Rhoda Smith, M.S.W., Ph.D.

Rhoda Smith is a child welfare expert, given the years of service in child welfare in Riverside, CA and a previously held position as the director of the Public Child Welfare Training Academy (PCWTA) housed in the San Diego State Research Foundation and San Bernardino County DCFS. 

Smith has a passion for foster youth, particularly system involved adolescents who are pregnant and parenting. Smith has worked as a child welfare trainer, field liaison and is currently serves as an Associate Professor and Director of Field Education at Concordia University - Chicago. She also serves as the liaison between Concordia University - Chicago and Illinois DCFS Partnership. Smith loves teaching and is committed to educating critical thinking social workers who are preparing to serve children and families in clinical and agency settings.