Dr. Kesslyn Arnyce Brade Stennis serves as the Director of the Master of Social Work Program at the University of the District of Columbia’s College of Arts and Sciences, where she leverages her extensive experience in social work education, program leadership, and community advocacy. A dedicated scholar and practitioner, her research focuses on African American communities, faith-based interventions, women’s leadership development, and family violence. Dr. Brade Stennis is committed to advancing social justice, fostering resilience in marginalized communities, and preparing the next generation of social work professionals through innovative teaching, mentorship, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Experience
Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work, Howard University Master of Divinity, Howard University Master of Social Work, The Ohio State University Bachelor of Social Work, Magna Cum Laude, Oakwood College
Roles
MSW Program Director, UDC, 2024-Present Executive Director, North American Association of Christians in Social Work, 2023-Present Director, Minority Fellowship Program, Council on Social Work Education, 2021-23 Chair & Tenured Professor, Coppin State University, 2014-2022 Assistant Professor (Tenured), Bowie State University, 2009-14
Courses Taught
SOWK 340Human Behavior and the Social Environment SOWK 200Introduction to the Profession of Social Work SOWK 300Stages of Development SOWK 308Realities of Aging SOWK 312Religiosity, Spirituality, and Helping Professions SOWK 400Social Work Methods I SOWK 401Social Work Methods II SOWK 409Male/Female Relationships FRSEM 101Freshman Seminar SOWK 205Writing for the Profession SOWK 210Introduction to Social Work SOWK 379Methods I SOWK 388Human Behavior and the Social Environment I SOWK 389Human Behavior and the Social Environment II SOWK 390Independent Research and Writing SOWK 390Love, Sex, and Intimate Relationships SOWK 390Religion, Spirituality, and Helping Professions SOWK 390Substance Abuse SOWK 481Methods II SOWK 482Methods III MU 100-35Gospel Choir SWHB 205Human Behavior and the Social Environment I PC 675 The Helping Relationship ODSW 803 Social Work Pedagogy and Education OC 101 Orientation Seminar SW 201 Introduction to Social Welfare SW 202 Introduction to Social Work SW 312 Minority Aging SW 320 Modern Social Work Theories and Practice SW 330 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I SW 390 Christian Philosophy of Social Work (Ethics) SW 455 Field Instruction and Seminar II
Expertise
Consultant, The PhD Consultants Community and Parent Liaison, Dance Therapy Arts Dance Company Site Coordinator, Engaging the Saints: Emerging Practices within Black Church Congregations, Howard University Protestant Chaplain/Chaplain in Residence, Office of Campus Ministry, Georgetown University Consultant, District Association for Safe Housing
Research Focus / Works in Progress
African American communities; African American faith communities; women’s leadership development; family violence and community response
Leadership
MSW Program Director, UDC, 2024-Present Executive Director, North American Association of Christians in Social Work, 2023-Present President, Vice-President and Secretary of the Board of Directors, North American Association of Christians in Social Work, 2013-19 Director, Minority Fellowship Program, Council on Social Work Education, 2021-23 Chair, Department of Social Work/Executive Director, Dr. Dorothy I. Height Center for the Advancement of Social Justice, 2014-22
Impact
Selected Publications
Brade Stennis, K., Purnell, K., Bryant, V., Taylor, A., Gilliam, C., & Bynum, E. (2020). Establishing professional pathways: Considerations for African American women in social work academia. In C. Gadling-Cole (Ed.), African American women in Academia: Intersectionality of race and gender. Nova Science Publishing, Inc.
Burley, J. T., Thurman, D., & Stennis, K. B. (2022). Mothering and Othering: Experiences of African American professional women. Journal of the Motherhood Initiative for Research and Community Involvement, 13(1). https://jarm.journals.yorku.ca/index.php/jarm/article/view/40649
Buckley, M., Gilliam, C., Drewery, M., Jones, G., & Stennis, K. (2022). Healing city Baltimore: An antiracist social eork pedagogical approach. In R. Johnson & S. Meyer (Eds.), Lessons in social equity: A case study book. Birkdale Publishers.
Drewery, M., Buckley, M., Jones, G., Gilliam, C., Hill, A., Stennis, K. (2022). Maryland HBCU Coalition vs State of Maryland: Implications for social work education and practice. In R. Johnson & S. Meyer (Eds.), Lessons in social equity: A case study book. Birkdale Publishers.
Rich, T. M., & Stennis, K. B. (2021). More than conquerors: Embracing transformational leadership and spiritual coping during the pandemic. Social Work and Christianity, 48(4), 335-348.
Selected Presentations
Brade Stennis, K., Gilliam, C., Henderson, A. (2024).Imani: Considering how faith informs civic and community engagement. North American Association of Christians in Social Work 74th Convention
Brade Stennis, K., (2023). Minority fellowship program & interdisciplinary minority fellowship program: A call for interprofessional collaboration in social work education. The Council on Social Work Education's 2023 Annual Program Meeting. Atlanta, Georgia.
Brade Stennis, K. (2023). From fatigue to resilience: Navigating racial assaults, insults and microaggressions.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Selected Grants
Mental Health Services Administration. (2023). CSWE minority fellowship program.
Mental Health Services Administration. (2021). CSWE minority fellowship program.
Baltimore City Health Department. (2020). Coppin advocates, researches, and educates about safe sex – post-pandemic community engagement.
Recognitions
Recipient, Wilson H. Elkins Professorship, University System of Maryland, 2020 Fellow, Council on Social Work Education Minority Fellowship Program, 2005-09 Vernon Johns Preaching Award for Social Justice and Community Activism ,Howard University School of Divinity, 2006
Invited Participations
Brade Stennis, K. (2024). Exploring the integrating faith in social work practice. Trinity College, Virtual.
Brade Stennis, K. (2024). Exploring spirituality and social work practice from a BLACK perspective. Alabama A&M University, Normal, Alabama.
Brade Stennis, K. (2024).Integrating ADEI standards in social work practicum education.University of California, Virtual.
Brade Stennis, K. (2024). Managing microaggressions and biases in social work.Ohio University, Virtual.