Faculty Support

Goings the Extra Mile

Trenette Goings works to prevent addiction

Portrait of Trenette Goings

Trenette Goings works to prevent addiction

Trenette Goings is the Sandra Reeves Spear and John B. Turner Distinguished Professor within the UNC School of Social Work. She works to identify and prevent health disparities by studying the epidemiology, etiology and prevention of substance use among adolescents and emerging adults.

Endeavors caught up with Goings recently as part of their Research UNCovered series, profiling the many faces of research across North Carolina.

“As a child, I witnessed the social, health and economic consequences of substance misuse,” said Goings. “During my senior year in high school, when I happened to see a flyer with a list of majors and brief descriptions in my school’s lobby, social work’s description resonated with me. I decided in that moment that I would major in social work and use my knowledge and skills to prevent addiction and its detrimental effects.”

Goings’ interventions largely took place in-person, but due to social isolation requirements when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, her lab — the INSPIRED Lab — quickly developed tools to bring interventions online.

When asked to describe her research in five words, Goings stated, “Effective prevention can eliminate addiction.”

Read the complete Carolina Story…Opens in new window

Readers Also Viewed...

Ilana Shtivelman in front of the UNC Veterans Resource Center.
Health

Serving veterans through social work

Ilana Shtivelman's work at the Carolina Veterans Resource Center supports veterans and military affiliated populations.

Xiadani Avila (left) and Kelsey Yokovich (right) pose at the UNC School of Social Work on Oct. 24th, 2022.
Student Support

Understanding Health Equity

Students at the UNC School of School of Social Work are working to understand and address gaps in access to health care.

Hortense McClinton sits in front of the residence hall named after her
Student Support

Honoring a Trailblazer

The Hortense McClinton Legacy Scholarship Fund will help students to graduate with limited debt

Campus in November 2020.
Donor

Generating Opportunities

“This is just one of the ways we can move social justice forward.”

Hines family
Donor

Providing Housing Assistance

Donation to support veteran housing in Tiny Homes Village

Faculty Support

Carolina People: Sherry Mergner

Creating a more inclusive environment