Student Fellowship

Through funding from the Children’s Bureau Center for Workforce Excellence and Leadership (CWEL) and the University of Louisville, the 2026 Title IV-E Roundtable will support a cohort of Student Fellows to share their scholarly work and have opportunities to network with each other and Roundtable participants.

Selected Student Fellows receive a complimentary Roundtable registration and a $1,000 honorarium to support their travel associated with the Roundtable. Student Fellows must be currently in a funded IV-E program and pursuing a BSW, MSW and PhD/DSW to be eligible.

Travel Arrangements: Student Fellows are expected to book their own travel for the Roundtable, including airfare and hotel.

Hotel Accommodations: Student Fellows are encouraged to stay in the 2026 Title IV-E Roundtable room block at Hotel Teatro. Note: A credit card will be required reserve a room and can be updated during check-in on the day of arrival. Contact the student fellows leadership with questions.

Events & Activities

Fellows will be expected to participate in the following events and activities:

Student Fellows Reception

When: Monday, May 18^th 6-9pm

Where: The Curtis Hotel, Backyard Room

What: This student-only community-building event will kick-off the Roundtable. Fellows will present their scholarly work via a traditional format (poster) or creative format (art, spoken word, song, graphic design, digital storytelling, video). This work could include, but is not limited to a classroom or professional project involving child welfare: research, policy, practice, and/or community action.

Roundtable Poster Session

When: Wednesday, May 20^th from 10:15am – 11:00

Where: Embassy Suites, Exhibitor Hall

What: Student Fellows will have this opportunity present and discuss their scholar work with Roundtable attendees.

Roundtable Volunteers

Student fellows are required to sign up for 2 volunteer slots between our 3 options.

Option 1: Media Coverage Volunteer (Video & Photo)

Help capture the energy, learning, and community of the conference through photos and short-form video.

Responsibilities include:

Asking participants to complete a brief video release form
Capturing short (15–30 second) reflections
Uploading videos to the shared Videos folder
Taking at least 20 candid photos of attendees interacting or enjoying the conference
Uploading images to the shared Photos folder

This role is great for students interested in communications, storytelling, social media, or visual media. No special equipment is required: phone recorded content is welcome and encouraged.

Option 2: Breakout Session Volunteer & Standby Tech Support (Non-Media)

Support the smooth operation of breakout sessions and assist presenters and attendees.

Responsibilities include:

Welcoming attendees and presenters to the breakout room you sign up for
Distributing materials and helping sessions stay on time
Assisting with basic tech needs (slides, microphones, troubleshooting if needed)

This role is ideal for students who prefer logistical, organizational, or tech-support work and do not wish to participate as heavily in media or video activities. There will be volunteer openings for 1-2 student fellows at a time for each room, pending the session you sign up for.

For fellows serving in breakout rooms, you will be provided a short script you can use to introduce yourself and your role at the start of sessions.

Option 3: Reception Set Up & Clean Up

Reception volunteers may assist with reception setup, basic logistics, and end‑of‑evening clean‑up. These shifts count as a full volunteer opportunity and can be selected in the sign‑up sheet under the “Reception” tab. This volunteer opportunity is our most “on call” option that will require the most flexibility. This is also our only evening volunteer offering.

Professional Head Shots Available on Wednesday, 5/20!
Student fellows will have the opportunity to take complimentary professional headshots from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on May 20 in the Leadville room on the third floor.

Meet the Student Fellows Leadership
The Student Fellows program is being led by two PhD students at the University of Louisville, Kent School of Social Work and Family Science, which is a partner of the Center for Workforce Excellence and Leadership (CWEL).

Cameron Galloway, MSSW, a native of Paducah, Kentucky, is a PhD Student in Social Work at the University of Louisville, committed to improving outcomes for youth transitioning from foster care. He brings 19+ years of lived experience in foster care (aged out of independent living at 21) that shapes his research interests, leadership style, and advocacy approach. He is also a graduate of an HBCU, Kentucky State, where he received his bachelor’s in social work with a minor in criminal justice. Cameron has professional experience across clinical (therapist), educational (School social worker), community-based settings (outreach coordinator, outreach director, independence readiness coordinator, and review grants), and as a Military Police Officer (National Guard, 1LT). Cameron also has experience in public speaking and truth-telling circles about his life story. From growing up in foster care through his undergraduate and graduate college experiences, Cameron remains committed to research-driven practice, youth empowerment, and strengthening the systems that support vulnerable young people.

Andreana Bridges, MSSW is a PhD student and Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Louisville, Kent School of Social Work and Family Science. She is a Title IV-E graduate with over four years of experience as a direct services worker in a public child welfare agency in KY. She has continued working with child welfare projects five years since leaving the Cabinet through Kent’s Center for Family Community Well Being (CFCWB). She evaluates the implementation and outcomes of multiple child welfare interventions and trainings and also facilitates workforce related trainings with local child welfare agencies. She helped build two grassroots nonprofit agencies where she supported staff needs while working to alleviate food insecurity and provide resources to historically and economically marginalized individuals and families, primarily from African American and refugee and immigrant communities. Throughout her career Andreana has been a mentor to students and peers to foster the growth in the Social Work profession.

Questions? Contact the Student Fellows Leaders:

Cameron Galloway: [email protected]
Andreana Bridges: [email protected]