Ramona Denby-Brinson named dean of the UNC School of Social Work
A dynamic academic leader with more than 25 years of experience in higher education, Denby-Brinson brings a demonstrated commitment to social work values, an impressive research portfolio and an exciting, inclusive vision for the School of Social Work.
Dear Carolina Community,
I am pleased to share that Ramona Denby-Brinson, a nationally renowned academic and experienced higher education administrator, has been appointed dean of the School of Social Work, effective Aug. 16. She will be the 13th dean to lead the school and the first Black woman. Denby-Brinson’s appointment was approved by the Board of Trustees Aug. 5, at the recommendation of the chancellor and provost.
A dynamic academic leader with more than 25 years of experience in higher education, Denby-Brinson brings a demonstrated commitment to social work values, an impressive research portfolio and an exciting, inclusive vision for the School of Social Work. She is currently a professor and associate dean for academic affairs at The Ohio State University College of Social Work, where she has worked since 2019. Prior, she was at Arizona State University where she was associate dean for research with the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions and professor in the School of Social Work. She served for 20 years at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in various academic, research and administrative roles. Denby-Brinson began her career at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she was an assistant professor and researcher at the first-ever NIH-funded social work research center on children’s mental health services.
Denby-Brinson will be joining the UNC School of Social Work as it enters its 101st year. Recently the school has increased federal contracts and research funding, recruited the most diverse student body in its history and has been a leader in hiring and retaining a world-class and diverse faculty. In 2017, the school was ranked as the fourth most influential school of social work in the world by the Center for World University Rankings, reflecting the quality of research articles authored by its faculty and published by top-tier academic journals. In 2019, the school advanced from No. 7 to No. 3 in the U.S. News & World Report national ranking of schools of social work, its highest ranking ever. As dean, Denby-Brinson will lead 134 faculty and staff and more than 300 graduate and doctoral students.
Recognized as one of the leading national experts in culturally-adapted child welfare services, Denby-Brinson has published extensively on the topic. Her scholarly interests involve policy, programming and treatment issues relevant to children and families, child welfare, children’s mental health and culturally-specific service delivery. She was the 2014 recipient of the Harry Reid Silver State Research Award in recognition of her research.
Passionate about training new generations of social work professionals, Denby-Brinson has made access to social work education for diverse students and advancing their success one of her personal missions. At Ohio State and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, she made significant progress in growing the enrollment of underrepresented minority and first-generation students. She also led graduate curriculum redesign work to prepare practitioners to practice using an inclusive, antiracist, social justice-oriented curriculum. Prior to her academic career, Denby-Brinson practiced as a licensed social worker serving children and families in various social service settings. She now utilizes her experience in social services and research knowledge to assist non-profits and public agencies in building their capacity to better serve their clients. She earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from Arizona State, her master’s degree in social work from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and her doctorate in social work from Ohio State.
I would like to thank the members of the search committee, chaired by School of Nursing Dean Nena Peragallo Montano, for their diligent work in the national search that has brought Denby-Brinson to Carolina. Thank you also to School of Social Work Dean Gary Bowen, who has served our community so well and will continue to do so when he returns to his full-time faculty position later this month. Please join me in welcoming Ramona to Carolina.
Sincerely,
Robert A. Blouin
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost
