Laura D. Boltz is an Assistant Professor of Social Work. Dr. Boltz graduated from Samford University in 2007 with a double major in Psychology and Journalism/Mass Communication. After graduating with her B.A. degree, she completed a dual-degree master’s program. In that program she earned a Master of Social Work degree from The University of Alabama and a Master of Public Health degree from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. While in graduate school, Dr. Boltz worked with clients in her field placements at the Tuscaloosa County Public Defender’s Office and Children’s Harbor at Children’s Hospital of Alabama.

After earning her master’s degrees in 2009, Dr. Boltz worked for the Jefferson County Department of Human Resources in the Child Welfare Division. Dr. Boltz worked primarily with children in foster care, with a special focus on adolescents and teenagers.  Dr. Boltz’s work in child welfare is what influenced her decision to return to The University of Alabama to earn her PhD in Social Work. 

Dr. Boltz completed her PhD in 2020. She is a qualitative researcher, and her area of interest is the health of children in foster care. During her doctoral education, Dr. Boltz published in several academic journals and was a member of the editorial board for Best Practices in Mental Health. She is also a member of the Council on Social Work Education and National Association of Social Workers, and she holds a social work license in Alabama as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and a Private Independent Practitioner (PIP).