Contact Our Practicum Education Staff
As of fall 2025, field education is now known as practicum education in the School of Social Work. However, you may still see references to “field education” in course titles, documents and other dated web content.
Associate Professor; Director of Field Education
Research Interests: youth violence prevention; community-based participatory research; community-centered violence prevention; community partnership; practicum education
- Oversees the Practicum Education staff and day-to-day operations.
- Assigns all faculty liaisons to their students/agencies.
- Negotiates and monitors all practicum-related contracts, including paid outside practicum educators, adjunct faculty liaisons and agency contracts.
- Coordinates/chairs all student practicum termination review meetings.
- Responsible for the contents of the Practicum Manual.
Please contact Katie (or direct a student/agency to contact Katie) regarding administrative issues, such as School of Social Work HR personnel inquiries and requests for exceptions to or a change in policy. In addition, contact Katie if you're unable to reach, or wish to express concerns about, a member of the Practicum Education team.
Marjorie Quartley
Assistant Director of Field Education
- Coordinates practicums for online students.
- Oversees the online student practicum process.
- Coordinates the development of new practicum opportunities and conducts new site visits.
- Co-develops and implements trainings and orientations for students and/or practicum educators.
Please contact Margie (or direct a student/agency to contact Margie) with questions regarding new practicum development and outside of the Erie/Niagara region practicums.
Clinical Associate Professor, Field Education
Research Interests: practicum education; technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in social work practice and learning; community organizing and development; social innovation; social work services in schools
- Places students in Erie and Niagara counties.
- Assists with practicum development.
- Oversees adjunct/faculty liaisons.
- Co-develops trainings and orientations.
Please contact Michael with any questions relating to student practicum, practicum development or performance in practicum.
Clinical Assistant Professor, Field Education
Research Interests: practicum education; acceptance and commitment therapy; technology and social work
- Places students in Erie and Niagara counties.
- Assists with practicum development.
- Oversees adjunct/faculty Liaisons.
- Co-develops trainings and orientations.
Please contact Alex with any questions relating to student practicum, practicum development or performance in practicum.
Sterling James
Field Education Coordinator
- Coordinates practicums for online students.
- Assists with practicum development.
- Co-develops and implements trainings and orientations.
Please contact Sterling with any questions relating to student practicum, practicum development or performance in practicum.
Laura Turnbull
LMSW, Placement Coordinator
Email: heid@buffalo.edu
- Oversees practicums in Chautauqua County in New York State, Canada, and states outside of New York in the United States.
Please contact Laura with any questions relating to practicum in Chautauqua County in New York State, Canada and states outside of New York in the United States.
Kathryn E. B. Griswold
Administrative Field Coordinator
- Oversees the maintenance of the practicum database that tracks all practicum information (student, practicum educator, task supervisor, agency and liaison).
- Responsible for oversight of the practicum web-based information and paperwork (i.e. practicum application materials, advanced year agency search, etc.).
Please contact Kathryn (or direct a student/agency to contact Kathryn) with questions regarding the process of completing necessary practicum paperwork, questions regarding access to online information, affiliation agreements, listservs, tuition waivers and continuing education vouchers.