Matthew Howard, Ph.D. is the Frank Daniels Distinguished Professor of Social Work at the University of North Carolina. Nationally acknowledged as an expert in psychiatric comorbidity of substance use disorders and evidence-based practice, he has published more than 100 articles in these areas and has served as PI or co-PI on several federally-funded grants. His recent research has examined predictors of major depression and anxiety disorders in adolescent inhalant and ecstasy users, racial and gender differences in the prevalence and predictors of substance-induced psychiatric disorders, self-medication of psychiatric disorders with alcohol and illicit drugs, and long-term health outcomes of polydrug dependent adults with comorbid mental health disorders.

Bruce Thyer is currently a Professor and former Dean with the College of Social Work at Florida State University.  Dr. Thyer spent the years 1987 - 2002 with the University of Georgia, where he earned the rank of Distinguished Research Professor.  He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.  In 2012 he was elected to the Social Work Academy of the National Academies of Practice. Dr. Thyer is the founder and current editor of one of social work's premier journals, RESEARCH ON SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE, and is the author of over 250 articles, 80 chapters and he had authored or edited over 25 professional books.  His research interests involve the promotion of evidence-based practice, evaluation research, applied behavior analysis, and social work theory.