Dr. Alex Elswick joined the Department of Family Sciences in 2020 as an Assistant Extension Professor for Substance Use Prevention and Recovery.  He began his journey with the department as a graduate student in 2015, where he earned his Masters and PhD and later served Family and Consumer Sciences Extension as an Extension Associate and as an Extension Specialist.  Using this experience, Dr. Elswick’s Extension emphasis focuses on equipping Extension to build recovery capital in the community.

Dr. Elswick’s research agenda examines long-term recovery from substance use disorder.  In particular, much of his research examines recovery capital, an assets-based approach to understanding addiction recovery.

As co-founder of a Lexington-based non-profit organization called Voices of Hope, Dr. Elswick is a tireless advocate for people with substance use disorder.  He works to promote long-term recovery by providing education in the community, reducing stigma, and studying the effectiveness of recovery support services.