Name: Shira S. Culbreath (she/her/hers)
Title: MSW Graduate Director and Instructor, Department of Social Work
Education: Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, Winthrop; Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of South Carolina-Columbia.
E-mail: culbreaths@winthrop.edu
Phone: 803/323-3390
Mrs. Shira S. Culbreath is a caring and compassionate social worker who has dedicated her career to advocating for restorative justice and addressing the mental health needs of juveniles. She is committed to helping young people find balance while ensuring that both their legal and therapeutic needs are met.
Mrs. Culbreath first joined Winthrop University in March 2022 as the Recruitment and Admissions Coordinator and Instructor in the Department of Social Work, where she supported students in their academic journeys while fostering connections with future social work professionals. She now serves as the MSW Graduate Director and Instructor, continuing her commitment to guiding and mentoring students as they prepare for impactful careers in social work.
Before her work at Winthrop, Mrs. Culbreath served the community as an Intensive Supervision Officer, where she provided interventions for juveniles and their families. In this role, she managed complex cases requiring documentation for parole reports and court hearings, and she facilitated meetings with community workers and agencies to connect families with the resources needed for successful rehabilitation.
Her passion for working with youth also led her to become an adjunct instructor at York Technical College, where she taught courses in juvenile justice within the Criminal Justice Department. In addition, she served as a Field Supervisor for MSW-level students from Winthrop University, mentoring the next generation of social workers.
Mrs. Culbreath’s commitment to children’s mental health guided her work with the South Carolina Department of Mental Health, where she provided clinical assessments as well as individual and family therapy. She credits both her faith and her mother, also a social worker, for instilling in her a deep understanding of the importance of social work in society.
In addition to her role at Winthrop, Mrs. Culbreath serves on the Board of Directors for Pilgrims’ Inn in Rock Hill, South Carolina, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting homelessness by offering emergency assistance, supportive services, and long-term resources that empower individuals and families to achieve stability and independence. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Hidden Sentence, a nonprofit that helps formerly incarcerated individuals successfully reenter the community through group work, resources, and support, while also providing guidance for their families.
A proud Winthrop graduate, Mrs. Culbreath earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Sociology before completing her Master of Social Work degree at the University of South Carolina–Columbia.
When she is not serving her community or guiding students in the Department of Social Work, Mrs. Culbreath enjoys spending time with her husband and son, dancing, and connecting with her sorority sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.