Noell Rowan, Ph.D., LCSW, LCAS, CCS, FNAP, FGSA currently serves as Professor and Associate Director, School of Social Work and Coordinator, Substance Use Disorders and Addictions Certificate Program, UNCW. She earned BSW and MSW degrees from University of Georgia, and Ph.D. in social work from University of Louisville/University of Kentucky joint program. She has authored more than 30 publications including articles, co-edited a book, book chapters and reviews. She has been funded by the Hartford Faculty Scholars Program in Geriatric Social Work to research resiliency in older lesbian women with alcoholism and has been the recipient of several awards including Best LGBT Research Award by Diversity Research Symposium, Ball State University; David A Peterson Award for lead author of Best Article in the Volume of Gerontology and Geriatrics Education to recognize excellence in scholarship in academic gerontology; Distinguished Educator Achievement Award by Kentucky Association of Gerontology for exceptional effort in teaching geriatrics and gerontology; Fellow, National Academies of Practice Distinguished Scholar; Fellow, Gerontological Society of America; and the Mit Joyner and AGE-SW Gerontology Leadership Award. She is licensed in clinical social work and clinical addictions specialist and certified clinical supervisor in North Carolina, holds the ACSW credential and has practiced social work in the areas of mental health and addictions for more than 20 years.