St. Edward’s University Social Work Professor Named 2026 Piper Professor

AUSTIN, Texas — St. Edward’s University is proud to announce Adam McCormick, Professor of Social Work with the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences, has been named a 2026 Piper Professor by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation.

McCormick is one of only ten educators from two and four-year colleges and universities statewide to earn this prestigious honor from the foundation’s Piper Professor Program. The Piper Foundation awards $5,000 to each recipient in recognition of superior teaching at the college level. 

“I feel incredibly fortunate to spend my life in the classroom. There is no greater privilege than walking alongside students as they come to understand their own story, their worth, and their capacity to impact others,” said McCormick. “At its core, this work is about helping students prepare to face the hardest truths in our world and to respond in ways that bring healing rather than harm. When students share that they feel seen, that they have found their voice, or that they now believe they are worth fighting for, those are the moments that stay with me. This honor is meaningful, but it is the relationships with students that matter most.”

McCormick teaches courses focused on social work with families and childhood trauma. His research interests are wide-ranging, and he frequently speaks on topics including LGBTQIA+ youth in the child welfare system, the trauma of family separation within child welfare, the weaponization of poverty in child welfare practices, sibling relationship rights in foster care, the intersection of child welfare and immigration, moral injury in social work, and masculinity and mental health.

The 2026 Piper Professor accolade reflects McCormick’s sustained impact on the Hilltop. He is also the recipient of the 2024–2025 Distinguished Teaching Award at St. Edward’s, which recognizes his contributions to the field of social work and his commitment to transformative student learning. In addition, he has authored numerous scholarly articles and books and has contributed his expertise to various media outlets.

About St. Edward’s University

St. Edward’s University is a private university in the Catholic, Holy Cross tradition with approximately 3,000 students. Located in Austin, Texas, it is one of the top universities in the state and offers more than 55 undergraduate, seven master’s degree programs and a doctorate program. St. Edward’s delivers a premier, highly personalized education that provides students distinctive academics and extensive internships, research and service learning opportunities on a vibrant and inclusive hilltop campus in a world-class city. St. Edward’s has been recognized for 22 consecutive years as one of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. In the 2026 Best Colleges rankings, St. Edward’s ranked #5 in the Best Regional Universities in the West.