Roberta Restaino, MSW, serves as the Field Director for both the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) programs at Saint Leo University, where she also teaches and mentors students. She earned her Bachelor of Social Work in 2005 from Saint Leo University and her Master of Social Work in 2006 from the University of Central Florida.

Roberta brings extensive clinical and field experience to her academic leadership. Her professional background includes medical social work at SHANDS UF, Tampa General Hospital, and Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, where she provided care across neurosurgery, oncology, renal and liver transplant, trauma, and intensive care units. She also dedicated many years to hospice social work, specializing in psychosocial assessment, crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, and bereavement and grief support. Roberta also served as a school social worker at a Title I public elementary school, supporting students and families within the educational environment.

An experienced educator and mentor, Roberta has been an adjunct instructor and field liaison at Saint Leo University since 2010 and joined the faculty in 2025. Her contributions to the profession include co-authoring a chapter on Social Work Case Management in Medical Settings in Social Workers’ Desk Reference, a comprehensive practice resource, which offers evidence-based guidance across key areas of social work practice.

Roberta is committed to integrating hands-on practice expertise with student development and community engagement, preparing the next generation of social workers for effective and compassionate practice.