Dr. Amanda West is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who received her MSW in 1999 from the University of Denver, and her PhD in social work from the University of Utah in 2014. After serving children and families in the community mental health arena for over 15 years in both clinical and administrative roles, she developed a passion and sincere interest in the struggles and strengths afforded to this population. As a result, her research has expanded in its focus on children and mental health to include trauma-based phenomena such as child trafficking. Her research focuses on the life experiences of victims and survivors of child trafficking in the United States through qualitative methodologies.

Dr. West’s focus in the classroom fosters a student-centered and cooperative learning environment, in which both student and professor explore the content of goals of the course in a reciprocal exchange of knowledge and experience. Her hope in teaching students is not only to present new knowledge but to encourage critical thinking skills that will enable students to embrace the often complex role of social workers in their professional careers.