(Alumni) Carole Zugazaga, PhD, is the Associate Professor of Social Work in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work at Auburn University. She received both her Master’s Degree in Social Work and PhD in Public Affairs from the University of Central Florida. She received her BSW from Florida State University. She has 12 years of experience in professional social work practice, mostly in the medical field. Dr. Zugazaga’s research interests include homelessness, poverty, women’s issues, and program evaluation. She was named a Fahs-Beck Fellow in 2007 and was the recipient of a research grant from the Fahs-Beck Fund for Research and Experimentation to support her study of the fastest growing subgroup of the homeless: women with children. She was the recipient of a grant from the Alabama Women’s Commission and was the Principal Investigator of a study designed to better understand barriers and issues that affect women in Alabama with children age one and below. She has also been awarded with the College of Liberal Arts Engaged Scholar designation in the College of Liberal Arts for 2008-2011. This award recognizes exemplary faculty who engage students in civic engagement/service learning. Dr. Zugazaga serves on the board of directors for Alabama Arise and the Alabama Poverty Project. She is a consulting editor for the journal, Families in Society.  

Dr. Zugazaga credits the UCF PhD program in Public Affairs with preparing her for a career in academia.  She references the strong research component of the program, opportunities to work directly with faculty on research projects from conceptualization to publication, and the “amazing” faculty in the program, many of whom continue to serve as mentors to her in her professional development. She is grateful to the program for providing her with a foundation for a successful academic career.