As a Los Angeles native, Dr. Mary Starks currently serves as the Bachelor of Social Work Program Director/Administrative Faculty at Pacific Oaks College. She is passionate about mentoring young people and advocating for underserved communities. Dr. Starks educational background includes a Doctorate Degree in Organizational Leadership from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and a Master Degree in Social Work from the California State University of Long Beach. Conversely, Dr. Starks' professional background of over 25 years includes extensive experience in community-based social work in the Greater Los Angeles communities. More specifically, Dr. Starks has more than 25 years of experience in program development, youth development work, developing mentoring programs, workforce development, community organizing, and serving on community steering committees. Dr. Starks' research interest includes Transfer of Training and Advancing Systemic Justice
Previous Positions:
1) Deputy Director at Black Women for Wellness, Los Angeles, California
2) Adjunct Professor at Pacific Oaks College in the Community Psychology Program.
3) Social Work Program Manager and Field Instructor at A New Way of Life (working with formerly incarcerated women)
4) Director and Social Work Field Instructor at Brotherhood Crusade YouthSource Center, Los Angeles, California
Awards/Honors
Bank of America Neighborhood Builders Program 2018 Emerging Leader
The Bank of America Neighborhood Builders Leadership Program focuses on developing a pipeline of talented community leaders and equipping them to advance economic mobility in local communities while advancing cross-sector leadership. Only 62 high-performing Emerging Leaders from nonprofit organizations were chosen from over 700 submissions from 45 markets across the U.S. as Neighborhood Builders to advance economic mobility.
The Heart of Social Work Award - May 2017
The award was presented to USC School of Social Work Field Instructors who provided outstanding, innovative service to the University of Southern California School of Social Work through field education, collaboration, and teaching.
Degree | Institution | Year |
---|---|---|
Ph.D. | The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles, CA | 2019 |
MSW | California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA | 2003 |
BA | California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA | 1993 |
Role | Organization |
---|---|
Member | National Association of Black Social Workers |
Member | National Association of Social Workers |
Member | Council on Social Work Education |
Role | Organization |
---|---|
Founder, Mentor, and Organizer | Sista Chat/Sister Chat Collective |
Volunteer | Fair Fight |
Volunteer | City of Los Angeles YO Watts YouthSource Center |
Field Supervisor | Pacific Oaks College Community Psychology Program |
Area | Expertise |
---|---|
Career/Workplace Issues | Diversity & Inclusion |
Child & Adolescent Development | Resilience Skills in Children and Adults |
Diversity | Diversity Issues |
Homelessness | General Expertise |
Leadership | Non Profit Leadership |
Transformational Leadership | |
Research Design/Methodology | Qualitative Inquiry |
Social Justice | General Expertise |
Trauma | Trauma Informed Practices |
Violence | Community |
Research in Transfer of Training |
Title | Location | Date |
---|---|---|
Virtual Voter Education Symposium | Los Angeles | October 1, 2020 |
Resiliency and in the Black Community (From A Community-Based Social Work Perspective) | Pacific Oaks College | October 21, 2020 |
Kwanzaa Celebration | Pacific Oaks College | December 16, 2020 |
Resiliency and the Black Community | Pacific Oaks College | February 17, 2021 |
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Transfer of Training, Workforce Development, Community-Based Social Work, Social Work Field Education, Youth Development Leadership, Community Organizing and Advocacy, School-Based Social Work, Program Development for Community-Based Youth Development Organizations, Grant Writing, Community Mapping, Mentoring Program Development |