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Faculty Member

Professor Alan Misbach

Biography

Alan Misbach is an assistant professor of Social Work as well as the director of Field Education in the Social Work program at Utah Valley University. He comes to UVU after 20 years of diversified and fulfilling work as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master of Social Work degree.

Before joining UVU, Alan worked as the director of Social Work at the Utah State Hospital where he supervised more than 40 social workers and interns. He?s also worked as the clinical director at the Willow Creek Residential School in Provo and as the treatment coordinator at the Utah County Children?s Justice Center. In addition to these leadership capacities, Alan has been a therapist at six facilities, including his own private practice. He served as president of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Utah Chapter, and was elected president of the Wasatch Mental Health Citizen?s Advisory Board.

Before coming to UVU, Alan spent 20 years providing field opportunities for BSW and MSW interns as a field supervisor for Utah Valley University, Brigham Young University, and the University of Utah. His varied personal connections with the agencies he?s worked for and the many others he?s collaborated with provided a rich resource for him to draw from, allowing him to place interns in positions that suited their scholastic focus. Alan considers his work with field interns as one of the great opportunities of his career and is pleased to continue that work at UVU.

Teaching

SW 1010

Introduction to Social Work, Spring 2026

SW 1010

Introduction to Social Work, Spring 2026

SW 1010

Introduction to Social Work, Spring 2026

SW 1010

Introduction to Social Work, Spring 2026

Scholarly/Creative Works

Mercer, Jean , Misbach, Alan , Pennington, Randal , Rosa, Linda , (2006) "Letter to the Editor" (Issue: 4, vol. 11). Child Maltreatment. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077559506292634

Awards

2026 Distinguished Teaching Award-Alan Misbach

CHSS Dean - April 14, 2026

Dean’s Distinguished Award in Teaching, Associate Professor, Social Work
Alan Misbach, MSW, LCSW
Alan Misbach has built a distinguished career in clinical practice, leadership, and social work education. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Brigham Young University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His professional roles have included Treatment Coordinator for the Children’s Justice Center, Clinical Director of the Willowcreek School, Director of Social Work at the Utah State Hospital, and Director of Field Education for UVU’s BSW and MSW programs. A respected leader in the social work community, Alan has served as President of the NASW Utah Chapter, Chair of the Wasatch Behavioral Health Citizen Advisory Board, and Vice-Chair of the Utah Social Worker Licensing Board. At UVU, he is known for the deep care and support he provides students—often receiving more “thank a teacher” notes than anyone else in his department. Colleagues praise him as both brave and warm, a teacher who inspires students from their first 1010 class through their field experiences. Even late in his career, Alan has embraced new modes of teaching, earning exceptional reviews for his online courses and serving as a thoughtful voice on the evolving role of AI in education. A lifelong resident of Utah Valley, Alan began his journey at UVU in 1983 as a student. Concluding his career at the institution where it began has been especially meaningful.