The
Heart of Social Work Award was presented to Mark E. Stephens, Knox
County Public Defender, at the Sixth Annual
College of Social Work Homecoming Gala, which he attended
with his wife, Lynette. The award,
presented on September 22, 2006, is given to a person
outside of the social work profession, who is a friend of the University
of Tennessee College of Social Work
and who has made a significant contribution to the field of social
work. Mr. Stephens collaborated with the College of Social Work to
develop a partnership beneficial to both the College and the Community
Law Office. As part of this partnership, the College places students at
the Community Law Office under the supervision of Dr. Roger Nooe, who
are then able to assist the Public Defender attorneys and clients,
providing essential mental health, housing, education, employment and
other services. Mr. Stephens has served as an Adjunct Professor at both
the U.T. College of Social Work and the U.T.
College of Law.