Dr. Lisa “Lou” Lewis

Lisa “Lou” Lewis, assistant clinical professor of social work, comes to Ball State Social Work with a diverse and eclectic background in social services. While the majority of her 30-year career was spent in various mental health and psychiatric treatment agencies, it also includes work at the American Embassy in the USSR, Bradford Woods Outdoor Education Center, Indiana’s Medicaid Waiver Program, and as a consultant for Beverly Enterprises in long-term care.

For the past 12 years, she has worked with individuals, families, and children ages three and above in her own private practice in Indianapolis. She completed her PhD in social work in 2020 at Indiana University with a dissertation titled “Deliberate Self-Harm in Children Under 10.” Additionally, Dr. Lewis has a BS in therapeutic recreation, an MS in outdoor therapeutic recreation, and an MSW in social work. Her research interests are evidenced-based practice in clinical social work, the scholarship of teaching and learning in social work, and more recently, international social work. Though Dr. Lewis has taught for several years in the IU School of Social Work, this is her first full-time faculty position. As may be clear from her varied work experience, she strongly believes one “can always do something different with their life.” She continues to serve in several volunteer positions including Disaster Mental Health provider for the American Red Cross, the Indiana Crisis Assistance Response Team, Shelby County Community Corrections Board, and Early Learning Shelby County Advisory Board.

She is the mother of five: Sara, Max ’18, Sam, Cooper, and Izzy, and grandmother of Amara. She is a sports lover, avid golfer, and spends much of her free time drawing.