Social Work Conference, Birmingham: AL.

  • Baker, L. and Roberson, C.J. (2018, November). Using interprofessional simulation to teach disaster response to social work students. Presentation at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Orlando, FL.

  • Roberson, C.J. (2018, October). Simulation in social work: A tool for the development of faith integration. Accepted presentation for the North American Association of Christians in Social Work convention, Hartford, CT.

  • Roberson, C.J. (2018, November). Simulation in field: A strategy for developing social work and interprofessional competencies. Eposter presentation at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Orlando, FL.

  • Gurley, L., Roberson, C.J., York, A., and Childress, J. (2019, March). An interprofessional team approach to using standardized patient simulation to facilitate person-centered quality healthcare in home hospice care setting. Poster presentation for the 2019 National Academies of Practice Annual Meeting & Forum, Pentagon City, VA.

  • Roberson, C., Hagues, R., Robbins, D., and Leonard, B. (2022, October). Meeting the needs of caregivers of TBI survivors through telehealth. Presentation at the North American Association of Christians in Social Work convention, Oak Brook, IL.

  • Love-Schropshire, N., Peterson, L., and Roberson, C. (2023, April). Practicing ethically for social work practice: Guiding principles and suggestions for virtual simulation. Presentation at Social Work Distance Education Conference.

  • Baker, L. and Roberson, C. (2023, January). Managing the chaos: Evaluation of an inter- professional simulation (mass casualty incident) utilizing online and face-to-face students. Presentation at Society for Social Work Research Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ.

Research Areas

  • Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

  • Simulation

  • Faith Integration into Social Work Practice

Involvement

  • Council on Social Work Education

  • North American Association of Christians in Social Work