Everiste Ambris, MSW

Professor Everiste Ambris is a Field Faculty-Senior Instructor at the Phyllis & Harvey Sandler School of Social Work, FAU College of Social Work & Criminal Justice best known for his expertise in mental health counseling, dealing with depression and anxiety.  Professor Ambris has been teaching at the FAU campus from 2007, prior to teaching, he worked at the Broward Counseling and Psychological Services for two years.

Ambris said that the Covid-19 pandemic and the social isolation that has taken place since late March, has presented some of his biggest professional challenges.  

"As an instructor, it was a challenge to transition all face to face classes to an online format in a short time,” Ambris said. “As a social worker, the Covid-19 pandemic has forced us to think outside of the box: More tele-health opportunities are now available to reach clients.  Employers have had to close physical workspaces in order to allow their employees to work remotely."

Ambris says that staying positive and motivated during these times is important – and keeping in mind that what is taking place now is temporary.

"Life is like a big wheel with a continuous slow spin.  At times, you will be on top of the wheel looking down, but there will at times you may be holding on the side, or even at the bottom. Be assured, if you are at the bottom during these times of uncertainty, the wheel will continue to spin and raise you to the top," Ambris said.

Among many of Ambris’s accomplishments are developing and implementing "Brother to Brother" a pregnancy prevention program for young men at Job Corp in Medina, NY.  He also developed and implemented the Student Educational Program-Alcohol and Drugs (SEPAD) for Resident Life, University at Buffalo, NY.  He assisted in securing a NCAA Choices Social Norms Grant, then co-facilitated and implemented the Social Norms Peer Training program to reduce alcohol consumption for student athletes at the University of Louisville, KY. Ambris received the Unsung Hero Award for Broward Campus, was awarded the Social Work Educator of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW)- Broward Chapter and developed and co-implemented the Phyllis and Harvey Student Mentoring Program.  

Professor Ambris lives in Aventura, but hails from St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He has also lived in Barbados and Brooklyn, New York. During his free time, he enjoys listening to NPR radio, Reggae music, watching MSNBC and the NFL during football season, and playing Roblox with his son.