Social Work Faculty & Staff

CAS Flip Book - UG and Graduate Programs

Division of Education, Health, & Social Work

Faculty

Lamont D. Simmons

Lamont Simmons Dr. Lamont D. Simmons is an Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of the District of Columbia. He has taught BSW courses across the curriculum, MSW courses in diversity, policy, research, and case analysis, and has supervised independent studies, undergraduate social work honors theses and doctoral dissertations. His research interests include academic persistence and degree attainment for marginalized and structurally excluded students in social work education. He also examines racial and disability justice, equity-minded practices, and how systems of inequality affect marginalized and oppressed communities. Dr. Simmons has worked in the field of social work in the areas of child welfare, mental health, and school-based settings. He serves on numerous committees, holds membership in national organizations, and is an appointed member of the Council on Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Diversity.

Angela S. Henderson

Angela Henderson Dr. Angela S. Henderson is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of the District of Columbia. She has dedicated her life to advocating for social, economic, and environmental justice, and protecting the human rights of individuals, children, and families. This passion for public service led Dr. Henderson into a thriving career in social service, where she has held various roles ranging from caseworker to advocate. She is a Social Solutionist, known for her ability to accomplish complex tasks under high-pressure conditions. Dr. Henderson is the CEO of Asher Services, where she provides innovative political analysis, research, and accreditation services and solutions.

She served as the facilitator for SJ49 the Department of Health Professions Need for Additional Social Workers Study Bill. SJ49 is a Virginia version of the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr., Social Work Reinvestment Act. SJ49 was introduced by state Senator Jennifer McClellan in January 2020, and passed by the Virginia General Assembly on March 3, 2020. In 2012, Dr. Henderson established the Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy (CRISP), along with Dr. Charles E. Lewis, Jr., and former Congressman Edolphus Towns. In 2018, Dr. Henderson was appointed to serve on the Virginia Board of Conservation and Recreation, further reiterating her commitment to environmental justice.

Dr. Henderson was recently selected to serve as a Black Community Stakeholder by the White House Office of Public Engagement. She additionally serves as a Policy Advisor to the President of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). She has an extreme passion for educating youth and has mentored countless students in their pursuits as lifelong learners and leaders. She often credits her community for her achievements, stating that there is always “mentoring in the village.” She received a B.S.W. from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in 2003, and a M.S.W. from Howard University in 2004. Dr. Henderson earned her Ph.D. in social work from Howard University in May 2013.

Patricia A. Galán-Cisneros

Patricia Galan-Cisneros Patricia A. Galán-Cisneros, MA, LMSW, a Ph.D. candidate at The Catholic University of America, holds a Master of Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake University (2006) and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry from the Oblate School of Theology (2004). With a diverse professional background in hospice social work, end-of-life community education, bereavement intervention, and outreach to vulnerable populations, Patricia’s expertise also extends to early childhood intervention.

Her research addresses disparities within Latino communities, explores educational mobility, spirituality, and meaning, and studies the intricacies of grief, loss, and bereavement. As an educator, Patricia provides instruction in various social work courses, emphasizing practicum practice, human behavior and social environment, trauma, practice, and elders’ courses. Notably, she serves as a National End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium Trainer, underscoring her commitment to improving end-of-life care practices. Patricia is devoted to lifelong learning, faith, growth, hope, and love, embodying a passionate pursuit of wisdom and enlightenment.

Elizabeth Allen

Dr. Elizabeth Allen is an Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of the District of Columbia. Dr. Allen received her MSW and PhD from UConn School of Social Work. She is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with extensive clinical experience in mental health, substance abuse, complex trauma, and forensic settings. Before moving to the District of Columbia from Connecticut in 2022, Dr. Allen taught a wide variety of classes across the micro and macro spectrum, including Human Rights courses in several universities and social work programs (BSW & MSW). Her teaching philosophy is strongly aligned with social work values and ethics, as she aims to achieve student learning that is grounded in the foundations of the profession. She works diligently to create a safe space for students to learn to work collaboratively, think critically, and apply knowledge in a supportive environment. Her extensive clinical experience allows her to share clinical stories, allowing students a practical integration and application of knowledge. Whether teaching a clinical class or a course with a focus on structural inequalities, Dr. Allen continuously encourages students to connect micro, mezzo, and macro influences into clinical social work practice. Dr. Allen’s research interests and publications in peer-reviewed journals focus on justice-involved women, substance abuse and behavioral health, racial and gender disparities within the criminal legal system, desistance and community reintegration, desistance and the social work profession and empowerment clinical practice with justice-involved populations. She holds memberships in multiple national organizations and is looking forward to building coalitions within DC and engaging in Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR).