Brenda Sweeten, LCSW
Clinical Assistant Professor, Director of Field
University of North Texas

Brenda Sweeten is a Clinical Assistant Professor and the Director of Field Education program at the University of North Texas (UNT) Department of Social Work.  She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Baylor University and a Master’s of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she has spent the majority of her career working as an advocate in the child welfare system and serving children and families involved in the judicial system. She continues to practice as a social study evaluator for step-parent and independent adoptions. Prior to joining academia, Professor Sweeten was the Program Director for CASA of Denton County, Inc. for twelve years before accepting a position as the Title IV-E Child Welfare Coordinator at the University of North Texas, a role she held for three years. Professor Sweeten participates on a number of boards and advisory councils including Court Appointed Special Advocates of Denton County, Denton County Child Protective Services Citizens Review Team, and Education Reach for Texans. Professor Sweeten has conducted numerous presentations at both state and national conferences focusing on supporting former foster youth succeed in post-secondary education as well as training university student affairs personnel, child welfare advocates and professionals about the experiences of youth in foster care and access to higher education.
In 2012 Professor Sweeten co-founded a student organization at UNT called PUSH (Persevere UNTil Success Happens), for which she serves as the faculty advisor. This grassroots effort has evolved into the PUSH Initiative program that is specifically geared toward improving the successful educational outcomes of foster care alumni attending the University of North Texas.  She now directs this program and has been appointed as the Foster Care Liaison Officer for the university.