Professor named social work educator of the year

Nicole Fava, an associate professor at the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, was recently named Miami-Dade County’s 2025 National Association of Social Work’s Educator of the Year. 

The award recognizes a social work educator who has demonstrated excellence in the field. Over her decade-long career, Fava has led research on areas including healthy adolescent and young adult development; sexual health among people who have experienced trauma; and human trafficking. She teaches students the importance of trauma-informed care, especially when working with children and teens who have experienced adversity. 

Fava is also an affiliated faculty member at the FIU Center for Children and Families, where she directs the Trauma-Informed Screening and Treatment Program. The program receives funding from The Children’s Trust to provide free trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy services for youth and their caregivers throughout Miami-Dade County.

She once dreamed of becoming a marine animal caretaker but discovered her calling in social work while in college. Today, Fava is a beloved faculty member and her students speak of her with the highest praise and gratitude. In fact, her students nominated her for the award. Their nomination letters share not only anecdotes of how she personally impacted them but also point to her research expertise and social work experience; mentorship skills; and dedication to helping students succeed. 

"Dr. Fava is an indispensable pillar of the Master of Social Work program," wrote Alex La Rosa, who graduated from the program this past spring with a 4.0 GPA. "She fosters critical thinking and inspires intellectual curiosity. Her guidance equips students with the tools necessary to conduct evidence-based research, emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations and practical applications."

"Her impact is evident not only in the success stories of individual students like myself but also in the broader culture of encouragement she fosters within the academic community," he said. "Dr. Fava’s legacy is one of cultivating future leaders in social work who are equipped and inspired to make a difference."

Alicia Harrington, a doctoral candidate in the social work program, discussed how crucial Fava's mentorship has been to students conducting research.

"Dr. Fava is an outstanding PI [research principal investigator]," Harrington said in her nomination letter. "When I think of an individual who truly embodies what it means to be a social worker I think of her. Without Dr. Fava's kindness, mentorship, and willingness to go above and beyond for her students, my Ph.D. experience would not be as fruitful and fulfilling."

She continued: "Dr. Fava has made a lasting impact in so many lives. I personally could not be more thankful that she is my PI. She has gone above and beyond by providing me TA opportunities, inviting me to work on grants that align with my interests and passions, [and] supporting my career goals."

FIU News spoke with Fava about her career journey, her passion for social work and her distinctive teaching style. 

What inspired you to pursue a career in social work? 

When I was in undergrad, I was going to go in a totally different direction and work in marine animal husbandry where I’d help care for marine animals. I had my heart set on this career ever since my trip to SeaWorld with my family when I was 7 years old. One day, I wanted to be behind the scenes helping to rehabilitate and care for animals like manatees and orca whales. The summer after my sophomore year, I took an internship in the education department at SeaWorld in Orlando, FL. I got to teach kids about all the animals and help them interact with them. I really enjoyed working with the kids and noticed that they would naturally gravitate towards me. For my next summer job, I thought I would give working directly with kids a shot. I worked at a residential program, Wediko, for kids who had emotional and behavioral challenges. I fell in love with that work.

That’s a big shift! How did you navigate the transition from studying animal husbandry to this type of work? 

I was already studying psychology because it was the closest I could get to any sort of animal training degree at the liberal arts college I was attending. While working at Wediko, I had supervisors who were psychologists, social workers, and psychiatrists. When presented with these different but similar fields, it was the values and mission of social work that really resonated with me. So, after I graduated from undergrad, I worked for a few years with kids, families, and adults in school and community settings – almost all of whom had experienced some kind of trauma or adversity – primarily supporting their mental health and wellbeing. I then decided to get my Master of Social Work because I wanted to get into clinical work. However, while in my master’s program, I really enjoyed the research component of my coursework and worked a few part-time research assistant jobs. That’s when I decided to continue with my Ph.D. in Social Welfare. 

What do you think drove you to go from student to researcher? 

Through the various clinical positions I had, it was sort of like this lived experience of just being around people who exuded resilience despite having also experienced extreme trauma and adversity. It made me want to understand more, like what shapes somebody's path to be resilient and healthy even after they've experienced such intense adversity. How can we learn from those who are sort of doing well and help others who maybe haven’t yet figured it out or don’t have the same support? I think that influenced the first bits of what I was interested in with research. 

This year, the National Association of Social Work named you Miami-Dade County’s Social Work Educator of the Year.  What or who do you think shaped you into the educator that you are today? 

Looking back, it makes a lot of sense how I stepped into the educator role. I think it’s because of the mentorship I received. When I was a graduate student, I had the most incredible mentor. I could tell she was invested in my wellbeing not only as a researcher and student, but also as a person. I think she challenged me in ways that really expanded how I thought about things—she pushed me to think outside the box and taught me how to connect fields of study that tend to be very siloed.  It was almost like second nature for me to want to be that kind of mentor for my students. 

Many of your students nominated you for Educator of the Year. They commended you for your mentorship and passion for social work. What’s your approach to teaching? 

If I were to describe my teaching style or approach, I’d say it is guided by the values of social work, trauma-informed principles, and a resilience framework. When those things come together, there’s honesty, transparency, and collaboration. As a professor, I don’t really sugarcoat things, and I have high expectations. I want students to learn and leave the classroom more competent, informed, and confident than when we started. I want them to go out into the world as professional social workers with the tools to make an impact. 

I think for me, I'm most successful as an educator when I listen to students and can be flexible. For example, if the way I structured a class isn’t working for a particular group of students, I work with them to shape parts of it. As an educator, it’s important to be aware that every group of students is different. Group dynamics change. So, sometimes the way my class is structured needs to change to meet their learning styles. When you lead with this mindset, it demonstrates respect and helps create an atmosphere of collaboration.

Is there a moment in your career that you are most proud of? 

For me, it’s smaller moments – like when a student recently posted on LinkedIn about the award they won at graduation, or when a student publishes their first paper or gets an interview for a job they really wanted, or when they introduce me to their family members who are supporting them at a research event – these moments are fuel for me to keep doing what I do. I love the moments where I’m able to see students recognized for their own greatness. 

What advice would you give to educators? 

For other educators, my advice is to learn from your students, just as much as you're hoping that they learn from you. Stay genuine and honest.