Erin Miess

Biography:

Erin Miess, MSW, APSW, is the Director of Practicum Education and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work, Sociology, and Criminal Justice at Viterbo University. She also serves as the grant director for the RESPOND training program, which provides education on opioid use disorder for professionals who support individuals and families affected by substance use.

Erin earned her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and is an Advanced Practice Social Worker. Since beginning her career in 2003, she has worked extensively with diverse and underserved populations across a variety of clinical, child welfare, and systems-level roles.

During her 10 years in child welfare, Erin witnessed firsthand the profound impact that opioid use disorder and other substance use disorders have on children and families. She later served at the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, where she played a key role in implementing statewide system improvements designed to strengthen child welfare services and improve outcomes for families.

In addition to her work at Viterbo University, Erin continues to practice as a mental health clinician, providing therapy in community-based settings. Much of her clinical work focuses on individuals experiencing co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, reflecting her ongoing commitment to supporting recovery and improving access to high-quality, compassionate care.