School of Social Work alumna Franshandra Owens, MSW, LCSW (MSW ’18), has been selected as the 2025 NASW-Illinois Chapter Social Worker of the Year.
Owens is being recognized for her exceptional leadership, advocacy, and commitment to survivor recovery through her work as a clinician at the SIU School of Medicine’s Survivor Recovery Center. In this role, she provides trauma-informed care to individuals who have experienced recent crime-based trauma, helping them reduce or eliminate PTSD symptoms and rebuild their lives.
Her colleague, Sicely Kluge, an instructor at the SIU Survivor Recovery Center, shared: “Fran’s dedication and unwavering commitment to her community has created an increase in evidence-based treatment for these individuals, improvements in their healthcare, advocacy for improvements in housing efforts, and ultimately an increase in anti-oppressive work and promotion of minority mental health.”
Owens will be honored next month by the NASW-Illinois Chapter. More information about her recognition can be found in the NASW full press release.