Adrienne Ekas

Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners

Term ends: 2027

Please give a brief biography, including your education, licensure or certification level and employment history:

I am a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Maryland and currently work as the Assistant Dean of Field Instruction for the UMBC Baccalaureate Social Work Program; I am in my 12th year. I am responsible for placing students in the senior year field placements are ensuring that the agencies provide appropriate learning activities with an anti-oppressive social work lens. Prior to this position, I was the Field Associate and BSW Program Coordinator for the UNLV School of Social Work in Las Vegas, Nevada, for 11 years. I have also practiced clinical social work with children and families, especially with those adopted from the child welfare system.

I have a BS in criminal justice, Master of Social Work degree, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership. I believe that my education and experience in both social work and higher education are a beneficial combination for this leadership position at ASWB.

Give a synopsis of your regulatory and professional experience. Please emphasize your involvement with ASWB:

I was appointed to the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners in July of 2020 as the Educational appointee. This seat is someone from a School of Social Work in the state of Maryland and can only serve for one four-year term. In June of 2024, I was moved to a recently vacated LCSW-C seat. This term ends June 30, 2027. In 2021, I was named as the Continuing Education subcommittee Chair and since 2022, I have served as the Vice Chair of the Board. I am currently the board member appointee to the Maryland Workgroup on Social Worker Requirements for Licensure.

The following list shows my involvement with ASWB:

• August 2020, New Board Member Training (virtual)
• April 2022, ASWB Education Meeting, Chicago, IL
• December 2022, ASWB webinar, Helping students be prepared to show competence on the social work licensing exams: Free exam resources for educators from ASWB
• April 2023, ASWB Education Meeting, New Orleans, LA
• February 2024, Appointed to the Regulatory Research Committee and attended Leadership Weekend in August, 2024
• May, 2024, ASWB Education Meeting and BMX Co-Facilitator
• Member of Friends of ASWB Community meetings

Finally, make a brief statement on the major issues you see facing ASWB, and how you would address them:

I feel like the major issue facing ASWB and the membership communities is the notion that the social work competency exams are racist. I believe that those with this notion are neglecting to recognize the hundreds of years of oppression of black and brown people in our society. They do not realize that test takers show up to take the exam with a myriad of experiences and starting points. I hope to be part of the leadership team that seeks to support test takers, membership boards and administrators, and schools of social work in ensuring that applicants can be successful when taking the exam. I also believe that eliminating the exam as part of licensure is going to diminish the importance of social workers in our communities and will affect the vulnerable populations that are traditionally served by social workers. I would love to be part of the team to collaborate with a diverse range of stakeholders, including social workers from different backgrounds and specialties, to ensure that policies and exams meet the evolving needs of the profession.