Kesslyn Brade Stennis, Ph.D.

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 340 Human Behavior and the Social Environment 
SOWK 200 Introduction to the Profession of Social Work 
SOWK 300 Stages of Development 
SOWK 308 Realities of Aging 
SOWK 312 Religiosity, Spirituality, and Helping Professions 
SOWK 400 Social Work Methods I 
SOWK 401 Social Work Methods II 
SOWK 409 Male/Female Relationships 
FRSEM 101 Freshman Seminar 
SOWK 205 Writing for the Profession 
SOWK 210 Introduction to Social Work 
SOWK 379 Methods I 
SOWK 388 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I 
SOWK 389 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II 
SOWK 390 Independent Research and Writing 
SOWK 390 Love, Sex, and Intimate Relationships 
SOWK 390 Religion, Spirituality, and Helping Professions 
SOWK 390 Substance Abuse 
SOWK 481 Methods II 
SOWK 482 Methods III 
MU 100-35 Gospel Choir 
SWHB 205 Human 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.