Image of Dr. Joan Blakey
Award: Established Faculty Service and Leadership in Social Work Education Award
Director, Gamble Skogmo Endowed Chair and Associate Professor, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
The 2023 Established Faculty Service and Leadership in Social Work Education Award is presented to Joan M. Blakey, Director, Gamble Skogmo Endowed Chair, and a tenured Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities.
Dr. Blakey has benefited from or served in leadership roles at CSWE for almost 14 years. Her leadership development in higher education began as a CSWE Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) fellow. She has held three leadership roles within CSWE. She served on the Council on Practice Methods and Specialization, as Commissioner on the Commission on Membership and Professional Development, and as a CSWE board member as the Graduate Faculty Representative. She was a chair for the Criminal and Juvenile Justice APM track. She has reviewed applications for the MFP Master's program for several years. Additionally, she has served as a Graduate Program reviewer for two MSW programs. In addition, Dr. Blakey is a Board Member of the Black Administrators, Researchers, and Scholars (BARS) organization established by Dr. Larry Davis.
Dr. Blakey has mentored 33 Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students by serving on their advanced practice projects and dissertation committees. She served as a graduate research advisor to nine students and was the research advisor for six masters and 12 undergraduates. Dr. Blakey has worked with almost 70 students, been an external reviewer for eight Assistant Professors, and mentored many assistant professors through tenure and promotion.
Dr. Blakey’s research agenda primarily focuses on two main areas. The first area is to help more effectively serve Black women with histories of substance abuse, often resulting from complex trauma, who become involved with the child protection and criminal justice system. She has sought to understand the prevalence of trauma among women involved with these systems, the process of healing from trauma, and what trauma-informed systems of care look like to serve this population effectively.
Dr. Blakey’s second area of focus is diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice. As an equity consultant, Dr. Blakey works with organizations to assess their readiness for change and provide expert guidance, direction, and advice on existing policies, procedures, practices, and strategies using an equity lens. She also develops work plans, organizes training, and identifies strategies to improve racial climates. Her work consistently has been about transforming systems to recognize and embrace peoples' full humanity to create and foster environments where all individuals can excel and thrive.
Blakey received her doctorate from the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration. She also attended the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, receiving her Bachelor of Science in African American Studies, Sociology, and Youth Studies and a Master of Social Work degree.
Dr. Blakey has benefited from or served in leadership roles at CSWE for almost 14 years. Her leadership development in higher education began as a CSWE Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) fellow. She has held three leadership roles within CSWE. She served on the Council on Practice Methods and Specialization, as Commissioner on the Commission on Membership and Professional Development, and as a CSWE board member as the Graduate Faculty Representative. She was a chair for the Criminal and Juvenile Justice APM track. She has reviewed applications for the MFP Master's program for several years. Additionally, she has served as a Graduate Program reviewer for two MSW programs. In addition, Dr. Blakey is a Board Member of the Black Administrators, Researchers, and Scholars (BARS) organization established by Dr. Larry Davis.
Dr. Blakey has mentored 33 Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students by serving on their advanced practice projects and dissertation committees. She served as a graduate research advisor to nine students and was the research advisor for six masters and 12 undergraduates. Dr. Blakey has worked with almost 70 students, been an external reviewer for eight Assistant Professors, and mentored many assistant professors through tenure and promotion.
Dr. Blakey’s research agenda primarily focuses on two main areas. The first area is to help more effectively serve Black women with histories of substance abuse, often resulting from complex trauma, who become involved with the child protection and criminal justice system. She has sought to understand the prevalence of trauma among women involved with these systems, the process of healing from trauma, and what trauma-informed systems of care look like to serve this population effectively.
Dr. Blakey’s second area of focus is diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice. As an equity consultant, Dr. Blakey works with organizations to assess their readiness for change and provide expert guidance, direction, and advice on existing policies, procedures, practices, and strategies using an equity lens. She also develops work plans, organizes training, and identifies strategies to improve racial climates. Her work consistently has been about transforming systems to recognize and embrace peoples' full humanity to create and foster environments where all individuals can excel and thrive.
Blakey received her doctorate from the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration. She also attended the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, receiving her Bachelor of Science in African American Studies, Sociology, and Youth Studies and a Master of Social Work degree.