Dr. Deneen Evans

Dr. Evans, LCSW, is an Associate Professor of Social Work with over 25 years of experience in higher education and 30 years in human services practice. A trailblazer in social justice and multiculturalism, she is recognized for her intersectional, qualitative, and transdisciplinary research, with a current focus on the mental health of Black birthing mothers and equity issues facing Black female faculty.

Dr. Evans has held numerous administrative roles, including Inaugural Director of Diversity at a Liberal Arts College and Chair of a State University’s Diversity Council. In social work, she has directed field education and the MSW program and initiated an interdisciplinary healthcare forum. She is currently an Associate Professor in East Tennessee State University’s MSW program and Chairs the Faculty Development Committee.

In 2019, she founded Mosaic, the only African American-owned multicultural group counseling practice in Southwest Virginia, focused on serving communities of color and sexual minorities. Dr. Evans is a certified clinical supervisor and a site visitor for the Council on Social Work Education.

She has mentored MSW students and serves on doctoral committees for women of color. In 2024, Dr. Evans received the NAACP Citizen of the Year Award for her advocacy in healthcare. A dynamic leader, she continues to shape the future of social work and higher education.