SERVICE & OUTREACH
When designing this section of the site, I spent a lot of time thinking about how to define "service." I struggled to distinguish "service" from what I simply just "do." And finding pictures to represent that? Whew!
My struggle around defining "service" speaks to how I think about contributing to the world around me: don't think about it, just do it. Now, that is not to say that I act without intention or purpose; I do. But I do not spend much time thinking about what to call or how to categorize what I am doing. I do not think about how to document, list, or record it, especially for my CV. I do not think about the accolades, recognition, or attention that could result from it. I simply just do the work; work I believe will make the greatest impact for those that need (me) the most. So, to me, service is about making a contribution, having an impact, and improving lives. And it is at the heart of everything I do.
COMMUNITY WORK
PRESENTATIONS & TALKS
Many of the presentations I give are related to social justice and/or mental health, illness, and wellness, especially among Black Americans. I have given talks in person to groups, large and small, as well as online via podcasts and other social media platforms.
BLACK MENTAL HEALTH
- Working Towards Health Equity with Vulnerable Populations: Attending to the Physical and Mental Health of African Americans. Certificate Program on Health Disparities, University of Georgia as well as a guest lecture for the course "Multicultural and Diversity Issues in Health Psychology" at the University of Houston – Clear Lake.
- Attending to Mental Health, Too. Because You Matter: Self Care Conference for African Americans, Progressive Outreach Coalition, Inc., Athens, GA.
- Liberation: Mental Health in the Black Community. Guest speaker for guests of the Zeta Psi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (with Clark, T.) University of Georgia.
- Mental Health and the African American Community. Panel Presentation sponsored by Zeta Nu Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. (with Bailey, D. F., Dickens, D. D., & Kelley, R.) University of Georgia.
OTHER TOPICS IN MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS
- Let’s Talk Mental Health Panel: Mental Health Professionals. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Savannah State University.
- Mental Health As A Believer. Audience of One Podcast with Monique Tuset.
- Mental Health Awareness and College Students. Panel presentation sponsored by To Write Love On Her Arms’ Mental Health Awareness Week, University of Georgia.
If you are interested in speaking with me about my work or would like me to lead a discussion with your group, organization, or community on these topics, please reach out.
MENTORING & ADVISING
Although I spoke about my role as a mentor in my section on teaching, I feel it is important to point out that I offer mentoring services as part of my commitment to broader service and outreach. My mentoring has extended beyond the UGA School of Social Work and the University itself. I have supported students across the nation as they transition to and through their graduate studies and then into the professional world. If you would like to hear more about how I can do that for you or your students, please reach out.
OTHER SERVICE
PROFESSIONAL/NATIONAL SERVICE
National Committee Work
I contribute to the social work profession by dedicating some of my time to national committee work. I just finished serving the last year of my term as Chair of the Cultural Competence Track with the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Previously, I served a three-year term as a Councilor on the Council on Disabilities and Persons with Disabilities (2014-2017), also with CSWE. In 2016, I was invited by the chairs of the National Association of Social Workers' (NASW) Health Specialty Practice Section to write for their newsletter on the topic of cultural competence; a piece entitled "Rethinking culturally competent social work practice in health care settings."
Editorial/Review/Advisory Board
I currently review for a number of social work and mental health journals. Also, from 2015 to 2017, I was on the Advisory Board for Alexander Street, a ProQuest Company, as they worked to build a online collection of social work resources.
UNIVERSITY/DEPARTMENT SERVICE
School of Social Work
In the SSW, I was appointed by the Dean to create, coordinate, and chair a new committee on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). I was elected to serve on the School's Doctoral Committee (2020 - present) and the Faculty Executive Committee (2016 - present), this year as chair. I also serve on the MSW Program Committee (2012 - present) and, most recently, the Online MSW Program Course Development Group. I previously served as faculty advisor for the UGA Chapter of the Association of Black Social Workers (2015-2018), a member of the Grade Appeals Committee (2014-2017), a member of the MSW Program Curriculum Redesign Group, and on the MSW Faculty-Student Committee (2015-2016).
University of Georgia
At the University level, I served on the President's Faculty Advisory Committee (2021-2022), Diversity Advisory Council (2019-2022), and as advisor for the undergraduate chapter of To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA) (2015-2017). I was also asked to be on the search committee for the UGA Office of Institutional Diversity's Associate Director of Faculty and Staff Initiatives position. In combined service to the School of Social Work and UGA, I was the SSW's representative on the Council of Academic Diversity Leaders (2021-2022), Intercultural Engagement Certificate Design Committee (2016-2018), and Faculty Admissions Committee (2014-2016).