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Devina Jani

  • MSW, LSW
  • Director of Career Services
  • Central Administration - All Campuses

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About

Devina J. Jani, MSW, ACSW, LSW, Field Coordinator and Lecturer

Devina Jani is a licensed social worker (LSW). She earned her MSW from the Indiana University School of Social Work and works as a field coordinator and lecturer with IUSSW MSW Direct Online Program.

Her practice background is in leadership and administrative social work, program development, and design, community organizing and building, and non-profit sustainability, and her passion – working with youth from at-risk backgrounds. Devina has served as the Assistant Director of Programs for Prevent Child Abuse Indiana, a Division of The Villages, where she served as a resource to local prevention councils, staff, volunteers, board of directors, and partner organizations to forward the organization’s mission, goals, and philosophy to prevent abuse in all its forms, thereby enhancing the quality of life for children and families in Indiana. Prior to working at Prevent Child Abuse Indiana, she served as a Minority Health Field Consultant for eight years at the Indiana Minority Health Coalition (IMHC), a statewide non-profit organization with the directive to eliminate health disparities through research, education, advocacy, and access to health care services for minority populations. Early in Devina’s career, she served as the Disproportionate Minority Contact Coordinator for the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI), the statistical analysis center for the State of Indiana, where she worked with the public and private sectors to reduce disproportionality in the child welfare, juvenile justice, education, and mental health systems. Devina is dedicated to the profession of Social Work and serves as a Field Instructor for students from the IU School of Social Work, the University of Indianapolis, and Indiana Wesleyan University. Devina also functioned as Adjunct Faculty for the Indiana University School of Social Work Program, Indianapolis Campus, for over five years before becoming a full-time employee in her current position with the University. During her tenure as an Adjunct Faculty member, she taught the following courses within the BSW Program: Introduction to the Social Work Profession, Introduction to Group Work, and Social Work Practicum I & II. She also taught Executive Leadership in Social Work Practice in the MSW Program.

Devina is dedicated to service. She currently serves on the IUSSW MSW Committee, the IUSSW Faculty Senate, the IUSSW Optimal Field Site Committee, and the IUSSW System Wide Field Meeting. She looks forward to re-engaging and being more active with the IUSSW Diversity Committee. Additionally, she served as the NASW Indiana Chapter Board President from July 2016-September 2017 and currently serves as the Chair of the Indiana Disproportionality Committee. Devina sits on a number of boards and is involved in an overwhelming number of initiatives pertaining to social justice issues impacting youth and families. Devina’s passion for youth inspired her to establish her own non-profit organization, DJ Center for Youth, Inc. which promotes youth equality and opportunities through service-learning projects, civic programs, and scholarships.

With over 15 years of experience in the field, Devina has been recognized by her community and colleagues for the devotion she shares to the profession of social work. In 2016, she was presented by the NASW-Indiana Chapter the coveted Statewide Social Worker of the Year award; the University of Indianapolis recognized her for being Field Instructor of the Year; she was recognized as one of Junior Achievement’s Best and Brightest under 40 in the field of Education and Non-Profit. In 2017, she was nominated for the College Mentor Inspire Award, along with the Elizabeth Jackson Legacy award, for her dedication to minority health, and most rewarding for Devina, her namesake organization was recognized by Serve Indiana for its dedication to servant leadership and youth philanthropy.


Education

MSW

Emphasis/Major: Social Work
2005 - Indiana University School of Social Work

Awards and Honors

  • "One in a Million"
    2020 - Multiplying Good
  • Most Dependable, College-Readiness Program
    2018 - DJ Center for Youth, Inc
  • Service Award
    2017 - Serve Indiana
  • Social Worker of the Year - Region 7
    2016 - NASW-IN
  • Community Partner of the Year
    2016 - NASW-IN
  • University of Indianapolis Field Instructor of the Year
    2016 - University of Indianapolis